Beckett (Robinson Destruction #4) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,51

home. That she could love them and not have to worry about being broken-hearted when they had to move on. Because no one was going to make them move on.

Anna had another call, and when she left, Holly picked up her cell phone. That was something else that she and her brother had gotten. Phones that were theirs forever too. The word forever was taking on an entirely new meaning for her.

It took Holly five minutes of playing with the babies and finding the right emoji that she wanted to use. Setting up a text, her first text, she told Beck and Allie that she loved them. And that she wanted to be their forever daughter. Hitting send was the hardest thing she’d done. Holding her breath, she only hoped that they’d send her something back that would—

Her phone rang, and Allie’s face appeared. Answering it, Holly just knew that she was going to tell her not to text such nonsense to them again. But the excitement in her voice had Holly thinking they’d be making fun of her.

“I love you too, Holly. Beck is driving, but he said to tell you that he loves you and Conor so very much that he’s glad he gets to say that back to you. Oh, honey. We are so happy that you love us. We love you.” Allie laughed, and so did she. “You have no idea how happy you’ve made us just now. Thank you for letting us know. I will treasure this text message forever. I love you so much.”

When she ended the call a few minutes later, Holly felt on top of the world. When Conor came in, she told him what she and Anna had spoken about. Then she told him what she’d done by texting Allie and Beck. He asked her what they’d said.

“That they love me too.” Conor nodded and told her he wasn’t sure. “That’s okay, I think. You’ll fall in love with them on your own. I just needed to say that to them. Conor, we have cousins. Aunts and uncles. Grandparents. Nobody has ever given that to us before. Do you realize that we have so much right now that I’m about to bust with happiness?”

“I can tell.” He watched the babies with her, playing with them when they walked toward him. “I don’t know yet. I don’t want to love them, then have to tell them that I don’t. Morgan told me that he loved me a bit ago. It felt really good.” She told him it should. “I’ll think about it, okay?”

“Of course you can.” She giggled. “Conor, these kids, they’re adopted. Did you know that? All the kids so far have been adopted. I think that’s wonderful.”

He seemed shocked about it like she had been, but he didn’t say anything. Holly knew he’d come around. And when he did, he’d feel as good about it as she did. Being with the Robinsons had been everything she used to dream of in being a part of a family. And more, she realized. They were more than she could have hoped for.

~*~

It was strange to be out on a date with a man that she already loved. Allie was so happy right now that she wanted to race home and make sure Holly hadn’t changed her mind about how she felt about them. Beck asked her if she was still thinking about Holly.

“I am. It’s a great feeling to think that a person you’ve already fallen in love with loves you back.” He said that he loved her. “And I love you. But these kids— Holly, I’m sure it was difficult for her to say that. Anna told me they’re afraid to get attached. They don’t want to get heartbroken when we send them back. I’d never do that, but I do understand why they’d feel that way.”

“I do too. I can’t believe how lucky we are to have them with us. And having family around them is something I don’t think they’ve had a lot of. Morgan was showing Conor around the barn and the things he’d thought of as manly. He said that he seemed bored until he let him ride the lawnmower around the yard. That was when it occurred to me that he’d be driving in a couple of years.” They both laughed as they were being seated. “I’ve never eaten here before, but Rogen told me they’re wonderful. I have to thank her for getting us a