Stepping toward the center of the room, she takes in the slanted walls that give the space a supremely cozy feel. She can’t help but imagine her and Bear in this space. Because it’s perfect. Perfect for a crib. For a family.
“This is beautiful.” She bites down on her smile and locks her gaze with his. “I love it, Solomon. This is better than Mexico.”
Something changes in his expression when she says the words. His throat works, his eyes stay on her. Then he lifts a hand. “Tess. Look up.”
She does. And this time, she can’t gasp. Can’t even speak.
A skylight over the bed lets in the evening sky.
Lets in the stars.
The moment she sees the window, the first star twinkling in the majestic Alaskan sky, the floodgates open and her tears break free.
It all feels so fated. Like the workings of her life have slowly fallen into place. Like she has her beating heart in her hands and is showing it the life she was meant to live.
Because she’s meant to be here. With Solomon. With their son.
In two quick strides, Solomon’s beside her, wiping the tears from her cheeks. His big, strong hand cups her face, making her look at him. “Don’t cry,” he says in a low, rough voice. “You absolutely kill me when you cry, baby.”
“I’m sorry.” She sniffles.
“Don’t apologize. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“Then why are you crying?”
“Because it all feels too perfect. So perfect.” She shakes her head, hot tears streaming down her cheeks. Pressing palms against her bump, she looks down at Bear. “And I’m pregnant. And I’m stupid.”
“You’re not stupid.” He touches her cheek, nudging her gaze to him. “I feel it too.”
“You do?”
“I do. Something so damn right I want to lose it on a daily basis.” His lapis lazuli eyes sear into hers. And she knows. The way he looks at her—he understands. Her fears. Her doubts. Her joy. Understands them and will hold them. “You, being here. . .it means everything to me, Tessie.” He places his hand on her belly. “You mean everything.”
Her lips part, but she doesn’t say it.
Not yet.
Instead, she falls forward, and Solomon catches her like she knew he would, hauling her to his chest. His big body—warm and sturdy and safe—envelops her as she presses up on tiptoes to meet his lips.
And Tessie’s pulse hammers out a melody in her bloodstream.
I love you. I love you. I love you.
Solomon and Tessie walk up the sidewalk to his childhood home. A cream-colored two-story house with a wraparound porch and a large oak tree in the front yard.
Sunday brunch.
Brunch gives them an out. Two hours of conversation, and then they can go.
Inhaling a bracing breath, Tessie smooths out the front of her dress. “Okay,” she says. “Go ahead. Knock.”
The corner of Solomon’s mouth twitches. His girl’s got her game face on. He’s noticed the signs. The way she chews on her bottom lip. The way she rubs three circles on her belly and then sighs.
“You’re nervous.”
She socks him in the arm. “Of course I’m nervous. I’m meeting your family.” Apprehension stains her voice. “What if they hate me? What if they think I’m a trollop who got knocked up on purpose?”
He arches an amused brow. “Trollop?”
Her pretty face scrunches up and she palms her stomach. “This is Bear’s family. I’m unemployed. I’m pregnant. I’m a Californian. I’m not exactly making a good first impression.”
“Tess, baby.” He takes her hands, stilling her. The sad look she wears has the power to destroy him. “None of that, okay? They’re gonna love you.”
No one and nothing will touch her. Especially while he’s around.
She tilts her face up, her expression softening. “You promise?”
He kisses her brow. “I promise.”
“No nerves?”
“No nerves.”
Hell, he’s the one who should have nerves. He hasn’t brought a woman home since Serena. But he can’t fucking wait for his family to meet Tessie. Being here in Chinook with her, his feelings have grown tenfold. Seeing her at his cabin, the way she loved it as much as he did, stole his breath away.
He doesn’t have nerves. Not today.
Not with Tessie.
He doesn’t want to hide her away anymore. He wants everyone to see her for the force she is. To know she’s going to be part of his life.
That’s how sure he is about her.
On the front porch, Solomon pauses before knocking. “You tell me if it’s too much and we’ll go. You understand?”
It’s a lot for her; he gets that. She’s out of her element, out of LA, pregnant, in his world, and now meeting strangers who are going to want to know everything about their plans, about the baby. Thank Christ that the only family member with the power to scare Tessie off is in Anchorage.
Tessie flicks her hair behind a slender shoulder, her expression adjusting to one of cool confidence. “I’ll be okay.”
“Just be yourself.”
She snorts. “Be pregnant and grouchy. Got it.”
He waits for her to give a small nod of assent, and then he takes her hand, and with his other, he knocks on the wooden door.
In seconds, the front door whips open, as if Melody’s been waiting at the peephole, ready to ambush them. Ignoring him, his baby sister beelines straight for Tessie. Eyes bright, genuine warmth on her face. “Hi! I’m Melody.”
Tessie smiles and extends a hand, her frame relaxing. “Tessie.”
“It’s so nice to meet you,” his sister chirps. Her eyes fall to Tessie’s stomach, then bounce to Solomon. “Oh my God.”
He chuckles. “You thought I was making it up?”
“No, but. . .” Her lower lip quivers.
Solomon tips his head back to the sky. Tears from his family aren’t on the agenda today.
“No crying,” he tells his sister, who immediately squeaks her protest. “You cry, you do the dishes.”
A scoff. “Fine.” She extends an arm to Tessie. “Please come in. Everyone’s so excited to meet you.”
Tessie sends him a grateful smile, and they step over the threshold together.
Melody lifts a hand to her mouth. “Everyone, they’re here!” Her peppy voice carries down the hall. Then she turns back to Tessie. “I personally would like to thank you for getting our brother out of his cave.”
Tessie laughs. “It was my pleasure.”
“Hell yes. You’re here.” Jo waltzes down the hall, her arms already outstretched. “It’s time for all the hugs. I hope you’re ready.”
Solomon embraces his sister, the middle wild child of the family. When she pulls away, she homes in on Tessie. Belly. Tessie.
With a sigh, he says, “This is Tessie. And yes, this is her belly.”
“Holy shit—can I—” Jo’s hands hover a few inches from Tessie’s bump, then she stops herself. “No, that’s weird. I’m sorry. Like the first thing we want to do is feel you up. Oh my God, I’m awful. We are straight-up not respecting your body boundaries right now.”
Solomon runs his hand down Tessie’s shoulder, wanting her to know it’s her choice. “You don’t have to.”
With a smile on her full lips, Tessie tilts her face up to him, taking his sister’s awkwardness in stride. “Go for it.”
An eruption of squeals has him chuckling. Four hands all pressing on Tessie’s stomach. The image has his chest growing tight. Has him picturing his son over here for family dinners, playing with his aunts, his grandparents.
“Solomon Jack.”
A soft voice has him turning. His mother, long white hair streaming behind her, is rushing out of the kitchen. “Oh, it’s so good to see you, son,” she says, engulfing him in a desperate hug.
Throat tight, Solomon crushes her against him. It’s been so long since he set foot inside his own house. In the years after Serena, he only swung by to help fix something or to drop off the casserole dishes his mom would leave on his front porch, never staying or enjoying his family. A mistake he made once, but he won’t make again.
“Hey, Ma,” he says, pulling back. “Where’s Dad?”
She tuts. “Oh, you know that man. Fiddling with something on the grill. Figured we’d eat outside since it’s the last nice day we might have for a while.” She turns to Tessie, her blue-eyed gaze finding her. “And this must be your sweet girl. Hello, I’m Grace.”