“But I promise you, with all I have that I will spend the rest of my life doing everything within my power to make sure that she’s happy and cared for.” I lost the battle and tears dripped down my cheeks. “I will never try to take your place, but for as long as they need me, I’ll be there for them.”
The sunlight sparkled across the stone as though it was covered in glitter and bought a smile to my lips.
“I love them,” I told her, brushing away the tears with the back of my hand. “And I’m proud to say that I’ll happily share his heart with you and Macy. Because without you, she wouldn’t exist, and he wouldn’t be the man he is today… so thank you.”
I didn’t startle when I felt a hand softly rest on my shoulder.
“Do you think she can hear me?” I asked him without looking up.
“I like to think so,” his deep voice rumbled, the emotion evident. He dropped to the ground beside me, pressing his forehead against my temple. I closed my eyes as we sat in silence, the sun warming my skin as the wind swirled around us, whipping at my hair.
“I love you,” he said quietly.
I didn’t answer, not sure whether he was talking to Kim or me. Even with that thought in my head, not a single jealous tingle entered my body.
My words were true when I said I would proudly share his heart with her and their daughter. Kim was a part of their lives. She may not be here anymore, but her memory would live inside them forever, and I would embrace it because I loved them, and she was a part of them.
“I wasn’t sure at first whether it was possible…” he continued when I stayed silent, “…to even love again after her. But now I know I don’t have to push her out in order to let you in.”
His lips brushed my cheek, and I turned to him.
“I love you, Hadley,” he repeated, sending my heart soaring.
“I love you, too.”