“I’ll help you.” Without waiting for her answer, I picked up Heath, the heavier of the twins. He didn’t wake but snuggled against my shoulder, and my heart swelled with love for my boy. Caro picked up Hailey. We carried them to their respective beds. I tucked Heath in, and Mona lay down at the foot of his bed. I found Caro sitting on the edge of Hailey’s bed, gazing at her daughter.

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” I put my hands on Caro’s shoulders and squeezed. She looked up at me, and I saw the love in her eyes, not for me but for her children.

“They’re my miracle,” she said.

You’re mine.

I didn’t say the words, but I wanted to. The reality of those words, those deep feelings, slammed into me. If I hadn’t been holding on to her shoulders, I think my knees would’ve buckled from the weight of my revelation.

~~Caroline~~

After I put the kids to bed, Easton followed me out to the living room. He didn’t show any inclination toward going home. Mona followed us out of the kids’ bedrooms. She had this innate sense I was the one she had to win over. She sat next to me and laid her huge head in my lap, gazing up at me with sad eyes. I was a softie for animals, and she was melting my resistance. I ran a hand over her soft fur.

Easton grinned as he handed me a glass of wine and once more took a seat next to me. The room was bathed in a glow of flickering Christmas lights from the tree. I was well-fed, content, and mellow. A peace I hadn’t felt in years settled over me. I hadn’t realized how much stress I’d been under when I’d been married to Mark, always trying to measure up to Mark’s and his parents’ standards and always falling short. I’d never been good enough. But right now at this special moment, I was good enough.

Mona nudged my hand with her wet nose, encouraging me to pet her. Easton smiled knowingly.

“She really likes you,” he said.

“She likes everyone.”

“Maybe. Mona had a tragic past. Ice’s wife works with the Newfie rescue. She’d been in a loving family, and the father shot them all, then shot himself. She ended up in a few different homes, and they didn’t take care of her. Then the rescue got ahold of her. Avery thought she’d be perfect for the kids.”

“Remind me to thank Avery,” I said sarcastically, but we were keeping the dog. She’d wormed her way into Heath’s heart, and I wouldn’t separate them. Besides, her tragic story spoke to me. “Did she witness the shootings?”

“Yeah, they found her lying in a pool of blood with her big body curled around the little boy, as if she were trying to warm him up.”

“Oh, poor girl.” She gave my hand a single lick as if she knew we were talking about her.