Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“I love this for Grace,” Leila said. “She only had Marcy and me before this. I’m surprised she isn’t too shy to interact.”
“She doesn’t seem in the least afraid,” Nonny agreed. “You’re raisin’ a very confident young lady. She’ll be pure steel, just like Ginger. You want that, Leila. A woman can be soft when she wants to be and steel when she needs to be.” She laughed softly. “The goal is to let a child have their own personality, their own goals, dreams and beliefs. You want that for them. You want them to be able to stand up for what they want or need. You want them to stand up for those less fortunate who can’t do it for themselves. But…” She laughed again.
The sound of Nonny’s laughter brought warmth and closeness, as if she were sharing a secret world with Leila.
“But?” Diego encouraged.
“You raise them right, you’re goin’ to have them standin’ up to you. Arguin’. Going against your rules. Decidin’ for themselves what they want, long before it’s good for them.”
Leila sighed. “I was that child. Bridget was always the rule follower. I think it’s so funny when I see things on the Internet indicating the firstborn is the angel child and the second a little demon. I was always the one driving my parents crazy with questions. I questioned everything. It had to make sense to me, or I wasn’t going to listen. I was lucky in that my parents were very much science-based and didn’t mind explaining everything to me. Ginger definitely reminds me of me when I was a child.”
“And you’ve grown out of that?” Diego teased. He bent down to nuzzle the space between her neck and shoulder. “Just remember, I’m excellent at hearing lies.”
Leila burst out laughing. “I’m not sure I’ll ever grow out of needing explanations. And I fully admit to being stubborn. I’m not proud of that trait, but it’s there.”
“There’s nothin’ wrong with holdin’ your own opinion if you can honestly say you listened and did your research,” Nonny said. “You have the right and sometimes the duty to stay strong in the face of everyone else tellin’ you different.”
Leila sent Diego a teasing grin. “I think your grand-mere is a very wise woman.”
“I think Grand-mere has found a way that sounds logical to allow you to get your way.”
“Diego,” Nonny said, pinning him with her laughing gaze. “I believe Miss Leila is goin’ to get her way, even more than that adorable child you’re already so in love with.”
Leila’s breath caught in her throat as Diego’s gaze swung to Grace. The toddler was fully engaged in a conversation with Pepper. It was the look on Diego’s face, the hard lines, soft now, his features filled with warmth, and his eyes…his eyes. Those dark eyes, looking like velvet, were soft with love. There was no other word for it. Diego had fallen for Grace. He’d claimed her fully just as he’d claimed Leila. He was all in, happy to be her father.
“You makin’ it legal?” Nonny asked. Her tone was mild.
Diego nodded. “Just as soon as we bring Bridget home. I’ve already got the necessary paperwork going for the marriage and adoption.”
They had talked marriage. She hadn’t brought up adoption, a part of her fearing he would have a wrong answer. She wouldn’t be with someone, no matter how much she wanted to, if he didn’t embrace her daughter.
“Adoption?” she echoed, trying to keep her tone neutral.
“She’s ours, isn’t she?” Diego asked. His intent gaze didn’t leave her face. Waiting.
Leila nodded slowly. “Yes, she’s ours. I just thought you would wait.”
“For what?” He sounded genuinely puzzled. “You’re going to marry me. Spend your life with me. That means that little girl will spend her life with me as her father. I never want her to think she wasn’t wanted. I want her to grow up knowing exactly who her father is and that she was wanted from the first moment you told me about her.”
He could melt her heart in seconds. He always seemed to say the exact thing she needed to hear. “How can you be so certain?”
“Sweetheart, you committed your life to mine when you left Chariot and took a leap of faith. I’m not doing any less.” He flashed her that slow, beautiful smile that sent butterflies winging through her stomach. “Truth is, Leila, I know. In my heart. In my soul. I know we belong together.”
She knew it as well; she just didn’t understand how it had happened so fast. How it was so intense. She couldn’t look at him without her heart skipping a beat.
Pepper made her way back to the porch. There were four rocking chairs set out, and Pepper took the one positioned at an angle so she could face Nonny and yet still keep an eye on her children. “They’re so happy little Grace is here.” She fanned herself, and Nonny reached into a small cooler that sat by her chair and handed Pepper a bottle of water from it. “I’m glad. I was a little afraid they would be jealous when the babies first came.” She smiled serenely. “You can see how they are with Grace. They’re very much the same, maybe more so, with the twins. From the moment the twins were born, the three of them wanted to take care of them.”