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Wyatt worked full-time with Hayden now, so I didn’t get to see him as often. But Xander and Wyatt bought a home together in Paris, so I still saw him regularly. A wedding was definitely in the works, and knowing Xander, his biggest problem was limiting guests when he made friends every day.
“Paul and Laurence are on their way,” Ben told me when we reached the sidewalk.
The Bentley pulled up a few minutes later, and Paul stepped out with our baby Miles in a baby carrier strapped to his chest. Paul was a hands-on dad and even took him to his office.
“Miles wanted to be here to see you on your big day as a new Crane Foundation leader.”
Philanthropy was a big part of life as a Crane, and we all tried to work to give more back to the world.
“Miles Darek Jonas Crane.” I went over and kissed Paul and kissed my sweet baby. It was shocking how much he looked like Paul with his head full of dark wavy hair and those sea-blue eyes. However what really surprised me was how great the love I carried for our baby was. It was immense. And so was my love for his dad.
Paul grinned at me. “What are you thinking about?”
“How happy I am with us,” I told him.
Paul took my kiss and kissed Miles, who giggled.
I tickled under his cute little chin. “Ready to spend time with your grandparents?”
Miles was making the rounds. Our parents all wanted time with their grandson. This time, Wisconsin. My home.
On the plane’s descent, nerves tumbled in my stomach. After everywhere I’d been, Milwaukee was the place that left me humble. I arrived on a bus with my teenage mom, cold and hungry. And at the downtown bus depot, my life changed. And though I don’t remember it all, one thing rang true. My dad took one look at us and cared. He reached out without reserve and gave us a place to stay and food to fill our bellies. He took me to my mom, who opened her arms and gave me my first real hug. It was so full of warmth, I wished I could stay, that she’d keep me. That was why I now thought the moon cookie story wasn’t all made up. My parents’ instant love for me made Celeste believe she wasn’t doing right by me. She gave me up that fateful day in the parking lot and changed the trajectory of my life.
Celeste gave me to parents who would love me unconditionally. In many respects, she made an extremely selfless and wise decision, and even though I had always seen it as abandonment, now I could only be grateful. She gave me the chance of an incredible life.
“Nadia,” Paul said, calling me back from my thoughts. We had to prepare for the press leaving the plane. It was the public part of our lives, something I had slowly but surely adapted to.
I strapped on the carrier and kissed the top of Miles’s head while Paul warmed my back. Laurence and Ben walked out first, and we grouped out to the tarmac and the car. I covered Miles with a light blanket as camera flashes went off. Paul had a firm grip on my hand. He was our warrior, ready to protect us. Still, we smiled and waved because we were happy. No matter what life had thrown at us, we were together.
Inside the car, we strapped Miles into his seat. We both kissed his cheeks and looked at each other, electricity sparked, and the current between us grew stronger. “What are you staring at, Mommy?”
“You, Daddy,” I teased him back. His gaze darkened, and his mischievous smile appeared, which made my pulse quicken. And I knew he was thinking about sex. “Yes, please.”
“Mmm, beg for me,” Paul murmured.
I leaned across the seat. “Please, my love.”
Miles cooed, grabbed my hair, and pulled. Hard.
“Ouch,” I gently clasped his little hand and untangled my hair, then kissed the back of it. “He’s grabbing everything.”
“Good boy, Miles,” Paul joked, and we laughed. I gave him a rattle, and he shook it wildly.
Paul picked up another rattle from a pocket in his carrier and added a rhythm. “Miles, will you be a musician like your daddy?”
Miles cooed. Paul kissed and smiled at him lovingly, “He’s beautiful.”
I nodded. “Miles looks just like you.” It was uncanny.
“Yeah, beautiful, like me,” he teased. “Well, Miles, tell Mommy you want a little sister that looks just like her.”
“Tell Daddy I’m hoping that will happen soon,” I pretended to tell Miles. Paul and I had only grown closer, more confident in us as a couple, and thoroughly loved being parents. I was keen to have another child and hoped there would be confirmation of that soon.
Paul picked up my hand and kissed my wrist. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Glancing out the window, we were on the highway, and I could see the exit that led to my parents’ former house ahead.
