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“That’s right.”

“Why can’t you move, too?” Wyatt asked.

Gus gasped. “You could live with us!”

Kelsey looked at Wyatt and Gus. “Are you sure you want me around all the time?”

“Yes!” Gus exclaimed.

“Don’t you want to be with Mom?” Wyatt asked with a serious look on his face.

“I want to be with you and Gus, too,” Kelsey replied.

“What do you say, guys?” Isabella said, putting her arm around Kelsey. “Should we invite Kelsey to move in with us?”

A chorus of ‘yes’ echoed through the woods.

“Can we come back and visit Colorado?” Wyatt asked. “Dana said she’d teach me to ski.”

“We’re having a summer family vacation in the Virgin Islands,” Emma said. “Why not have a winter vacation on the mountain?”

“I like how she thinks,” Isabella said with a grin.

Kelsey gazed over at the ATV and saw happy smiles. She looked into Isabella’s eyes and saw joy there as well. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she said.

“Believe it, babe,” Isabella said, grabbing her cheeks. “We have a whole life to share.”

Isabella pressed their lips together as whoops of happiness echoed from the ATV.

36

“Ithink this calls for a celebration,” Isabella said as they started back to the car. “We have two brand new college graduates who are heading east and we’ve convinced Kelsey to come with them.”

“I don’t think you had to do much convincing.” Emma chuckled.

“When you know, you know. Right, babe?” Kelsey said.

“Right,” Isabella replied, squeezing Kelsey’s arm.

“Oh my God, Dana. Did you hear mom call Isabella babe?” Emma teased.

“I think it sounds fucking awesome,” Dana said then immediately covered her mouth. “Oops, I mean friggin’.”

Wyatt and Gus giggled. “We’ve heard Mom say that before.”

Isabella smirked. “Real life here.”

“Wyatt and Gus treated me to their favorite pizza place while I was in Charlotte. I think we should go by Angelo’s and show them our favorite,” Kelsey said.

“I’ll buy the beer,” Isabella added.

Kelsey ordered the pizza as they drove down the mountain. They picked it up on the way home and settled in for dinner and a movie.

After dinner Isabella helped Kelsey clean up the kitchen while the kids tried to decide on a movie. “Dana and Emma have been so good with the boys.”

“I think Emma is enjoying this calm before she hits the stormy world of politics in DC,” Kelsey said. “Dana has always enjoyed helping kids learn to ski and enjoy the mountains.”

“Yeah, but I thought they’d be partying with their friends since graduating,” Isabella said.