“We’ll go see the cows and then go sledding. Maybe Finley would like to race down the hill with you, Victoria, and I’ll go with Hannah.” She laughed at the loud screeching and the look Emma gave her when Billy startled and lifted his head. “The only way we can go is if you guys go to bed and get some sleep.”

“Mama,” Victoria said loudly, “can I stay with Hannah?”

“I swear, you’re worse than Fin,” Abigail said as she made a lower-the-volume motion with her hands in her daughter’s direction. “She loves to rile these guys up right before bedtime.”

“I do not,” Finley said as she held Liam by his ankles upside down. Once Emma stopped reading, all the kids seemed to come to life.

“Emma can tell you that good girls never rule the world, and she was the best at being a good girl when I met her. Look at her now,” she said and winked at Abigail. “And tomorrow we’re going sledding, followed by hot chocolate. Tonight, though, it’s time for bed.” She stood with both little girls in her arms. “Go and kiss everyone, and I’ll walk you two upstairs.”

“I’ll come with you,” Abigail said as she rose and kissed Sadie’s forehead as she started putting her coat on. “Go with Fin, baby, and I’ll be right there.”

“I’ll walk you over, Sadie,” Hayden said, and Sadie appeared thrilled.

Cain nodded and was proud of their kid. Hayden seemed to understand that Abigail’s kids needed the extra attention after everything they’d been through. Sadie was young, but she’d found a good friend in Hayden, and they spent a lot of time together talking about books and movies. Hayden was Cain’s heir, and while that would take strength, she also wanted him to be compassionate when necessary.

“Come on, monkeys,” she said after the little girls said their good nights. She and Abigail got them ready for bed, and Victoria borrowed some flannel pajamas from Hannah. Cain told them a story of her father and his siblings, which was how she’d started teaching Hayden about their family. Victoria was an Antakov by birth, but with Abigail and Finley’s help, she’d create a new history they could be proud of.

She stopped talking when both girls had fallen asleep holding hands. Abigail was sitting on the other side of the bed and was staring at her with an expression she couldn’t decipher. “Everything okay?”

“This is a wonderful place,” Abigail said as she ran her hand along Victoria’s hair. “And your family is great.”

“I think so, but it’s okay to tell me if there’s something on your mind. I’d like to think I’m not that scary, and I don’t ever mind questions.”