a complete lunatic? It’s okay, you can tell me the truth.”
“Sometimes?”
“Haha, very funny.”
“You’re a complete lunatic, but you’re my lunatic, and I love you.”
“I know I’m not easy to live with—”
Nolan put his arms around her and silenced her with a kiss. “You’re the most entertaining, wonderful, exasperating, delightful, beautiful, animal-loving lunatic I’ve ever met, and I wouldn’t change a single thing about you.” He paused for a second, seeming to reconsider his words. “Except how you treat full-grown moose like they’re puppies. That I would change.”
“Oh stop. It’s Fred. He’s not going to hurt me.”
“I want you to suspend your moose-whispering while you’re pregnant. That’s nonnegotiable.”
Hannah gave him a calculating look. “And you’ll let Dexter come inside for a visit?”
“A short visit.”
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
“When are we going to tell all the people about the baby?” she asked him.
“In a few months, so he can be all ours for a while.”
“He?”
“God, I hope so. I could use some help around here.”
Hannah laughed all the way back to bed.
Time became Landon’s greatest enemy. Seconds, minutes, hours, days passed in a blur of work and endless obligations that kept him separated from Amanda. They talked every day, sometimes more than once a day, but their conversations were always rushed with one or the other being needed for something.
Kelly’s condition had deteriorated rapidly. Amanda and Stella spent most of every day with her at the hospice facility.
When he talked to her, Amanda sounded drained from trying to support Stella through the difficult ordeal.
On the fifteenth day they’d spent apart, the night before Landon was due to go to New York for a two-day visit, Amanda told him not to come.
“I won’t get to spend any time with you,” she said.
Landon wanted to argue with her, to tell her he’d been living for that visit, but he didn’t say anything.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, sounding tearful. “This is the hardest thing I’ve ever been through, and I just need to give Stella everything I’ve got right now. Please tell me you understand.”
“I do.”
“Are you mad?”
“No, I’m disappointed. I was looking forward to seeing you.”
“You’ll see me soon. Unfortunately, Kelly doesn’t have much time left.”
Landon felt like hell for making this about himself. “I wish there was more I could do for you and Stella.”
“Hearing your voice every day is what’s getting me through.”
“Did you get a chance to look at the email with the list of rentals I sent you?”
“Not yet, but I’ll do it tonight.”
“I’d like to have something ready for you and Stella when you come home.”
“That’d be great. I’ll let you know.”
“There’s one I really like that I don’t think will be available for long. It’s a farmhouse on two acres. That’d give us room for some chickens and maybe a goat or two. They said there might even be an option to buy in a couple of years if we’re interested.”
“Stella would love to have chickens and goats. She’s crazy about animals.”
“Did you tell her about Dexter and his big adventure?”
“I did. She can’t wait to meet him and Fred. She can’t believe your sister actually talks to moose. She wanted to know if she can, too.”
“I hope you told her she can do whatever she wants.”
“I told her no such thing, Landon!”
“You sound like a mom, babe.”
“Do I?” she asked softly.
“You do.”
“I love her so much. It’s killing me to see her going through this.”
“I know. She’s very lucky to have you there with her.”
“Some of Kelly’s college friends came to see her yesterday, which was nice, but Stella barely knows them. From what I can tell, Kelly focused all her energy on her daughter and her job and didn’t have a lot of close friends.”
“Stella will have a much bigger life here with us.”
“I feel so guilty,” she said in the soft whisper she used when she didn’t want Stella to overhear her. “Yearning for that life.”
“You shouldn’t feel guilty, sweetheart. You’re giving Kelly incredible peace of mind at the end of her life.”
“Yeah. But still… I miss you so much.”
“I miss you, too. More than I can say.”
“Will you still love me when this is over?”
“I’ll love you forever.”
“Thank you for that, for everything. I should go. Stella’s having a rough day. I need to check on her.”
“Call me tomorrow, and check that email.”
“I’ll do it tonight. I promise.”
Landon didn’t want to hang up. “Stay strong.”
“I’m trying. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
He waited until he heard the click on her end before he put down the phone, rather than give