ones who want to…” She winks. “Fill their hearts with a little faith.”
“That sounds…” I trail off, lost for words.
Her smile widens as she turns her back, starts walking away. Over her shoulder, she says, “It was really nice meeting you, Mia.”
How did she—“Wait!” I call out. “How do you know my name?”
She spins on her heels, starts walking backward. “Your Leo’s told me so much about you.”
Chapter Ninety
Leo
“Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!” Benny shouts, jumping on the bed beside me.
I crack one eye open first, then the other. Then I growl, pulling on Benny’s legs until he falls back on the mattress. I tickle his sides until he squirms, laughing and shouting, “Stop! I’m going to wee!”
“Stop. He will wee… all over your new mattress,” Mia warns, coming out of the bathroom adjusting her clothes. She’s already showered and dressed, and I’m still half asleep and confused.
“I didn’t know we were going to the farm this early,” I mutter, reaching for my phone on the nightstand. It’s just hit nine, which is a huge sleep-in for me, but still…
I lie back down when Benny pushes on my bare shoulder and gets his pajama-clad body under the covers with me. He lifts my hand and tucks himself under the crook of my arm. “So cozy cozy,” he mumbles. “I’m going to sleep right here, with you, every single night, Leo!”
I tense, my eyes pleading with Mia to say something.
Look, I love my son; that’s not a question. But I also love his mom. And I love the things I get to do to his mom in this very bed.
“Who’s going to watch over your rocks if you’re in here every night?” Mia asks, hands on her hips, one eyebrow cocked. She’s so smart. How does she do that?
“Oh yeah!” Benny says, running his hand over the stubble on my jaw.
“And we’re not going to the farm yet,” she says, walking to the end of the bed. She tugs hard on the covers until there’s nothing left over us.
Benny and I whine, holding each other closer to keep warm. “Mama!” we both yell, and she rolls her eyes.
“It’s Sunday,” she says, as if that’s supposed to mean something. When I give her a blank stare, she scowls. “It’s Sunday Family Breakfast!”
I sit up, taking Benny with me. “But—”
“Hurry up!” she orders. “I don’t want to be late for my first one!” She starts walking away, and I attempt to go to her, but Benny’s climbing my torso, and so I take him with me.
I catch her just before she leaves the room. “Baby, wait.” I pull on her arm, and when she turns to me, she’s smiling. I search her eyes for any doubt or worry, but all I see are clear, light brown eyes I want to get lost in. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” she says, keeping her eyes on mine a breath longer so she can show me how sure she is. “Let’s get you dressed, Benny.” She takes the climbing monkey off my back and leads him toward his room, saying, “We’re going to see all your dad’s family…”
Benny still doesn’t react to this, which, yeah, I’m starting to get a little bummed about.
Mia adds, “Your uncles will be there, maybe even your aunt and your cousin.”
“Princess!”
Benny holds my hand while gripping one of his rocks and minerals books in the other. According to Mia, he refuses to leave the house without a book, which isn’t fun on her back and shoulders, considering she’s the one who has to carry it in her bag. I promised to start buying him lighter, more compact ones.
Looking over at Mia, I ask one more time, “Are you sure?”
She inclines her head toward the door of my childhood home. “Open the door, baby.” Then she squares her shoulders. “I got this.”
“I love you,” I tell her, because I do, and she should know.
She smirks. “I know.”
“Oooh,” Benny squeals. “Mother lo—”
Mia covers his mouth, and I brace myself and open the door.
The twins are half asleep on a couch each, and Lachlan’s curled in a ball on Mom’s old chair. Dad’s sitting in his recliner—in his boxer shorts, a white tee with coffee stains on the front, and a piece of toast halfway to his mouth. “What are you…” He trails off, swiping crumbs off his T-shirt.
“Sunday Family Breakfast,” I mutter, looking around the house. It’s dead quiet. The TV isn’t even on.