Nolan broke into another fit of giggles, and it caused a warmth to start in Erin’s heart and travel throughout her whole body. She stopped tickling him so she could wrap him in a tight hug. “Do you know how much I love you?” she asked as she held him up against her. This little boy was her whole world and the one thing that got her through most days.

“Love you.” Nolan placed a sloppy kiss on Erin’s cheek then wiggled out of her arms. “Let’s go to the pool.”

Nolan ran out of the room and down the stairs. Erin had only made it to the top of the steps when she heard him say, “Bear? You still here?”

She stopped to listen in on their conversation.

“I am,” Blair answered. “I heard you were going to the pool, and I love the pool.”

“Want to go with us?” Nolan asked, his voice squeaking the way it always did when he was really excited.

“Can I?” Blair asked. “Pretty please?”

“If Mommy says so, you can. She’s the boss.”

“She sure is.” Blair laughed. “I really hope she says yes. I want to see what a good swimmer you are.”

“I’m the best swimmer.”

“Then it looks like you’ll have to teach me. I’m not that good.”

“Okay.”

The sound of hands slapping together in a high five filled the house, bringing a smile to Erin’s face. Blair might not meet the standards of most parents, but this conversation was enough to convince Erin that she was the right fit for their family.

“Who wants to go to the pool?” Erin asked as she finally made her way down the stairs.

When she rounded the corner at the bottom of the stairs, both Nolan and Blair had their hands raised. Nolan bounced up and down as he looked between Erin and Blair. “Can Bear come to the pool? I need to teach her to swim.”

“How could I say no to that?” Erin smiled at Blair and mouthed the words I’m sorry.

Blair waved a hand at her as if to say it was no big deal, and the three of them headed out the door. Neither Erin nor Blair was able to get a word in as they walked to the pool, because Nolan spent the whole time talking about everything he was going to do once they got there. As soon as they were inside the gates, Nolan ran toward their usual spot at the top of a small hill that overlooked the pool.

“No running,” Erin yelled after him.

With her warning, Nolan switched from a run to a speed walk that looked more like a waddle.

“He's a really cute kid,” Blair said as she walked next to Erin.