There was something on his mind, but he didn’t share. Killian appeared, and Brock settled back in his chair. Killian tossed the beer at Brock, dragged over another chair, put it right next to mine, sat back and took a long pull. Lucifer sauntered over, jumped up on Killian’s lap, curling in a circle, making sure to give me a look before he settled. It wasn’t by accident that I got a view of his ass. Hateful kitty. I had Cooper and Max, both sprawled out, one on the lounge with me, one under it. We all looked out at the garden. I didn’t know what they were thinking, but I was thanking the stars that I’d come here, that I’d taken that step, because I had Brock back and I had Killian. I glanced over at him; he was already looking at me. I had a family again. I touched my stomach, one that was only going to get bigger. He leaned in, kissed me, and then rested his hand over mine. Life was good; no, life was pretty damn perfect.
“I think this is crazy,” I said. The house had been cleared, new lighting installed, shelves and racks installed, and mannequins dressed in my unique and eye-catching designs. There was a section with a little table and chairs, coloring books and crayons, a rocking horse, the store geared for children. It was Edie who had given me the idea when we were in New York. The sketches I’d done, I turned a few into outfits for her and when Thea called to gush over the clothes and how much Edie loved them, I knew that was where I wanted to focus my designs. I hadn’t wanted to design for unimaginative sheep, but I hadn’t thought of children. They were the perfect audience for my style. The ad exec in me knew that, but the woman who would be creating the clothes was wondering if I was biting off more than I could chew, particularly with a baby on the way.
“I think it’s prefect, and you can always hire help if you need it,” Natalie suggested. I couldn’t do this without her. A point I made often.
I did like the idea of a crib in my studio, so I could work and spend time with the little one. Killian loved carpentry, and my hope was he’d retire as sheriff and setup a drafting table in the studio, so we could work together. I didn’t want to be that far from him, wanted every second I could have with him because I knew, all too well, how fast it could be taken away.
I wasn’t going to think about that now, though. We stepped outside; Graham and Killian were on ladders hanging the sign. Brock had his hands in his pockets watching them, a little smile on his face that grew warmer when he saw me.
“I like the name,” he said.
I glanced up at the sign that Killian had designed. The store was called Cupcake. “It seemed fitting.” That’s when I heard him. My head jerked to Brock, who was looking at the sign. “Do you hear that?”
Brock’s eyes found mine. “Hear what?”
“The turkey?”
Silence followed, before he said, “No.” He studied me and added, “He’s dead. You know that right?”
Logically I knew that, but I swear there were times I heard a turkey. “I know, but I hear him.”
His expression went soft. “Maybe you do. He did become a legend, and if he were to haunt anyone, it would be the girl who saved his life.”
Was I really imagining the turkey? I supposed it was possible, like with my parents, I wanted to keep that memory of the life I lived before this one. “I guess.” Though I kind of wished he was walking around. It wasn’t possible. He had been in New York, and we were in Wyoming, still part of me wished that piece of my past followed me.
I checked my watch. “Killian, honey. Your parents are due in an hour.” We were telling them about the baby.
He glanced back, nodded, then finished with Graham. Stepping down, he joined me, dropped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me up against his side. “Good?” he asked.
“Perfect.”
We said our goodbyes; he took my hand and dragged me to his truck. “An hour you said?” He flashed me a grin. “Plenty of time.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Cedar
I stood in front of the mirror and knew this was and would always be my best design.
My wedding gown, the floral lace halter-top, knowing how much Killian loved them, and a long, full tulle skirt with a slit that reached my mid-thigh. My hair was pulled up into a knot, and my feet were bare. My bouquet was something borrowed and blue, bluebells, courtesy of Brock.
Killian wanted to get married the same day Ashley had been taken into custody. I wanted time to put something together. I’d asked for a month, we compromised on two weeks.
Tears had been threatening for the whole of those weeks, when I ordered the cake and arranged for the flowers. Buying the fabric for my gown and spending hours and hours sewing it. All the things, as a little girl, I thought I would do with my mom. All the mother-daughter moments we thought we’d have. “I wish you were here, wish Dad was walking me down the aisle, wish you were here helping me get ready. How I wish you knew Killian, saw how happy he makes me, how much he loves me. I found what you had, slow to fall, but it’s forever.” I touched my stomach. “My children will know you, because even though we only had eighteen years, I have a lifetime of memories.”
I wiped at my eyes when I heard a knock at the door. “Come in.”
Maureen peeked in, then her eyes went bright when
