I shrugged and stepped closer to him. “I’ve loved it for most of my life. Can’t stop now.”
River held out a hand to me, and I slipped mine into his. He pulled me closer, and I went willingly.
“Wait . . . do you love Mommy?” Franny’s tone was a mix of awe and excitement.
“Loved her since she was twelve years old. Never stopped,” he replied.
The warmth of his words spread through me, and I leaned into him.
“Does this mean you’re gonna marry her?” Franny asked, clasping her hands together, with wide eyes as she looked at us.
“That’s not—” I started to say, but was cut off when River pulled me down for a quick, chaste kiss.
“Yeah, if she’ll have me. It’d make me the luckiest man on the planet to have both of you in my life, together.”
Smiling against his lips, I turned my head to see Franny watching us with a hopeful expression. “I think it’s safe to say we both love you and want to keep you.”
She nodded her head enthusiastically. “Yes, we will marry you!” she exclaimed.
Captain chuckled and held out his other hand toward her.
She ran over to him and was careful not to hurt him as she let him pull her to his side.
“Got my girls,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “Makes all the paths I took to get me here worth every last mile.”
Franny didn’t understand the depth of that, but I did. One day, she would, too.