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“No.” Kelsey shook her head. “You don’t need a protector. But you are going to have a couple of hard conversations. What if you need me to hold you?”

“I always need you to hold me,” Isabella said. “It won’t be hard with the boys and if I need a hug they will do the job until we’re in Denver.”

Kelsey sighed. “I know you need to do this on your own and in your own way, but you’re not alone.”

“I know that,” Isabella said, leaning over and kissing Kelsey softly. “I’ll never be alone again.”

Kelsey nodded.

They both got out of the car and Kelsey took her bag from the back seat.

“I’ll walk you to security then maybe we’ll make out and cause a scene,” Isabella teased.

“I know what you’re doing,” Kelsey said, reaching for Isabella’s hand as they crossed the street.

“What am I doing? Am I trying to find my courage so I won’t cry when you walk through that security gate?”

“Just know that if you cry then I’ll cry and it will be an even bigger scene,” Kelsey said.

Isabella chuckled. “We are so fucking sappy.”

As they neared the security checkpoint Isabella said, “I put something in your suitcase for when you get home. Don’t forget to take a picture when you get to your seat.”

“And I’ll call you when I get home,” Kelsey added.

They faced each other and Isabella smiled. “I love you.”

Kelsey swallowed the lump in her throat. “I love you, babe.”

They pressed their lips together in a tender kiss and held each other for a moment.

“See you next month.” Isabella smiled.

“See you next month,” Kelsey replied.

Kelsey went into her bedroom and sighed. It was so quiet. She’d just gotten off the phone with Isabella and the boys.

Isabella had recounted how she had explained to the boys that Kelsey was her girlfriend. She said the biggest smile grew on Wyatt’s face and his response had been, “That’s so cool, Mom.”

Gus had asked her if they held hands and kissed sometimes. Isabella had answered yes, as she held in her laughter.

The other thing they wanted to know was if that meant they’d get to see Kelsey more often. She and Isabella agreed that from now on Kelsey would be spending a few days in Charlotte around their monthly trips.

Kelsey couldn’t believe all the emotions of the day. Leaving Isabella at the airport had been one of the hardest things she’d ever done.

That was followed by what had to be one of the happiest moments of her life so far. The boys wanted to know if Dana and Emma were part of their family now since Kelsey was.

Tears stung the back of Kelsey’s eyes as she opened her suitcase. She blinked a few times unsure of what she was seeing.

There, on top of her clothes, was the shirt Isabella had slept in last night.

“Oh, baby.”

Kelsey picked it up and pressed it to her face, inhaling deeply. She could smell the sweet scent of Isabella. Her heart clenched in her chest as the happy tears began to fall, but then a sharp pang of longing almost took her breath away.

At that moment Kelsey realized what she had to do.

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