“I felt that, with Manuel, what’s in your eyes,” she said softly.
I again knew what she was saying.
“I’m glad,” I replied softly, and I was. I loved it that my friend had the splendor I was feeling.
“Feel it every time he looks at one of our children like he can’t believe they’re real.”
I loved that she had that, too. She deserved that. So did Manuel. So did the kids.
I felt tears sting my nose.
“Sometimes, he looks at me that way,” she carried on. “To this day.”
I turned to her, reaching out to clasp her hand.
She looked to me.
“I’m glad, honey,” I whispered.
“He gives you that,” she stated.
He did.
And him doing it gave me glee.
“Yes,” I replied.
Her lips tipped up. “I’m glad, Cassidy.”
I let her go but only to wrap my arms around her to give her a hug.
She gave it back to me.
When we were done, we didn’t let each other go. Not completely. We kept an arm around each other and turned to the scene by the river, Deacon handing the pole to Gerardo while Esteban and Araceli gathered close. He was bent to the boy and I knew giving instruction.
He was going to be a great daddy.
Yes.
Deacon gave me glee.
And he did it in a way I never thought he’d take it from me. I just believed he’d always give it, freely.
I guess I was stupid that way.
Chapter Sixteen
Say Something
I was upstairs in the bedroom.
Deacon was downstairs in the foyer with Bossy. They were training. She’d mastered the commands of “sit” and “down,” but she wasn’t real hip on “stay.”
Deacon was determined to make her that way.
It was hilarious. It was also cute.
Badass versus Boss Lady Puppy.