Her mind was telling her there was more to say, like the fact that he should do it without her present but Prentice also instantly let her go, turned and, taking her hand, strode from the room, dragging her behind them.
“Pren –” she started but it was too late.
They were in the great room, Prentice had wrapped an arm strong around her waist and he glued her to his side.
Then, without further ado, he announced, “Jace, Sally, Elle and I have something to say.”
“Pren –” Elle began again but it was Jason who interrupted her this time.
“Is Elle staying?” Jason asked and Elle looked at him.
He was studying his father and, Elle peered closer, not sure she believed her eyes, but she could swear he looked hopeful.
“Aye, Jace,” Prentice answered.
“For good?” Jason asked.
“Aye,” Prentice replied.
Elle watched in fascination as Jason’s ten year old boy’s body visibly relaxed and those beautiful eyes, his father’s eyes, warmed with something Elle couldn’t decipher, but was striking nonetheless (in a good way) and they came to her.
She had no time to process this.
“Hurrah!” Sally shouted and ran to them, throwing her arms around both Prentice and Elle’s legs but even attached to them, she was jumping up and down.
Elle thought that outside of Prentice’s kisses, his lovemaking, waking up in his arms (even when he was grumpy), seeing his devilish grin, watching him come home and talking to him on the phone, Sally’s hugs were the best thing she’d ever experienced in her life.
But she’d been wrong.
Sally hugging both her and Prentice while jumping up and down excitedly at the thought that Elle was moving in while Jason gazed at her with that look in his eyes was the best thing she’d ever experienced in her life.
And it was so much the best thing, the feeling overwhelmed her and she burst into tears.
She was moved fully into Prentice’s arms; she wrapped her own around him and held on while shoving her face in his neck.
She heard Sally ask worriedly, “Why is Elle crying?”
Sally’s worry made Elle cry harder.
“She’s happy, baby,” Prentice answered, his hand running soothingly up and down Elle’s back.
“Happy?” Sally asked, now sounding confused.
“More like mental,” Jason muttered, sounding amused.
At Jason’s mutter, Elle giggled through her sobs.
“Is Elle laughing too?” Sally asked, now sounding really confused.
“Yes, baby,” Prentice answered, sounding like his son.
“Girls,” Jason mumbled, “totally mental.”
Elle’s tears subsided but her laughter didn’t and she held onto Prentice but twisted her neck to look at the children.
She wished she was the kind of person who knew how to say the right thing, something strong, something momentous, something that would mark this occasion in a happy way for them all forever.
But Elle wasn’t that kind of person.