Which she then, of course, took very seriously.
She’d taken hold of the card like it was evidence in a crime investigation, squinting at the letters even though she stillcouldn’t read. Then looking up at me with wide eyes, she’d whispered, “You think it’s a prince?”
“A prince?” I’d repeated, like I was really considering it. “Maybe.”
But after a few weeks of this routine, Charlotte had another idea occur to her. After Theo had disappeared upstairs to change out of his suit, she’d scooted closer to where we’d been working at the counter. Then after checking to make sure her dad was nowhere in sight, she’d whispered, “What if it’s my daddy?”
Which, of course, made my heart instantly race as my mind replayed all the interactions Theo and I had had during that week to figure out if we had slipped up and showed a little too much affection in front of his sweet little girl.
But trying to remain as nonchalant as I could, I kept my face neutral as I shrugged and said, “Who knows?”
Charlotte’s gaze dropped to the flowers. Then, in a voice I could barely hear, she whispered, “I hope it is.”
Which completely melted my heart and had me crossing my fingers that it wouldn’t be too much longer before Theo and I felt ready to tell her the truth.
That yes, my secret admirer really was her dad.
And that I had a pretty big crush on him, too.
53
THEO
I restedmy head back against the headrest, letting the steady hum of the plane settle into my bones.
Maui was still about an hour away, and by this time tomorrow I’d be wearing a badge, shaking hands, and sitting through panels with other attorneys while I daydreamed about ocean air and building sandcastles on the beach.
But for now, the only thing I had to do was sit here and enjoy the rare pocket of downtime between the two girls who had me completely wrapped around their fingers.
Charlotte was zonked out in the window seat, her little body sprawled across my lap. One side of her curls had gone flat, her mouth slightly parted as she breathed.
Nora was on my other side, her head tipped onto my shoulder, our hands intertwined and hidden under the corner of Charlotte’ s blanket.
And man, did it feel good. Just having her beside me on the plane like this. Knowing we had each other.
For so long after Alisha died, the future had looked like a hallwaywith no doors. Just years stretched out in a dark, endless line.
I’d told myself during that phase of my life that I just needed more time to move on. More healing. More distance.
But sitting here now, with my heart so full and hopeful about the future, I knew it had never been about waiting for some magical day where I’d wake up “fixed.”
It was about finding the right person to make moving forward feel possible.
About finding Nora.
I squeezed her hand, just soaking in the peacefulness of this moment. Reveling in the warmth that spread throughout my chest, feeling gratitude over the fact that my heart had finally remembered how to expand.
And when Nora shifted, lifting her face just enough to press a gentle kiss to my cheek, I couldn’t help but just feel so happy. So content because I really was the luckiest man in the world.
Holding the hand of an amazing woman, with my sleeping princess on my other side.
Nora’s thumb traced once over my knuckles, and knowing we only had a little bit of time left before Charlotte was awake and able to hear everything we said, I whispered, “I’ve been thinking a lot about something and was wondering if I could get your opinion on it.”
“You have?” Nora lifted her head, lashes fluttering as she looked up at me. “What is it?”
“It’s about us,” I said, then nodded toward the little girl sprawled across my lap. “If it’s okay with you, I think it’s time we tell Charlotte about us.”
“You think so?” she asked, her eyes searching mine.