Page 83 of Edge of Steele
She took his hand and slid the bracelet onto his wrist. The pastel beads looked out of place on the athletic man with a rugged build, but his eyes glistened with unshed tears.
He knelt and looked her in the eyes. “This is the nicest gift I’ve ever gotten.”
Avery’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“Really.” Finn scooped her close for a hug, and a contented smile turned his lips up.
It was all Ryleigh could do not to leap up to hug the pair and share their joy. But this was their moment. A milestone in their relationship and a very special one. Anything she could say or do would spoil that.
Avery pulled back and bit her lower lip. “Promise you’ll wear it all the time.”
“I promise. Except when I shower.”
“Yeah.” She nodded hard. “You can take it off then. I made a matching one too, but it has your name on it. I’m going to go put it on right now.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Night, Finn.”
“Night, Peanut.”
She ran to Ryleigh. “I’m sorry I didn’t make one for you. I didn’t have enough time.”
“No worries.” Ryleigh smiled. “I loved seeing the one you made for Finn.”
Avery grabbed Ryleigh’s hand. “Let’s go get my bracelet and read.”
Ryleigh let Avery lead her to her bedroom.
Avery retrieved the bracelet from her top dresser drawer and slid it on her wrist. “I think Finn liked it a lot.”
“I know he did,” Ryleigh said. “And I know he’ll wear it all the time.”
Avery slid under her covers, and Ryleigh sat on the bed to read the book. Avery snuggled against Ryleigh’s side, and the warmth of the little body pulled at Ryleigh’s heart.
“I like this.” Avery sighed. “You snuggle better than Finn. Gran does too. More like my mom.”
Ryleigh thought about her mother and gran. Ryleigh was so blessed to have both women in her life, and she needed to be more thankful for them. Her gran was getting up in years, and Ryleigh had to appreciate her even more before she lost her, and she was only a memory like Avery had of her mother.
She brushed Avery’s hair from her face. “Mom’s do have a special touch.”
“But dads are fun,” Avery said. “I don’t know my real dad, but I think Finn’s gonna be a good one.”
“I think so too.” Ryleigh imagined Avery and Finn’s future together and all the milestones they would share.
Avery’s first date. Going to college. Getting engaged. Married. Becoming a mom herself.
Trouble was, Ryleigh appeared in all the images that came to mind, and try as she might, she couldn’t scrub herself out of them.
She had to get out of that room and clear her head. She returned to the story and read until Avery’s eyes grew heavy.
Ryleigh closed the book. “Time for lights out.”
“Aw,” Avery said. “I’m going to miss you when you go home.”
“I’ll miss you too,” she said and gave Avery a squeeze, then got up. “But for now, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Night.” Avery grabbed Ryleigh’s hand, jumped up on the bed to give Ryleigh a butterfly-soft kiss on the cheek.
Ryleigh hugged the little girl. “That was sweet of you, Avery. Good night.”
Avery clung to Ryleigh, but she extracted herself from the hug and felt like she might suffocate from all the emotions flowing through her. She rushed down the hall and out through the French doors onto the wide deck that ran the width of the home. She gasped for a deep breath of the cooler night air and leaned on the railing. Fearing a panic attack, she gazed up at the clear night stars sparkling like diamonds tossed into the sky.
