Wayne knew that he’d made a mistake by separating them.
“You’re not going to give me any clue about what is going on?” she asked.
He took her hand. “All will become clear. You’ll see.”
She rested her hand on top of his, and didn’t try to fight him.
“What’s it like being back with Robert?” he asked.
“Strange, I guess. I promised myself I’d find something else to do.”
“You couldn’t find anything?”
“I was alone on a sofa for what felt like a lifetime. I searched the internet, checked newspapers, got Lilah to give me tests to see what I’d be good at. Guess what, I’d make an awesome nanny.”
“I know you do.” He wanted to make a family with her, to take a chance with the future that he’d once wanted.
“How is work with you?”
“It’s the same. Frances doesn’t like me all that much.”
“I was really rude to her the last time I saw her. Could you please offer her my apologies?”
“I hope one day you’ll come to the office and maybe offer them yourself.”
“We’ll see.”
He pulled up outside the foster home, turning off the ignition and turning toward her.
“Do you trust me?”
She hesitated.
“One day I’ll earn back your trust.”
He climbed out of the car, grabbing her crutches and helping her out.
“Do you own this house?”
“No.”
Wayne walked behind her as they made their way up the steps. Tilly, the woman in charge of the foster home, opened the door.
“Everything ready?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Where are we?” Temperance asked.
Wayne didn’t tell her, and simply asked her to follow him.
He stood outside the door where he knew Timothy would be waiting with his lawyer. “I made a big mistake by letting you go, and letting Timothy go. Before I open this door, I want to make something clear. He’s ours, and I swear to you, I’ll never give you or Timothy up again.”
She swallowed, and he saw the tears in her eyes as he opened the door. There, at the table coloring, was their boy.
Timothy looked up, gasped, and rushed toward Temperance. Wayne held her up so that she could hold Timothy as he charged at her.
The lawyer nodded at him. Everything was ready and handled. Timothy didn’t have anyone to take care of him. Money helped him to rush the adoption through the courts, especially as his name was on the birth certificate, falsely or otherwise, and he’d taken care of Timothy.
Tonight, he’d be taking him home with him after going to dinner with Temperance.
“I missed you, Tempe,” Timothy said.
“Oh, honey, I missed you, too.”
“Why don’t you go and grab your stuff? We’re leaving, Timothy.”
“I get to come and live with you again?” Timothy asked.
“Just like we discussed.” He felt Temperance’s gaze on him, the shock clear to see when he turned toward her. “I made a mistake. Timothy is my son now. He will be my son, and I hope, one day, you’ll agree to be my wife.” Her mouth was slightly open, and he leaned in to press a kiss to her lips. “I love you, Tempe.” He pulled away to find Timothy waiting. Taking his bag, he picked him up. “Ladies first.”
He waited for Temperance to take the lead. Tilly helped her down the slope, and he went to the car, putting Timothy on the curb.
“You don’t have a car seat.”
Tilly chuckled. “Have a wonderful night.”
He nodded at the other woman and went to the trunk, pulling out a car seat that he and Timothy had purchased together.
“You’re full of surprises.”
He strapped Timothy into the car seat and stroked his head.
Standing up, he looked at Temperance. “I can see that you’re unsure about everything.”
“This is moving really fast.”
“I made a mistake. Everything else I’d do, I’d change to make it right.” He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. “I hope you can see what a mistake I made, and that I’ll do whatever it takes to show you that I’m sorry. I took Timothy away, and I miss him. I know you do as well. You’ve not found that family you’re looking for because I’m right here. I’m your family, and Timothy. We can have everything we ever wanted.”
“Until you get bored?”
“Never. I’d never get bored of you. I never have, and I never will.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “You’ll see. I know I have a lot of flaws and fears. I didn’t think I was capable of loving anyone, but these past few weeks, they’ve been the worst times of my life. I don’t want to live without you, ever.”
He helped her into the car before he drove them to a family restaurant. Timothy screamed as he ran into the play pit. He and Temperance took a seat at the booth. They were sitting in a way that allowed them to watch their boy.
“I didn’t know what to expect from this date,” she said. “When you gave him up and seemed to go back to your old life, I really didn’t think the best of you, and it hurt. I know you could be such a good father, a good person deep down, and that you were fighting it for some reason.”