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„If we haven’t met before, it’s good to meet you now, Sam Rutherford.“

There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that what she saw in his face was her future. Happy, earnest, genuine, solid and real – he had an honest face, a trustworthy face. He glanced down, saw her hands and took one in his to examine it as if he’d never seen one before… or maybe to determine if it was strong enough to hold his heart. Finally, he wove his fingers between hers and held them with his other hand.

„How would you like to walk over to Kerry Park and see a spectacular view of the Sound? It’s only a few blocks away, an easy walk even in those shoes.“

„I know where it is.“ She stood and he came up with her. „Can we bring the dog along?“

„That was my plan. If we wear him out with a walk I can put him to bed early, get my niece to sit with him and then we can go out for a drink, or di

She smiled her approval of his plan and he turned to Charlie, who was still on all fours, humming an oddly familiar tune. „Hey, Big Guy, wa

„Woof. Woof.“

Big Guy. An endearment. She imagined him calling her honey or sweetie or dear and her stomach didn’t hiss and spit. She’d answer to his sugar and darling… but not babe. There was just something about babe that rubbed her wrong.

She put out her free hand hoping Charlie would give her one of his. „Can I hold your leash, little doggie, so you don’t get lost?“

„Woof.“ He shook his head. „My boy has my leash.“

„Your boy?“

„My new friend.“ He turned his head and looked pointedly into thin air. „He’s four like me.“

She looked at Sam who shrugged to say you-know-kids and gri

„What did you name your new friend?“ Sam asked him, playing along.

Charlie looked confused. „I didn’t name him nothing. He gots a name already.“

„Then please introduce us.“ He started them down the path toward the gate. She felt him hesitate at her side and turned her head in time to catch him sniffing the air. „Do you smell that?“

She inhaled deeply, smelled nothing and took a wild guess. „Christmas?“

„Yes!“ He was confused and amazed.

„That’s Mel,“ said Charlie, proud of his pal. „He smells like cookies, doesn’t he, Dad?“

Sam sniffed again, moved his head about to catch a second whiff but it was gone – his adult defenses were up. Charlotte had a sudden, brilliant thought and squatted down to the boy’s level; her smile was casual and cu

„Charlie, you know how your long name is really Charles Rutherford?“ He nodded. „What’s Mel’s long name? Do you know?“

Charlie giggled. „Sure. It’s dumb. He sang me the song to it. He says it sticks in your head and you can’t get rid of it.“

„What is it?“

„Mellow Lemon Yellow.“

„Mellow Yellow?“

„Donovan,“ said Sam, identifying the song immediately. He laughed. „Your pal’s a hippie, Big Guy.“





„What’s a hippie?“

Epilogue

„Careful now, Big Guy.“

„Keep your eyes closed tight, Mom.“

„I will, Charlie. Just don’t walk me into another wall. I’ll break my nose.“

She felt Sam’s strong arm across her lower back and knew she had nothing more to worry about. Charlie was so excited his six-year-old fingers could barely hold still long enough to keep a good grip on hers as he led her up the stairs and down the hall toward his bedroom.

They were married, the three of them – that’s what Charlie told everyone. Charlotte adopted him the same day she married his dad, so they were a real, true family now.

The ink had barely dried on those papers when they were signing again for a pretty three-story Victorian in the university district. All three of them fell in love with the old house and had spent every spare minute and extra dime restoring it. Sam, who’d put himself through college working construction every summer, was a wonderful carpenter.

In her opinion, there wasn’t anything he couldn’t do with a hammer and a piece of wood.

„We’re almost there. No peekin.’“

„I promise. No peeking.“

But when they were halfway down the hall and should have turned left into Charlie’s room, they proceeded on to the next room, an unfinished room they had plenty of plans for but not enough time or money, just yet. She knew when they passed through the doorway as Sam stepped back and used his free hand at the small of her back to guide her safely to the center of the room.

The first thing she noticed was the soft scent of new paint and wallpaper paste – two smells she now knew as well as coffee and bacon. She felt a soft breeze on her left and heard the gentle rustle of fabric. The window was open and… there were curtains. But how -?

„Okay, Mom. Open your eyes!“

„Oh!“ was all she could say with her heart stuck in her throat.

They’d finished the room. Sanded and refinished the floors, built in shelves as had been discussed, removed all the old painted trim and replaced it with finished maple to match the floors. The furniture she and Sam picked out and bought together, and had temporarily set up in their bedroom, stood exactly where she’d dreamed of putting it – well, the crib was six inches too close to the window, but everything else was right on. He’d even remembered the pale apple-green walls and the pink buttons-and-bows trim she’d picked out if the baby was a girl.

„Sam. Sam.“ Her eyes welled with tears mat were only half-hormonal as she watched him shift their daughter, Lily, from the curve of his left arm into the crib. He fussed with the receiving blanket then put his big hand lightly over the baby’s small torso, clearly checking her breathing and heartbeat, before he turned back to Charlotte. „Sam.“

„Me, too, Mom, I helped.“

„You must have or it wouldn’t have gotten done so quickly, and it wouldn’t be nearly so beautiful. Thank you, Charlie.“ Still a little fragile from the delivery, she bent at the waist, spread her arms wide and held him tight as he hugged her. He was so sturdy and strong compared to Lily. She kissed the top of his head and he ran off, too excited to stand still.

„When did you do all this?“ Her face glowed as she turned to Sam. „You were with me all day Tuesday and most of yesterday. When did you have time?“

„I had a little help.“ He looked tired but as pleased with his efforts as she was – though when their eyes met she could see it made him even happier knowing she was pleased. „That all-day shopping trip with the girls. Marty’s two-day yard sale. The afternoons you visited Mrs. Kludin-ski, she’d call when you were on your way home. It was pretty much a conspiracy.“ He gri

„I do. I love it. It’s perfect.“ She heard Charlie in his room next door. She glanced at the baby, pale and pink and sleeping peacefully. Mother of two, wife of one, was this really her life? She watched the late afternoon sun stir red in Sam’s dark brown hair, fell in love all over again with the way his eyes lit up when he looked at her. Oh yeah, it was her life all right, and she wouldn’t change a second of it. „The room is perfect. We’re perfect. How can this be?“

A few happy tears spilled down her cheek, and he chuckled. The only times he’d seen her cry was when she was too happy to do anything else. Taking her hand, he led her across the room to an easy chair that both swiveled and rocked and pulled her down onto his lap.

„It’s perfect because we both remember what it was like before we had this amazing, huge love in our lives, so we don’t take it for granted.“ Palming her left cheek, he dabbed at her tears with his thumb then pulled her close for a sweet lingering kiss. His lips were soft and skilled… and sensuous, as if each kiss was a new adventure. She sank into the moment, her head filled with the scent of him and new baby and… home. „You are my life, Charlotte.“