“Salem,” she shot right back as she edged the rest of the way into the kitchen. She flipped on the light and moved directly for the coffee maker.
“Where are the kids?” I asked as I followed behind.
“They built a fort in my bedroom. Felt like I’d better keep an eye on those two before they ended up packing their bags and trying to walk to the moon. Cute as pie, but woo wee, those imaginations are running wild. Could barely keep up with the two of them.”
Love pressed full at my chest. “She’s a dreamer.”
“Mmhmm…” Mimi mused as she filled the carafe with water then poured it into the machine. “Just like her mother used to be.”
A huff of air left my nose as I sat on the stool at the tiny bar on the opposite side of the counter. “I used to be, didn’t I?”
I’d almost forgotten what that was like.
“You sure did, but you lost those dreams along the way.” She paused, glancing over at me. “More like someone snuffed them out.”
She reached over the counter and tipped up my chin so she could study my face. “But there they are…the spark of something new lighting in those beautiful eyes.”
A frown curled my brow, and I pulled my chin from her fingers and looked down. “I’m not sure I can go there, Mimi.”
“And why’s that, my girl? Why can’t you live? Didn’t Darius say it was time? Isn’t that why we’re here?”
Hope fluttered my heart.
Wings that lapped.
I needed to clip them before they took flight.
“And if I can’t stay? What if I love him, and I have to leave?” The true fear flooded out.
What it always came down to.
I didn’t exist.
I didn’t have a home.
As Mimi stared over at me, belief filled her expression. “And what if you don’t take this chance and you miss out on the most wonderful things in this life, Salem?”
Moisture filled my eyes, and she moved to the fridge and started taking ingredients out to make breakfast. Eggs and bacon. Milk and butter.
I got up, rounded the counter, and moved to the pantry to grab the pancake mix from the top shelf, already in tune with her, knowing that’s what she’d be after next.
She eyed me as I went, and when I hiked up onto my tiptoes to reach it, she mumbled from behind, “Well, at least he knows how to take care of my girl right. Looks like you can barely walk this mornin’。”
On a gasp, I whirled around. “Mimi.”
She cracked a smile, though there was something soft about it, too. “What? Don’t look so shocked. Every woman should be loved up right. I’m just relieved your looker knows what to do.”
“You don’t even know what he looks like,” I pointed out, like it was going to throw her off course.
“Don’t need to. Already can see it in your eyes, right there with those dreams that are flarin’ up. Clear as day, sweet girl.”
Right. Okay.
She could see right through me.
A second later, a commotion clattered from the hall. “Wakey, wakey! I smells the coffee, so you know whats that means, my mimi is gonna be making the bestest breakfast we ever ate.”
Footsteps pounded on the old floors, and a second later, Juni and Gage busted through the archway.
All grins.
Pure sweetness.
Life and beauty and hope.
My chest squeezed.
“Good mornin’， Miss Mimi and Miss Salem. Thank you so very much for letting me spend the night.” Gage took a seat at the little round table off to the side of the bar. “I am starvin’ marvin’。 I like my eggs scrambled, please.”
The words spilled from his mouth, manners galore.
The smile he created nearly broke my face.
Juni ran my way and threw her arms around my legs. My precious girl beamed up at me. “I hads the bestest time ever in evers, Mommy. I wants to stay livin’ next door to my best friend forever and ever. No more adventures, unless we comes right back. Is it a deal?”
She bounced when she begged it.
“I love her all the way to the sky,” Gage said, so matter of fact.
My spirit clutched. I touched my daughter’s chin. “I’m so happy you had a great time.” I deflected from answering her question by asking one of my own. “Were you two good for Mimi?”
Juni looked at me like I was crazy. “Um, yes, of course, we followed every single of all the rules. We don’t wants to go gettin’ into trouble and have to go to timeout all the way in Antarctica.”
“Gotta get all the A’s for our whole lives,” Gage added.
Wow.
Mimi chuckled. “My, my, those are some goals.”
“Well, my new mommy said it’s good to get the A’s, but the most important is that we always try our hardest, even if we don’t get ’em all every time, and she said we have to have the grace, even if we’re givin’ it to ourselves. She’s a teacher and the smartest in ever, you know.” The tornado of words whipped from his mouth.
“She sounds like a good mommy,” Mimi said as she took out a skillet.
“The best.” He gave a resolute nod.
So cute.
For so long, Juni and I had been alone, just the two of us.
Just the two of us.
Enough.
But still, there had always been something missing.
And now…my chest pressed full.
Hope. Hope. Hope.
How easy it’d be to fall into it.
Then I was jerking when I heard the light tapping at the front door.
Worry jumped into my bloodstream, and I frowned at Mimi who looked over at me in question.
“Wait right here,” I told the kids, and I edged into the living room and peered through the drape again.
My heart leapt into my throat, confusion and excitement and worry as I twisted the lock and opened the door to the gorgeous man waiting on the other side.
“Jud?”
He stood there with a bunch of flowers in his hands.
So big.
So handsome.
So overwhelming I felt the ground shake, that energy lapping through the cool air. Though this morning, it was different. It caressed and soothed and skimmed.
Soft, slow warmth that wrapped me in comfort.
“Hey there, darlin’。 Just thought I’d pop by to make sure you made it home safe last night.”
He winked at me.
My belly flipped.
“Uh—”
“Well, look at that.” Mimi’s voice hit from behind.
Jud smiled. Pure charm. “Ma’am.”
I was pretty sure my mimi could see right through him, too, because the man wasn’t exactly polite last night.
My stomach churned again. Desire and greed. I had the urge to throw my arms around him and hold him tight.
Reckless girl. This was only going to hurt all the more in the end.
But I guessed there was no stopping that destruction because Mimi stepped forward. “Well, what are you waitin’ on, my girl? Invite the man in. Coffee is almost ready. He’s right on time.”
There was no missing the glee in her voice.
“Oh, well, I wouldn’t want to impose,” Jud said, far too innocent.
“Nonsense, you sly dog, get in here. Breakfast is on the stove,” she said.
“Well, if you insist.” He stepped into our small house.