Page 38 of The Last Thing (Baker Girls #4)

“What’s up, sweetheart?” Hallie gently runs her fingers through Sophia’s hair.

“I wanted to ask you…” She bites her lip and looks at me, so I give her an affirming nod.

“Go ahead.”

She takes a big breath, then looks at Hallie, eyes shimmering. “Now that Hope is here, and she’ll call you Mommy, I was wondering if I could call you Mommy too.” She rushes out the words, her big heart on full display.

Hallie’s eyes fill with tears. “Oh, honey. I would love that. As long as?—”

Sophia’s smile is giant as she jumps in. “Daddy already said I could. He just said I had to ask you.”

Hallie wraps Sophia in her arms. “I’d love that. And I love you.” She looks at me and whispers, “I love us.”

With one hand splayed over Hope’s back, I reach for Hallie’s hand with the other.

It hasn’t even been a year since she walked into my life and changed everything, but I never want to go back.

Not to the man I was before, and not to the life I had.

There were beautiful things, but it was dull without her.

For me and for Sophia. Now our lives are filled with the beautiful mixture of peace and wildness that Hallie brings, and the vibrant joy we’ve created together.

Hallie

I used to think of home as an apartment in the city. A place where I laughed with my friends and family and crashed after long days of nannying.

Now this is home.

The trees and flowers in the backyard blooming. The windows cracked open, letting in the cool spring air, the birdsong outside, and the sound of cars going by. It’s the place I spend my days with my family, whether there’s laughter, tears, or sleepless nights.

There’s been a lot of those lately.

It’s only been a week since Hope was born and our beautiful little house officially became a home.

I set a cup of coffee on the table next to the couch for Wilson, who smiles up at me and catches my hand.

I give it a squeeze before setting my tea on the coffee table and curling up next to him on the couch.

He wraps his arm around me as he yawns, one hand constantly cradling Hope, who is asleep on his chest.

He’s an incredible dad.

It’s crazy to me that not so long ago, I felt completely alone and didn’t know if my baby would even know their father. Fate intervened—or maybe put me on this path in the first place.

As much as I like to tease Wilson about being a grumbly curmudgeon sometimes, he has the biggest, softest heart.

He’s up in the middle of the night as often as I am, usually helping me and making sure I have water or a snack while I’m nursing Hope. He’s rubbed coconut oil on my cracked nipples and soothed me every time I’ve felt like I was failing.

I love getting to do this with him by my side.

I love the way we laugh together and tease each other.

Though it’s easy to see now how quickly you can get lost in being a parent and nothing else, I’m determined to keep having fun with Wilson, which means scheduling date nights, and when Hope gets older, at least a couple of times each year when we have a night all to ourselves.

Sophia plops down beside me and snuggles up to me. “Mom, can we read a book?”

I still want to ugly cry every time she calls me mom.

I always knew I wanted to be a mom, but I had no idea how much becoming Sophia’s mom would mean to me.

I’ve become sappy and ridiculous, and I’d hate it if I wasn’t so happy.

“Yeah, of course. Go pick a good one.”

She skips upstairs to do that, and I rest my head on Wilson’s shoulder.

“How’s our little Hopie?”

“Enjoying sleep now. Finally.”

“Well, she’s in her favorite place.”

He flashes me a smile. “Her second favorite place. You have the milk, so your boobs will always be her favorite place. Can’t say I don’t understand.”

“Oh, I know you love those.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Good. Mostly.” Then I sigh. “My vagina hurts.”

Deck tries and fails to hold back a laugh, but he instantly claps a hand over his mouth, then watches Hope cautiously. We’re both terrified she might wake up. We barely sleep at this point, so getting some rest wherever we can is important, even if it’s not sleep.

Hope wiggles, sneezes, then goes back to sleep, and we both breathe sighs of relief.

“At least she’s cute,” I whisper, kissing her head.

“Of course she is. We made her.”

“Did you think this is where that night would lead us?”

“Not for a second, Hellion. But I knew I didn’t want to leave the next morning. Now I know why.”

“You could already sense the baby?” I tease.

“No. Some part of me knew you were mine, and I didn’t want to let you go.”

“Well, you’re stuck with me now. Good luck.”

Sophia bounds back down the stairs, several books in her hands.

“Yeah, I’ll probably go gray prematurely and question my life choices and my sanity, but you’re worth it.”

“Aw, thanks. You say the sweetest things.”

“I love you.”

“Love you too.”

He tilts his head and gives me a quick kiss, making Sophia smile.

“Ready to read?”

She nods and curls up next to me.

I open the book and start reading. We take turns voicing different characters, and occasionally she makes Wilson do a silly voice.

My fingers drift up to the necklace draped around my neck. I brush my thumb over the words. True Love.

“Now you’ll always remember the night you met your true love.”

I had no idea when I said that how right I was. Or maybe some part of me did know, and that’s why I picked the necklace.

My heart is home with my little family. I hate that I ever let the fear of losing love hold me back from loving in the first place, but I also know I never would’ve fallen as hard for anyone else.

I used to think the last thing I’d ever want to do was fall in love. Life, or maybe fate, proved me wrong.

Thank God I broke my rules—got tangled up with the man I was nannying for, and more importantly, let myself get lost in love.

Best decisions ever.

The End