Page 143 of The Vet's Unconditional Love
The next time Harper opened her eyes, it was light outside.She lay there for a moment, staring up at the ceiling with a big smile on her face.She’d slept in this room plenty of nights while she was staying to take care of the girls.But now she was here with Emmett.
She turned to look at his handsome face and grinned at him when she saw that he was awake too.He was awake and watching her.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."She reached up to touch his cheek."In fact, make that wonderful morning."
He pressed a kiss to her lips.
"Historic morning."
"Historic?"
"Yeah, it’s the first time I get to wake up with you.The first day of the rest of our lives."
"Aw.You’re kind of a closet romantic underneath the loving-dad, capable-vet front, aren’t you?"
"I don’t know about romantic.Emily always said—"
He stopped short and gave her an apologetic smile."Sorry.I shouldn’t..."
Harper sought his hand and entwined her fingers with his."Shouldn’t what?If you were about to say that you shouldn’t talk about her, then you’re wrong."
"I know I can talk about her, but...I don’t want you to feel..."
She gave his hand a squeeze."I don’t.Emily knew you better than anyone - and Emmett, you loved her.You made a family with her.She’s not someone to sweep under the rug, especially not for the girls' sake."
She was tempted to tell him Shelley’s idea, that Harper and Emily got half the fairy tale each, but she didn’t know how he’d feel about that.
He lifted a shoulder."Thanks, Harper."
"There’s no need.Let’s go back to where we were.This is the first morning we get to wake up together.And I..."She gave his hand a squeeze."I hope like hell that we get to wake up together like this for the rest of our lives.I’m starting to believe it."
She smiled when her gaze landed on the bear sitting on top of the dresser."I’ll be the best Mama Bear I can."
He got out of bed to fetch the bear.
"Oh.Is that another one?"she asked when he picked up a smaller bear.
He turned around and held it up."This one’s from Tanya."
He tossed her the smaller bear and she caught it.It was older, threadbare in places.She ran her finger over its little head.
Emmett got back into bed and sat beside her."She’s had that since she was a baby.When I told her and Alana that I was going to get you a bear, she wanted you to have that one from her."
"Aw."She hugged the little bear to her."They’re such good girls, Emmett.I feel so lucky that I get to be a part of their lives."
"We’re the lucky ones that we get you."
She stared at him for a long moment."You really mean that, don’t you?"
He nodded solemnly."I do."He reached out and ran his fingers down her cheek."And I’ll keep telling you until you start believing me."
She shook her head."I want to, Emmett.It might take a while to sink in.My whole life, since I was nine years old, I..."
"I know."
That simple answer caught in her chest.
