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Cyn tore the paper away and handed it off to Shelby. She opened the box’s lid, lifted the tissue paper and gasped at the framed photo inside of her sister smiling brightly, standing in front of a tree holding Lana up, their cheeks pressed together. Her sister looked happy and vibrant and beautiful.
Tears spilled from Cyn’s eyes.
“I’ve never been good at taking pictures,” Mrs. Harmon confessed. “I’m always too far away, things aren’t centered or they turn out blurry. But this one came out perfect.” Mrs. Harmon put her hand on Cyn’s on the frame. “I thought maybe you could put it next to Lana’s bed. Then she can say good night and good morning to her mom every day. She can see how happy her mother was to have her.” Mrs. Harmon held Cyn’s gaze. “I am truly sorry for what my son did to your sister. I am so sorry for your loss. I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to Lana by being the very best grandma I can be to her.”
Mr. Harmon put his hands on his wife’s shoulders. “I’m sorry, too, Cyn. For all of it. I wish we’d known the extent of what was happening and intervened. I wish we’d been better parents and Rad had turned out to be a different man.”
Cyn choked back her tears. “From what Hunt told me about him, he was a good guy. I don’t know what changed him. I don’t know how he could treat my sister the way he did and do the things he did to her and others. I don’t blame you for his actions as an adult. He made his choices. He suffered the consequences.” Though Cyn thought he got off too easy, but she didn’t say so. The Harmons probably knew that’s how she felt. “Lana is all that is important now.” She pulled the framed photo out and set the box on the breakfast bar, then faced the Harmons again. “Sounds like Lana is awake. Would you like to go up and see her? We can put this in her room.”
“We’d love that.” Mrs. Harmon smiled her relief and excitement to see Lana.
“You two head up,” Mr. Harmon coaxed. “I’ll bring in the rest of the things we brought from Rad’s place.” Mr. Harmon headed for the front door.
Shelby followed. “I’ll help.”
Mrs. Harmon started for the stairs. “We brought the high chair, playpen, all her clothes and the baby bathtub. You should be all set for a little while.”
“We’ve been bathing her in the kitchen sink.” Cyn reached the landing with Mrs. Harmon. “It’ll be nice to use the tub. And the girl goes through clothes like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Don’t we all,” Mrs. Harmon teased.
Cyn opened the nursery door and Mrs. Harmon gasped, “It’s beautiful.”
“Hunt did it himself a while back.”
“Did you recently add the butterflies?”
Cyn shook her head. “No. He found the mobile and thought a baby would love all the colors.”
“How unexpectedly appropriate.” Mrs. Harmon notched her chin toward the butterfly visible on Cyn’s arm. She went to the crib and smiled down at a cooing Lana. “You started your life one way, but now you’ve got a completely new life. I just know you are going to fly.”
Mrs. Harmon’s words touched Cyn deeply and made her think of the life she and Hunt were starting together. A new beginning for all of them.
Chapter Forty
Hunt parked his patrol car on the side of the road, facing out, so he could watch oncoming traffic. He and Cyn were heading over to Chase’s place for a family dinner tonight before the wedding tomorrow. They were expected to be there in ten minutes, but Cyn was running late and he had something he’d been wanting to do for a good long time now.
The last month had been the best days of his life. He and Cyn had settled in together. They had a routine now. At least as good as one they could have with his hectic schedule, Cyn’s businesses, including the start of the remodel of her new store in Blackrock Falls, and an infant. He loved coming home to them and just being together. He enjoyed his days off when he kept Lana home with him. Being a father to her made him happier than he’d imagined.
Cyn’s grief had subsided, though it snuck up on her at times, especially when she was with Lana. But Cyn had embraced their new life together. She’d even bought a few things for the house. He loved the two new dark blue velvet chairs she bought to put in front of the windows in the living room, along with a round wood table. She loved to sit in the sunlight with Lana and enjoy the view. He loved to sit there with her in the mornings while they drank their coffee.
She’d added other touches around the house. Mementos and pictures from over the years. She didn’t shy away from putting pictures of her and Angela up. They both wanted Lana to see her mother in the house, and that he and Cyn remembered Angela with love.
He silently thanked Angela a lot over the last month for all she’d given him, and promised her he’d always take care of Lana and Cyn.
And right now, he hoped to make Cyn’s day.
Her car sped past him going at least ten miles over the speed limit. He hit the gas, turned on the lights and siren and sped after her with a grin that grew wider when he saw her spot him in her rearview mirror; she hit the brakes and pulled over to the side of the road.
He pulled in behind her, opened his door and anticipated the sparks she was about to throw off.
The second he arrived at her window, she looked up at him with anger flashing in her eyes.
He couldn’t help but stoke that fire. “Do you know how fast you were going?”
“Wilde, I mean it, you do not want to do this.”
“It’s my job, sweetheart.”
