Page 66 of Back to You

“You sure did.” His bright smile made my chest squeeze and flutter simultaneously. God, I loved him. I loved him so much. Honestly, he could’ve brought home a potbelly pig and I would’ve accepted it into our hearts, no questions asked.

“Hmm.” I thought about it for a moment. Holding the kitten out away from me, so I could study his sleepy eyes and sooty whiskers, I hummed. “What about Tiramisu? You know, after that dessert we had in Florida? That wassogood.”

“How could I forget? And that’s adorable, for the record.”

I tapped my finger atop the kitten’s speckled nose. “Tiramisu it is.”

Dane bit his lip and hugged me to his side. “Ready?”

“Kitten of courage? Check. So yes.” I slid my hand into his and, with Tiramisu draped over my shoulder, we walked into the kitchen. Mrs. Fisher was swaying from side to side in front of the counter, humming along with the radio.

Dane gently rapped his knuckles against the doorframe. “Mom? We’re home.”

Mrs. Fisher spun around. The minute she saw us, she gasped—and promptly burst into tears. “Oh, Hollister. Oh, honey… Come here. God, it’s been so long.” She held her arms out to me, and I let myself be folded into her warm embrace. She squeezed me tightly, like she couldn’t believe I was really here. “You came back to us.”

“I did,” I uttered. “We’re family, remember?”

“That we are, honey. That we are.” When she let me go, her eyes were shiny with unshed tears, but her smile was brighter than the sun. She looked me over, then glanced between me and Dane. Her gaze settled on our joined hands and she began crying once more. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I’m just a little overwhelmed,” she said with a breathy laugh, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. She pointed at me in warning. “Don’t you go disappearing again, Hollister Bay. Do you hear me?”

Dane and I both grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Now put that kitten down and go wash up for dinner.”

“Hey, Hols?” Dane bent down, all of a sudden, and when he stood back up, he held a little gray tabby in his hands. He bit his lip with an ornery smile and tucked the kitten to his chest. “Just thinking out loud here, but what do you think about bringing hometwokittens?”

I grinned so big my face hurt. Oh, Custard would mutiny, but screw it.

“I think that sounds like a great idea.”

* * *