Page 111 of Fall Love

“Tell me I’m forgiven, Neve. Tell me you want to make this work. Us work.”

I nod. “I do. I really do.”

With his hand still on Wren’s head, he leans in and presses his forehead to mine. “I’ve missed you so much, Neve.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” I admit, and missing someone was almost worse than a goodbye. It was a longing that didn’t disappear. A yearning for my other half to make me whole.

“Should we talk about the shop?”

“Shop talk?” I tease. “A man after my heart.”

“I want it,” he says, looking me right in the eye.

“You have it, Tate. All of it.”

His mouth crashes mine, and I giggle at how quickly he comes in. Wren lets out a squeal, and Tate pulls back, smiling at our little girl.

Our permanent partnership.

Our family.

CHAPTER 40

[Neve]

As today is Wren’s one-month birthday, Tate is eager to spend time with her. Time as the three of us. We take a drive to a local trail and hike, pointing out leaf shapes and their colors, which Wren can’t possibly comprehend yet.

Still, we slow our walk through the woods. Wren in Tate’s arms, and my arm looped with his. We talk in more detail about him leaving the firm and the vision of our future.

Firehouse Station.

With every step we take, I grow more excited. The fallen leaves even seem to share my enthusiasm, dancing up and around us as we hike. At one point, I smile at the sky, sending up silent gratitude.

Thanks, Dad.

“So there’s a costume party this weekend,” Tate says, pulling me back to the moment. “Feel up for it?”

“An excuse to dress up in a costume . . . I’m in,” I joke, recalling the last costume I wore wasn’t much of a stretch.

“I miss Rosie.” Tate turns his head toward me. “But I love Neve.”

“I think Driver and Tate might be one and the same, so I love all versions of you.” I lean into his arm, wondering where this love sap feeling has come from, and then enjoy the gooey goodness of it. “But I’d still like to see you as Elvis.”

“Thank you very much.” His impression is awful, but my heart is so full.

When the costume party arrives, I dress Wren in the cutest pumpkin outfit. This party is a little different from the adult-only New Year’s Eve scene. This one will be family-friendly. A community affair at Lovewell Manor.

Because of Wren’s costume, I dress as a farmer. Again, not much of a stretch as I wear denim overalls and a long-sleeve Henley with a flannel shirt over the ensemble and a straw cowboy hat.

What surprises me is Tate’s outfit. He isn’t Elvis. Instead, he’s supposed to be an apple tree. He wears dark brown jeans with a shirt covered in apple images and has a deer antler hat with fake apples hanging from the tips.

“What do you think?”

“Tempting,” I tease. “Can I pick your low-hanging fruit?”

Tate laughs loud and long, tugging me into his chest and telling me once again how much he loves me, followed by a toe-curling kiss.

Wren and I are back in the bigger house. Our house.