Chapter 8
Chloe
The twins are staring at us like we just announced we’re moving to Mars.
We’re all sitting in the living room. Me and Jonah on the couch, Ava and Mia on the floor with their hot chocolate, and Carol, Jonah’s mom, in the armchair trying very hard not to look smug.
“So,” Jonah says, his hand warm in mine, “Chloe and I have something to tell you.”
“You’re getting married!” Ava shouts.
“We saw you kissing!” Mia adds.
“Not married,” I say quickly, feeling my face heat. “But... we do like each other. A lot. And that means some things are going to be different.”
“Good different,” Jonah adds. “Chloe’s not going to leave like we thought. She’s going to stay. If that’s okay with you two.”
There’s a moment of silence.
Then Mia launches herself at me, hot chocolate forgotten, wrapping her arms around my neck so tight I can barely breathe. “You’re staying forever?”
I can’t help but fall under her spell. She wants this as much as we do.
“Forever,” I promise, hugging her back.
Ava climbs onto the couch between me and Jonah, looking up at him with serious eyes. “Does this mean Chloe’s our new mommy?”
I feel Jonah tense beside me, and I know he’s thinking about Rachel. About promises that got broken. About how to explain this to a four-year-old without making her afraid.
“It means,” I say carefully, “that I love you both very much. And I’m going to be here for you, no matter what. We can figure out the rest as we go. Okay?”
Ava considers this. Then she looks at Jonah. “Are you happy, Daddy?” The ever sensitive one, she makes my heart soar.
His voice is thick when he answers. “Yeah, baby. I’m really happy.”
“Okay.” Ava snuggles against my side. “I like Chloe. Plus, she does the wolf voice better than you.”
Jonah laughs, the sound full of relief. “She really does.”
Carol stands up, dabbing at her eyes. “Well, I think this calls for a celebration. How about I make my famous chocolate chip cookies?”
“Yes!” both twins cheer.
As Carol heads to the kitchen, the girls trailing after her begging to help, Jonah pulls me closer.
“You’re really doing this,” he says quietly. “Staying? With us?”
“I’m really doing this.” I lean my head on his shoulder. “I called Mrs. Henderson on the way inside. Told her I needed to withdraw my application.”
“What did she say?”
“She said she had a feeling I’d found something better.” I smile. “Then she mentioned that Valentine Elementary is looking for a long-term substitute for their second-grade class. Teacher’s going on maternity leave in January.”
Jonah pulls back to look at me. “January? That’s next month.”
“I know. It’s perfect timing.” I trace patterns on his palm. “I can keep helping with the twins in the mornings, work at the school during the day, be back for evenings. And when a permanent position opens up...”
“You’ll be first in line.” He brings my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to my knuckles. “You’re sure about this? About all of it?”
“Terrified,” I admit. “But sure. Are you?”
“Terrified,” he echoes. “But I’m all in, Chloe.”
From the kitchen, I hear Mia’s voice: “Grandma, if Chloe stays forever, does that mean we get two Christmases now? One with her family and one with us?”
“Oh God,” I murmur. “I haven’t told my mother yet.”
Jonah grins. “The one who wanted you to marry Derek and give up teaching?”
“That’s the one.” I groan. “She’s going to have opinions.”
Big opinions because that’s the only kind she has.
“Want me to come with you when you tell her?”
I look at him— at this man who’s willing to face my mother’s judgment with me, who’s letting me into his life and his daughters’ hearts, who’s choosing to take a risk on us despite everything he’s been through.
“Yes, please,” I say softly. “I’d like that.”
He kisses me, slow and sweet, and something new settles in my chest. Something that feels like coming home and being safe and finding hope.
“We’re really doing this,” I whisper against his lips.
“We’re really doing this,” he agrees.
From the kitchen: “They’re kissing again!”
We break apart, laughing.
“Come on,” Jonah says, standing and pulling me up with him. “Let’s go make cookies with our daughters before they eat all the chocolate chips.”
Our daughters?
It’s not overwhelming, like I would have expected, it’s comfortable and perfect.
I follow him to the kitchen, hand in hand, and think about how three weeks ago I was sleeping on Sarah’s couch, filling out job applications, convinced my life was going nowhere.
Now I’m here. In Valentine, Montana. In a house that smells like chocolate and vanilla. With two little girls who are arguing about who gets to crack the eggs. With a man who looks at me like I’m his whole world.
This wasn’t the plan.
But it’s better than anything I could have planned.
So much better.