What can I say, I made a promise to myself 8+ years ago that I would finish this series, and it looks like I'm still going for it.

Chapter 51

Generations

The front door opened with a squeak and the thump of a suitcase on the floor was heard.

"Where are my girls?"

"Grandma!"

Marli and Mira raced down the stairs, throwing their arms around their grandmother with loud peals of laughter. Linda Pascal looked as fabulous as ever, her red hair without a strand of grey or white, meticulously styled and sprayed to curl around the collar of her white suit. Several rings were worn on each hand, some with stone, some without, and her nails looked freshly manicured and painted red.

"Oh, my beautiful granddaughters!" Linda gushed, kissing the sides of both their heads before stepping back to look at them. "My goodness, you put beauty queens to shame!"

"We've missed you so much, grandma!" Marli exclaimed, holding Linda's ringed hand tightly.

"And I fully intend to make the most of this visit!" Linda vowed, tapping a red painted finger on Marli's nose.

"Linda!" Audrey greeted, holding her arms out as she walked into the room.

"Oh, Audrey, my dear!" Linda embraced her, rocking slightly. Behind them, Mira peeked out the front window at Adam and Matt getting the bags out of the car, laughing at something Aiden was telling them.

"Darling, that blouse is lovely on you," Linda was saying, fingering the sleeve of Audrey's shirt. "I was just telling Aiden the other day how lovely you always looked in Vermillion."

Aiden Pascal walked up the porch stairs, holding his arms out with a broad smile. Aiden, not as invested in his vanity as his beloved wife, had allowed his once dark blonde hair to whiten over the years. Though one thing they did share was their sense of refusing to dress as if they were elderly. One couldn't be married to Linda Pascal for half a century without acquiring a feel for how to look fashionable at any age.

"My favorite granddaughters!"

"Grampa!" Mira reached him first, throwing her arms around his neck. Marli followed, nearly knocking his black framed glasses off as he laughed.

"My, my, you two are practically grown!" Aiden said, giving them a squeeze. "Linda, can you believe it?"

"Hardly." Linda clapped her hands together. "And where is my little namesake, baby Linda?"

"It's Lucinda, grandma," Mira corrected, accepting Aiden's kiss on her cheek. "She's upstairs."

"Well, go get her!" Linda waved her hands, her many rings clicking together. "I haven't seen her since she was three weeks old!"

"She's the cutest baby in the world," Marli told her grandparents. "But you might want to take your earrings off, grandma."

"Of course." Linda began undoing her diamond studs. "And when will Leda be here?"

"I texted her, she'll be here later tonight."

"How very exciting." Linda took her husband's hand, exchanging a warm smile with him. "I'll bet little Everett is a hundred times more wonderful in person than in his pictures."

"Emmett," Marli corrected.

"Him too."

"Here we are!" Mira announced as she descended the stairs. Lucy was balanced on her hip, arms resting around her mother's neck. Linda exclaimed loudly, stepping forward with her hands out.

"Oh hello, my beautiful little namesake!" Linda said, kissing the baby's cheek and leaving a red smudge. "The pictures did not do her justice, Mira, how is she not doing commercials?"

"Isn't she beautiful?" Mira agreed.

"She looks just like you, Mira," Aiden commented. He slipped a finger into Lucy's hand, earning him a smile and a high pitched squeal from the toddler.

"She looks more like her father," Audrey contradicted.

"Everyone ready for lunch?" Adam asked upon entering the house. In his arms were large white bags, filling the room with the scent of pasta and salad. Matt carried the beverages in behind him.

"We have to do presents first," Linda announced. "I brought fabulous gifts."

"Mom," Adam protested. "The food will get cold."

"It will last a few more minutes, son," Aiden said with a chuckle and a pat on Adam's shoulder.

Fifteen minutes later, wrapping paper laid across the living room floor like Christmas morning. Mira received a new dress, a coach purse, and a cashmere sweater. Marli received a new pair of sandals and bathing suit for the upcoming summer along with a salon-quality flat iron. Matt received season tickets for the local baseball team along with a jersey and hat, and a navy blue Gitman Brothers tie for special occasions.

"And last is for Lucy." Aiden passed Mira a small square wrapped box.

Mira balanced Lucy on her leg and helped her rip the paper off, careful to avoid giving the baby any papercuts. It was a silver jewelry box with an engraved L in elegant calligraphy on the lid.

"Oh my god, it's so beautiful," Mira whispered in awe. She used her thumb to pop it open, meeting her daughter's gaze in the mirror on the inside. Lucy stuck a hand out and felt along the smooth velvet, over each slot meant for rings.

"We know it's a little early for her, but we wanted something special for our first great-granddaughter," Linda explained, giving Lucy's cheek a small pinch and making her squeal out a giggle.

"Kids," Audrey prompted.

"Thank you, grandma and grandpa," said the three in unison, each leaning over to kiss their grandparents.

"Now, shall we eat?" Aiden rubbed his hands together. "I believe there is linguini in there with my name on it!"

"Hello?" Seth called as he walked into the house.

"Hey, you," Mira greeted as she walked in, reaching her arms up to wrap around his neck and bring him in for a warm kiss.

"Mm, hey," Seth said, hands on her hips. He dipped his head in closer, deepening the kiss and pulling her in tighter. When they broke apart, he couldn't help the grin pulled at his lips. "What was that for?"

"Because I love you," Mira answered simply. "You okay with that?"

"Always." Seth pressed another peck to her mouth. They both froze at the slight ahem heard from the doorway. Seth looked up, seeing Mira's grandmother standing there with a barely concealed smile on her red lips.

"Seth, you remember my grandmother, Linda," Mira said, stepping back so she was by his side. "Grandma, Seth."

"I forgot how handsome he is!" Linda exclaimed, wasting no time in attaching her fingers to Seth's cheek and giving it a firm squeeze. "My goodness, you should be in magazines, young man." She turned her head and bellowed, "Aiden, come and see Mira's boyfriend!"

"She's holding my face," Seth said around a strongly pinched cheek.

"Yeah, you might want to get used to that," Mira advised. Linda released him as Aiden walked in and Seth rubbed his face, now a strong shade of pink.

"Seth, wonderful to see you again," Aiden said cordially, offering his hand for the younger man to shake.

"Nice to see you too, Mr. Pascal," Seth responded with a firm handshake.

"Aiden, please. Audrey was right, Lucy does truly resemble you," Aiden remarked.

"Thanks, I actually hear that a lot." Seth looked at Mira, feeling her cheek against his shoulder. "You ready to go?"

"Mhm, lemme grab my jacket."

"You'll be back in time for dinner, won't you?" Linda asked.

"Wouldn't miss it," Mira assured her, pulling on her coat and flinging her hair out the back of it.

"And Seth is, of course, welcome to join us," Aiden said warmly, wrapping his arm across Linda's back to pull her closer. "I'd love a chance to know you better."

Seth's brows rose in surprise. "Yeah, maybe I will."

"Bye," Mira said to her grandparents as she and Seth stepped out the door.

Linda and Aiden heard Seth ask "you're sure that man is related to your father?" just as Mira closed the door.

"He seems like a sweet boy," Linda commented with a nod. "So polite."

"Of course he is," Aiden said surely. "We wouldn't tolerate anything less from our future grandson-in-law."

Sweat chilled on their bodies as Seth and Mira lay entwined under the covers of his bed. Seth rested his forehead against her forehead, lightly stroking his fingers through her blonde hair. His draped one of his large arms across her waist, their lips meeting in one last, soft peck.

"Mm, I needed that," Mira whispered. She wrapped her hand around his bicep and squeezed it gently. Seth had gotten back into weight lifting lately, and the hard, spherical appearance of his biceps was a wonderful payoff.

Seth tipped his head up as she snuggled closer and tucked her head under his chin, wrapping her arm across his side and splaying her fingers on his back around the brace she still had to wear around her wrist. The sex was amazing, it always was, but this was secretly what Seth preferred a bit more. To know that after all the crap they could go through, they were still capable of just laying in each other's arms to enjoy the aftermath.

"You mind if I grab a nap here?" Mira asked, breath hot against the sweaty skin of his neck.

"Baby keep you awake?" Seth guessed.

"Grandparents are in the guest room," Mira explained around a yawn. "And since my parents forgot they were coming this week, they scheduled some plumbing in the basement, so Marli is with me, and she's a kicker."

"Sounds crowded."

"It is."

Seth was quiet for a moment, curling her hair around his long fingers in thought. "You want to stay here for a few days?" he finally asked.

Mira stilled in his arms. "Really?"

"Might as well," Seth said, looking down as she pulled her head back to look at him. "You've already got a bunch of your stuff here anyway."

"You noticed that?" Mira deadpanned.

"I don't have any use for Venus ladies razors, Naked juice, and tampons, baby," Seth reminded her with a chuckle, propping his head on his elbow as she did the same.

"Hey, if I'm spending time here, I'd like to be prepared for certain things."

"I know." Seth's hand slipped under the covers to rest on the small of her back above her ass and pull her closer, pressing a peck to her lips. "So, what do you say?"

"Well... I guess that could work," Mira teased, tracing the light sprinkling of dark hair between his pecs. "But just for the nights. I know how much my grandparents want to see Lucy. And you too now, probably."

"Your grandma is an interesting character." Seth rubbed his sweaty cheek with the back of his knuckles.

"You going to come to dinner tonight?"

"You want me to?"

"If you don't, Linda Pascal will be knocking on your door telling you to get dressed and come over."

"Guess I'll be going then."

"Good." Mira snuggled closer. "But, uh, maybe try and fix your hair."

"What's wrong with my hair?"

"If she sees you come to dinner with your bangs in your eyes, I'll won't hear the end of it until one of you is dead."

"Oof, good to know."

Dinner had been a success. Adam and Audrey had outdone themselves with the cooking, and the grandparents wasted no time in raving in how wonderful everything was. The dishes were cleared and the dishwasher loaded. Seth had left for home, Mira had gone upstairs to pack, as she announced she would be staying with Seth for a few days. Adam, Audrey, and Aiden had stepped out to the backyard to sit and talk. Matt was alone in the kitchen with his grandmother, laying the tea service on the table and pouring a steaming cup.

"Thank you, darling," Linda said warmly as Matt passed her the cup.

"You need anything else, Grandma?" Matt asked.

"No, this is fine, thank you." Linda gestured to the seat beside her. "Sit, please. I've barely gotten to see you since I arrived."

Matt dropped into the seat, scratching the side of his head. He had slicked his hair back so Linda wouldn't see how messy it looked these days, and the stuff was making his head itch.

"Have you given any thought to what you'd like to do when you graduate BVU?" Linda asked conversationally.

"Kind of."

"What's kind of?"

"That's what I was hoping to talk to you about." Matt scooted his chair closer. "I have a school in mind, but the tuition is pretty steep."

"Oh?" Linda asked, intrigued.

Matt fumbled for his phone in his pocket. "My grades were shi- I mean, my grades were bad, but I really turned it around this last year. I have a 4.0." He held it out to Linda, who slipped her reading glasses on her face and looked at the screen.

"Well, that is impressive," she told him. "You should be very proud."

"I am." Matt laid the phone on one of his thighs. "Which is why I was kind of hoping you and grandpa could give me a hand with tuition."

"What school are we talking about, dear?"

Matt passed his phone back without a word, waiting with baited breath. She was his grandmother, she loved him dearly, but he still feared the potential of being laughed at for having such a dream.

"Law school," Linda said, using a finger to scroll the text on the school page she was looking at. "You want to be a lawyer?"

"Yeah," Matt said with a hopeful smile. "I've been giving it a lot of thought the last few months and doing some research. I think it's really something I could be good at, maybe I could make a difference to someone."

"This is quite a dream, darling." Linda handed his phone back, folding her hands on the table. "What sort of lawyer would you want to be?"

"I'm not entirely sure. I would have to get in first."

"Have you applied?"

"Yeah. I'm waiting to hear from them. I haven't told mom and dad yet, though."

Linda leaned back in her chair, and Matt almost sighed in relief when she gave him a proud smile, patting the back of his hand with one of hers.

"That sounds like the perfect move for you to make, Matthew. The minute you're accepted, I'll be expecting a call. You, your grandfather, and I will discuss your finances then and work something out."

"Thank you so much, grandma!" Matt said excitedly, leaning over and kissing her cheek when she cocked it toward him. "I won't let you down, I promise."

"I don't doubt that," Linda said. A sudden grin appeared on her face. "I'm sure this news will make Nancy finally stop with the stories about her grandson going to school to be an architect. My grandson, Matthew Aiden Pascal, is going to be a lawyer, one of the best, just like his aunt."

Matt laughed heartily. "She's one part of the inspiration for this decision, I'll be honest."

"It will be a wonderful living." Linda patted his cheek and took a sip of her tea. "And such a good way to start your future."

"Right, my future."

Creeeeeeeeeek. Slam!

"Hello?" Leda appeared in the doorway, the baby carrier hanging from her hand.

"Oh, Leda!" Linda got to her feet.

"Mom!" The carrier was stuffed into Matt's arms as the women embraced, both already in tears.

"My beautiful girl," Linda said, kissing Leda's cheek and pulling back, looking her over. "Motherhood has done wonders for you already, you look so beautiful."

"Yeah, because I actually had a chance to shower today," Leda said with a watery laugh. She took the car seat, laying it on the counter. "Mom, I'd like you to meet your grandson, Emmett Xavier Pascal."

Linda clasped her hands over her chest with a soft breath. "Hello, Emmett," she whispered, reaching into the carrier to lift him out and hold him to her shoulder. "Hello, love. I've waited so long to meet you."

"I'll go get grandpa," Matt said softly so as not to interrupt the moment, and stepped out to the back porch.

"You haven't seen Lucy's duck thing, have you?" Marli asked her sister, crawling on all fours to look under the bed. "It's got the eyes and those weird buttons and a thing on the back?" Mira pulled a stuffed caterpillar out from under the bed and frowned. When the hell did she buy this? Her daughter had too many toys sometimes.

"I think it broke," Marli said. She was reclined on the pillows, holding Lucy upright beside her as the baby stood on the bed with her favorite stuffed lamb tucked under her arm.

"What, when?" Mira asked, looking up in alarm. "The duck is the only thing that keeps her occupied anymore."

"I don't know, this seems to be doing the trick just fine." Marli took the stuffed lamb from Lucy and made it dance in front of her face, making the baby let out her favorite high-pitched scream of delight and reach for it. "Oh yes, we love our Lammy Lamb, don't we? Don't we?"

"Alright, I'll see if that works as well as the duck at Seth's." Mira climbed to her feet, tossing the stuffed caterpillar in the vague direction of the pile of more baby toys.

"You know, you don't have to take her." Marli hugged Lucy to her, slipping her thumb into her grasp. "You could stay at Seth's and leave her here with me. I can take care of her."

"Yesterday you pawned her off on mom the literal second she needed a diaper change."

Knock knock

"Found a few more of Lucy's clothes," Audrey said as she walked into Mira's room, a neatly folded stack of onesies in her hand. She passed them to Mira. "I really don't think she'll need this many outfits, honey. You'll only be staying there a couple of days and Seth has clothes for her."

"I know, but it can't hurt to be prepared." Mira tucked the onesies in her suitcase.

"Gaa-ah!" Lucy shrieked, holding her arms out to her grandmother.

Audrey leaned over the bed and picked her up. "Oh, what am I going to do without my special little girl around?" she lamented to the baby, taking Lucy's curious hand before it could reach her earing. "Who is gonna eat all that extra sweet potato at dinner, huh? You know you love it more than anyone here."

"Gaa-ah," Lucy said again.

"Mom, you're making me feel guilty," Mira said with a pout.

"Marli, grandpa is making brownies with Matt if you want to help," Audrey told her youngest daughter with a pointed look.

Marli sighed and climbed off the bed. "Just tell me you want me to leave, jeez," she muttered, closing the door behind her.

"Condoms?" Audrey asked as soon as she and Mira were alone.

"Got 'em."

"Birth control?"

"In my toiletry bag."

"Gaa-ah."

"You know she's trying to say grandma, right?" Mira asked.

"You think so?" Audrey asked, face alight, looking at the baby. "Say grandma, Lucy. Grand-ma."

"Gaa," Lucy said in a long, exaggerated syllable. She placed her fat little hands on either side of Audrey's face and bumped the lower half of her face against her cheek in what resembled a kiss to the toddler.

"Aww, thank you, sweetheart." Audrey pressed a proper kiss to Lucy's cheek.

Mira's heart warmed at the sight. It had been a long time since she had seen her own grandparents, and being with them now just reminded her how much she adored them. Knowing Audrey was that person to Lucy just made everything feel different, better. It was as if she understood the love between them that much more.

"Pictures every night?" Mira offered with a smile.

"Yes, please."

He's absolutely beautiful," Linda whispered, watching her newest grandson nurse peacefully at the bottle she held.

"Isn't he?" Leda agreed, head propped up near her mother's shoulder on the couch, smiling warmly at her son. The mood was soft and familiar, but Leda still kept a bit of her guard up. Linda was always one to be vocal about her opinions, and Leda was sure she would have plenty to say about her being a single mother. Fortunately, Emmett seemed to have his mother's back today and was being especially adorable and loving to distract Linda.

"You know, just yesterday at the club I was talking to Harriet and she was telling me about her granddaughters attending that new preschool around here," Linda told her. "Lockwood, I believe it was called."

"Oh, yeah?"

"It is supposed to be wonderful," Linda said with gossipy airs with a wave of her free hand beside Emmett's head. "Music lessons, advanced art classes, an assortment of languages they could learn."

"He's barely two months old, mom," Leda told her with a small smile. Her eyes flickered over at the corner of the room where Emmett had been born. Matt had put a large potted plant in the spot and avoided it at all cost.

"Well, I know." Linda helped Emmett sit up, supporting his head with her fingers curled under his chin, lightly rubbing and patting his back until he burped. "But I thought it would be perfect for him, considering his mother is a future member of the Supreme Court."

Leda laughed, brushing her reddish hair back from her face. She had been so busy with the baby, today had been her first chance to actually wash it in several days. It helped her confidence, hearing her mother constantly referring to her superb skills as a lawyer.

"I suggested it to Mira, but she told me Seth's stepfather already made a call for Lucy to join a preschool here." Linda sighed, wrapping an arm across Leda's back and pulling her close. "How lucky she is, to have someone so dedicated to his baby."

Leda bristled, pulling away from the hug. "Is that aimed at me?" she asked stiltedly. "About how I'm alone in this?"

"Leda-"

"No, if you want to say something, say it." Leda flicked a hand between them. "Tell me you're disappointed."

"Now listen here, Leda Michelle Pascal," Linda said sternly, a finger pointed at her. "I will not be baited into saying something I don't feel because you want to argue. I don't care how good of a lawyer you are."

"Then... tell me what you think," Leda said after a beat. "You can't sit there and say you're happy I'm a single mother. I haven't even told you who the father is."

Linda sighed, lightly patting Emmett's bottom as he slept in her arms. "I'm assuming you have your reasons for not tell me," she told her. "Though I would like to know the story behind all this, I can't force you to tell me. I could never force you to do anything, you're too stubborn. God only knows where you got that from."

Leda snorted, shaking her head. "It's a mystery."

"And I am not disappointed," Linda informed her. "Not for one minute. A new grandchild is a blessing. Is it what I would have ideally pictured for you? No. But you're a modern woman, and single mothers are out there doing just a fine job."

Leda stared at her, her blue-grey eyes flickering between Linda's blue-grey eyes. "I've spent the last two months thinking you'd be pissed."

Linda wrapped an arm across Leda again and leaned their heads together. "I became a great-grandmother and a grandmother again in the same year, how could I possibly be pissed about that?" She kissed her hairline, leaving a trace of lipstick behind.

"Alright, alright," Leda capitulated, accepting her mother's hug. "I believe you."

"Good. Because I was hoping we could discuss the name."

"Oh no."

"Don't you think Emmett Michael has a nicer ring to it?"

"Give me the baby, mother."

"It would sound so wonderful when he's baptized. Have you seen Saint Augustine's lately? They finally finished the construction."

"Adam, help!"

Mira laid her Sonicare toothbrush on the sink and looked at Seth in the mirror. "Look, I'm moved in," she told him.

"Looks like it." Seth placed his hands on the sink on either side of her, boxing her in. He leaned down and their lips met wetly, moving in so they were close enough for one of her thighs to press between his legs and feel his growing arousal.

Mira's arms tightened around his neck as he lifted her swiftly and sat her on the counter. His shirt was removed in a frenzy and tossed aside, revealing those defined pecs and abs that made Mira hot every time she saw them.

Seth got Mira's dress unzipped and pushed off her shoulders until it bunched around her waist and ran his hand across the strap of her bra.

"Front," Mira whispered hotly.

"Damn it, warn me when you switch," Seth growled, undoing the front clasp of her bra and dropping it on the ground. They kissed again, her breasts rubbing against his chest until he brought a warm hand up to cup one.

Mira worked Seth's pants open and pushed them down his thighs as far as she could. His fingers slipped under her skirt, finding her thong and beginning to return the favor and pull them down her legs, when a familiar cry was heard from the next room, giving them both pause.

They waited in silence as the cries continued, soon realizing it wasn't just Lucy being fussy before falling right back asleep. Mira huffed a sigh, Seth's head slumping onto her shoulder with a groan.

"You mind getting her?" Seth asked, gesturing to the poorly concealed tent in his black boxers.

"Yeah, I got her." Mira slid off the counter and removed her dress, pulling on the big t-shirt she liked to sleep in. She walked out of the bathroom and up to Lucy's room.

The little girl stood in her crib, her little face red and streaked with tears. Her arms immediately stuck out as her mother entered the room, clenching and unclenching her fingers to be picked up. Cujo, who hadn't left her side once since she arrived, stood by the crib with a worried whimper, pawing at one of the legs anxiously.

"What's wrong, crankypants?" Mira cooed, lifting her out of the crib and kissing her forehead. Lucy's sobs came to a halt being in Mira's embrace. Her little arms wrapped around her neck.

"You just miss your mommy?" Mira asked. Her fingers stroked through Lucy's messy curls and rubbed her back through her onesie. "You didn't have to cry to get me here, you know I'm right downstairs, okay?" She heard footsteps coming up the stairs, followed by the opening and closing of Seth's bedroom door.

After a couple minutes of rocking, Lucy calmed down in Mira's arms. Mira stepped to the crib, about to lay her back in when the baby whined again.

"You don't want to be alone, do you?" Mira whispered in the tiny ear. Lucy had her own room back at Mira's house, but often Mira just kept her in the playpen bed beside her own bed. She liked to be close to her baby. Even Seth usually kept her in his room with him when he had her. She only slept in a room alone when they planned on sleeping together.

"Okay, just fall asleep in my arms," Mira said tenderly. She stepped out of the room and tapped her knuckle on Seth's door. "You dressed?"

"Yeah."

Mira walked into the room, finding Seth sitting on the bed in a pair of dark sweatpants and a t-shirt.

"Fussy?" he asked.

"I think she should be with us tonight," Mira whispered, still rubbing Lucy's back to soothe her. "Can you grab her crib?"

Seth climbed off the bed. "Looks like I'm not getting any tonight," he quipped as he left the room.

"Who would have thought being seventeen with a one-year-old would be such a cockblock?" Mira asked, seating herself on the bed. Cujo followed her and laid his head on her knee beside Lucy's legs.

"Almost one-year-old," Seth corrected from across the hall. He entered the room, crib in his arms, and laid it on the floor beside the window.

"Two more weeks." Mira kissed her forehead, closing her eyes. "This time last year, you and I were sitting on my couch arguing over baby names."

"I remember," Seth said. He picked Lammy out of the crib and handed it to Mira. "That was when you said you wanted her to have the last name Elsen."

Mira tucked the stuffed lamb under Lucy's arm. The baby was barely awake by this point. "Because I didn't like the sound of Pascal-Elsen," she said. "Too long."

"Coulda just been Pascal," Seth reminded her quietly, dragging the heel of his foot across the carpet slowly while looking at her curiously.

"It could have been, yeah."

"So, why didn't you?"

Mira shrugged and stood. "Why would I?" she asked back softly. Her hand rubbed across his stomach affectionately as she passed to lay Lucy back in her crib, tucking both her and Lammy under the blanket and stroking her hair, watching her sleep.

I really have this whole housewife thing down, don't I? Mira wondered to herself as she straightened up, finding Seth watching her with an unreadable expression on his face. A sort of effervescent feel began in her stomach, the way he looked at her.

"Bed?" Mira asked.

"Bed."

Seth laid out on the pillows, watching Cujo walk past his own bed on the floor to curl up beside the crib. Mira laid out beside him, and Seth offered his arm out, wrapping it across her back and holding her to his chest. The lamp went off with a click.

"Hey, Seth?" Mira whispered, placing her hand over his heart.

"Yeah?"

"I'm really glad my grandparents liked you."

Seth's smile was practically visible in the dark. "Me too," he whispered. His head turned, lips brushing her head. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Matt tucked his arms under his head, eyes affixed on the ceiling in thought. The chat he had had with his grandmother had taken such a weight off his shoulders. In his entire twenty-one years of life, no one had ever believed in him as much as his grandmother always did.

Well, except one other person.

Matt's phone was beside his leg, and he picked it up to look at one of the pictures saved. It was a few months old, but it felt older than that. He, Jamie, and Luke at the park last October.

They had hooked up at the hospital after Mira's accident a few weeks ago (not the best big brother move, he knew), and they had only spoken a few times through text since then. But she was all he could think about these days.

Law school meant a future, a career, a living. It would change his entire life if he succeeded at it. And it could change her life too. No more multiple jobs for her, or worrying about paying for childcare or making her rent on time. Maybe this meant they could have a real, successful future together. He loved her, he knew he did. There wasn't anything he wanted more than to wake up every morning and see those warm brown eyes and that cute smile looking back at him.

It wasn't too late in the evening, and Matt had gained confidence from his conversation with Linda, so he selected her name and brought the phone to his ear.

Ring...ring...ring...

"Hello?" came her familiar albeit hesitant voice.

"Hey," Matt answered softly. "Is this a bad time?"

"No, I just finished putting Luke to bed. How are you?"

"I'm okay. How is the little guy?"

"Good, really good. His language skills have taken off more than I can believe these days. He's really getting into baseball too. I'm hoping to teach him how to throw a ball when it gets a little warmer."

"Wow," Matt whispered. Baseball, Luke liked baseball. He could so vividly see that little boy on the pitcher's mound at Yankee Stadium, striking out all who came before him.

"Yeah, I'm really excited for him."

Matt closed his eyes, listening to that warm lift in her voice that always came when talking about her son.

"So, what's up?" Jamie asked.

"I was kind of wondering if you would like to get coffee tomorrow night if you're free."

"Coffee?"

"Yeah. I've been craving a good latte from The Grounds."

"Matt, I don't know." She sounded timid and quiet. His heart gave an ache, knowing it was his constant indecisiveness about their relationship that caused her to have such doubts.

"Please?" Matt asked. "I really miss you. And it's all on me, you can get whatever you want. As many cinnamon crunch scones as you can carry."

Jamie laughed. How Matt had missed that laugh. "Alright, you've convinced me. Luke has a playdate tomorrow night, so The Grounds at six?"

"I'll be there." Matt had a suspicion that Luke probably didn't have a playdate, but didn't question it. He'd see the little guy when she let him.

"Then I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"Can't wait."

"Goodbye, Matt."

"Bye, Jamie."

For those interested in reading more of my stories, I have another story out about Paige and Sara in an alternate universe titled She Used To Be Mine. Feel free to check it out and tell me what you think!

I have wanted the chance to truly play Linda Pascal for a number of years, so playing her was definitely a delight.

The next chapter should be the last of this story. That is another thing I have had planned for several years. Guys, I'm gonna try and get it out as quickly as I can. Because once the muse it's me, it hits me hard!

Read and Review