Our Finest Hour (The Time #1)(87)

Isaac looks at me. “Maybe soon, but for right now I think we’re just happy to be together in our new place.”

“You let me know. I’m ready to have Claire back at my house for a few nights. Get in some good Claire Bear time.”

At this Claire runs over, attaching herself to his leg. When she pulls away, he’s left with a big wet spot on his shorts.

“Where’s Cheryl?” Claire asks.

“Let’s go find her,” he says, and they set off through the yard.

Isaac lowers himself onto the step beside me. “Tonight,” he says quietly.

“What happens tonight?” I feign innocence.

“The baby making begins.”

“The baby making began a long time ago,” I wiggle my eyebrows.

Sometimes I think about what led me to that night in the cowboy bar. I can see the road that took me there, and easily remember the cracks in my heart that seemed too wide to ever be filled.

I’ll never forget the day I realized I was fighting a war against someone who didn’t know she’d waged one on me.

Beneath the surface of the water my hand finds Isaac’s, and I squeeze.

“Thank you.”

“For?”

Fixing me, I want to say, but I know I fixed myself the day I chose forgiveness over anger.

“For being you,” I say to him.

“Mommy, Daddy, come inside,” Claire yells. “You should see what Cheryl made for dessert.”

“Be right there,” Isaac yells back, quickly climbing from the pool.

I can’t contain my laughter as I follow and wrap a towel around my waist.

“What? I’m excited to see what Cheryl made.” Isaac hastily runs a towel over himself. “Hurry up, Mrs. Cordova.” Playfully he cuts in front of me as we walk through the pool fence.

Reaching back for my hand, he pulls me alongside him, and we follow the sound of our daughter’s laughter into our home.

The End