Limitless Love (Lotus House #4)(83)

“I’d like that, Monet.” Her voice was small and sweet, reminding me of how it was when she was little.

“I love you, Matisse.”

“I know.” She smiled.

“Okay, then.” I finished pulling the door closed.



* * *



The next morning, I was greeted by a giggling love bug hiding under the covers in the empty space my man must have vacated.

“Wake up, beautiful. We have breakfast for you and a present,” came the deep baritone of said guy.

Lily giggled under the covers. I opened my eyes and turned on my side. There was a Lily-sized lump next to me shaking with every new bout of laughter.

“Why is the queen hiding?” I asked Clay, pushing up into a seated position. Thank goodness we’d just gone to sleep last night or I’d be trying to find ways to explain to my daughter why her mommy was in bed naked. Since we hadn’t had any hanky-panky, I was in a normal tank and sleep shorts.

Clay beamed, his smile alive and happy. “I don’t know. I told her I had a surprise for you and her, and she decided that she wanted to surprise you in bed too.”

On that response, my little one flung the blankets back and scrambled to stand on my bed. “’Prize!” she screeched.

I scooped her up and pulled her to my chest. “My goodness. What an amazing surprise you are this morning. And such a great hider!”

She nodded. “Yeah, PowPow taughted me. Now he says I’m the best.”

I kissed her nose. “That you are. So what is this about breakfast and a surprise?”

Clayton set a tray on the bed beside Lily and me. The tray consisted of an array of pastries, coffee, milk, and two black boxes with gold filigree etching at each corner. They were identical in size and shape. The boxes were a sturdy wood with a unique gold latch that acted like a lever that notched into place to open and close it.

“This one is for you, and this one is for Lily.” He picked them up and handed one to each of us. His eyes were a bright Caribbean blue and shining with love and admiration. I could stare into them all day, but I had a squirmy wormy excited child in my lap who wanted to open her present. As of yesterday.

“What it is, Mommy? What is it?” Lily said excitedly.

“I don’t know. Let’s find out.” I showed her how to open the latch, and together we opened our boxes. Inside were identical heart-shaped pendants on white-gold chains.

“The stone is jade,” Clayton announced proudly.

The stones were wrapped in white gold with marcasite curving on the top right corner and bottom of the hearts, giving the plain stones more sparkle and pizazz.

“I love green!” Lily squealed. “Mommy, can I wear it now?”

“Of course you can.” Clayton came around the bed and sat next to her. She handed him the box, and he got to work removing the necklace. I did the same so I could see it sparkle in all its glory in the morning sunlight.

“Clayton, these are stunning. But it’s not our birthday or anniversary.” I’d not been given a present by a man when it wasn’t for an anniversary, Christmas, Valentine’s, or my birthday. Those were pretty much the only times I’d ever gotten a gift unless it was from Mila. She gave me little things all the time.

Clayton smiled. “Beautiful, I don’t need a reason to get my girls something pretty to show I care. Want you both wearing something I gave you.” He latched the necklace around Lily’s neck, and it fit perfectly.

The chain on mine was a bit longer to suit an adult.

“Honey, they are magnificent. Thank you.”

“And they’re jade,” he said with a tinge of pride.

“Yes, I see that.”

“Jade is a stone that represents the heart charka. And Crystal at Lotus House said that the spiritual benefits of jade promote wisdom, balance, and peace. I figured none of that could hurt.”

“You trying to protect my heart, Clayton?”

His eyes flashed to mine. “Always.”

I held the stone right over my heart. “I love it so much.”

“Me too, me too, me too!” Lily jumped on the bed, making the coffee container and silverware shake precariously.

“Easy, sweetie.” Clayton scooped her up before I was sitting in a puddle of hot coffee instead of drinking it.

I stared at the dangling heart in awe. He’d bought jade necklaces to protect my daughter’s heart and mine.

Then I remembered that day I got my stitches removed and Crystal and Jewel performed the grounding method on me in the bakery. She’d made a comment about my heart charka.



* * *



“And your heart chakra is hurting right now.” Jewel frowned and ran a finger along my temple to my chin. “I sense that you’re working on it, but there’s still much more to be done.”

“My heart chakra? How so?”

Jewel smiled softly. “In order to have a healthy heart chakra, darling, you must love yourself and be able to forgive yourself and others. I’m sensing there are some things you are not letting go of. Perhaps a person who wronged you. One you allowed in your life. Someone who continues to hurt you? Could be a variety of things piling up.”



* * *



“You remembered that conversation about the heart chakra that we had with Jewel, didn’t you?” I got out of bed and poked my man in the chest playfully.