Page 81 of A Match Made In Fall

We need to leave for the airport soon, but right now, I just want to hold on to him for as long as I can.

“Someone wants to see you,” Sammy calls from the doorway, pulling me from the fog I've been stuck in since getting home.

I glance up from the couch and immediately feel my heart squeeze.

Baby Jude is perched on her hip, dressed in a tiny green outfit complete with matching slippers. The mini-Peter Pan costume is the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.

“Jude wanted to show you his Halloween costume,” she says with a grin.

It only takes a few seconds to lose my composure.

“Ohhh, I’m obsessed,” I sob, reaching for him. “This is exactly what I needed right now.”

I pull him into my arms and bury my face against his soft little shoulder. Jude happily gurgles completely unaware that his auntie Isabella is a hot mess. He obliviously chews on a plastic toy, drooling all over it while staring at me with those big blue eyes.

“He has a way of brightening even the hardest days,” Sammy tells me.

I smile through my tears. “Yes, he really does.”

For a moment, I focus on Jude's tiny fingers. And this brings a smile through my tears.

“How did the airport drop-off go?” Sammy asks.

“It was fine. I managed to hold it together until I got to my car.” I shake my head. “The second I closed the door, it was ugly. I cried the entire drive home.”

Sammy winces sympathetically. “That's rough.”

“Yeah.” I look down at Jude. “I figured the people at the airport didn’t need to witness that.”

“I’m sure you wouldn’t be the first person to break down in the terminal,” she reminds me.

“True. But it's going to be okay,” I continue. “We're already making plans. I'm going to visit soon, and we're spending New Year's together.”

Telling Sammy about our plans lightens my mood slightly.

“So you're giving the long-distance thing a go,” she exclaims.

I nod while gently rocking Jude in my lap. “Yes.”

“I think that’s awesome. If anyone can do it, you can. You both know what that life is like, and you adapt very well.”

“I decided I wasn't going to let my fears make this decision for me,” I tell her. “Austin means too much to me.”

I point toward the gift bag sitting beside the couch. “He gave me that.”

Sammy reaches over and peeks inside.

The second she sees what's there, she gasps.

“Awww. You're going to wear your boyfriend's number.” She presses a hand dramatically to her chest. “You two are basically going steady.”

I burst out laughing.

“We were supposed to dress as hockey players for your Halloween party.”

“Are you still going to?”

“Absolutely. I’ll be wearing that jersey a lot,” I pause. “There's a very good chance I'll be sleeping in it every night.”