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“She can have my talking Elmo too, Mum.”
I almost burst with pride – Elmo had been his most favorite toy, and he’d never let him out of his sight for almost two years.
“You sure?” I asked, feeling a lump in my throat.
“Yep. He might make her feel better.”
I pulled him against me and kissed the crown of his head, inhaling his smell, knowing that very soon these sort of hugs would be few and very far between.
“I’m sure she’ll love it.”
“I’ll get him from my room.” He escaped from my arms and ran up the stairs, thudding on each one until I heard his door open and slam against the wall.
“He’s very excited about meeting her,” Annie said, following my gaze to the landing. “He kind of thinks Dex is the shit and so wants to please him by being nice to his daughter.”
I turned to Annie, my shoulders going back and my neck lengthening as surprise hit me.
“He does?”
“God, yeah. I think it was Dex not kicking off when he vommed all over him that did it. Plus, he sees how happy he makes you.”
I stared at her open mouthed.
“We all do, Mum.”
With a grin, she turned and walked to the kitchen, where she was in charge of making trifle for pudding.
* * *
Almost two hours later, we were all sitting down to dinner and I couldn’t help the grin that enveloped my face. The kids had been amazing with Savannah and she seemed to instantly adore them, leaving the safety of Dex’s arms to go and sit with Charlie as he showed her what Elmo could do.
“Well this is going well,” Dex said, his eyes watching Savannah chat to Annie while eating her spaghetti.
“She seems to like them, and they love her.”
All three of my kids had told me how cute she was, especially her tiny voice with its Texan drawl. Her first words to them had been “How y’all doin’?” In fact, I thought Annie was going to pee her pants with excitement and joy.
“You think maybe we can slip into the kitchen for five minutes alone time?” Dex asked.
I didn’t answer, but threw my napkin onto my empty plate and pushed my chair back from the dining room table.
“We’re going to sort the desert out,” I announced, picking up some plates as Dex collected the rest.
“Okay,” Isaac replied while messing on his phone.
He looked up at me and gave me the grin which I was pretty sure had hooked Scarlett in the first place, before ducking his head back down. I shook my head and with a handful of dishes, led Dex to the kitchen.
As soon as we’d loaded the dishwasher, I was in his arms and he was kissing me softly along my jaw and down my neck.
“Fuck, I’m so sorry about the other day,” he groaned, his hand slipping to my bum. “I really wanted to have you in my bed.”
“I know, but you needed your sleep more.”
I giggled as Dex’s hand reached for the button of my jeans, flipping it open.
“Dex, no,” I protested. “Any of the kids could come in.”
“I know, but I’m desperate for you darlin’. It’s been too damn long.”
