go to your old room and cool off if you need a few minutes.”
She stepped toward the staircase, half tempted to take him up on the offer. Solitude was a precious commodity that many took for granted. She used to do the same before she met Dylan. Much had changed since then and in such a short time.
Even if she managed to get away for a moment, she’d never enjoy it. Thanks to her abilities, she’d be forever linked to the emotions of those around her. Being out of Dylan or Layne’s presence would evoke emotions she didn’t want to feel.
“As tempting as it is, I can’t sneak off, Dad. It would make things worse. I feel their energy. Remember?”
A spark of recognition flitted in his eyes as they fell to her belly. Then his chuckle filled the air. “They’re in hover mode, aren’t they?”
“Humph,” she grunted, watching Delia enter the room from the kitchen. “It’s more like smother mode.”
In spite of her frustration with the men in her life, she was glad to see her mother-in-law. Maybe Delia could talk some sense into her son…and Layne.
Right on cue, the sources of her frustration stepped under the threshold. Dylan moved through the door to the left where her father stood. Layne remained a few steps behind. He closed the door behind him as Dylan reached his hand toward her dad.
It didn’t surprise her that Dylan was quick to shake her father’s hand. He respected her dad, but he wanted to remain on his good side too. His recent behavior weighed on his mind, and he knew her father could read those thoughts. This was his way of admitting his faults before her dad had a chance to reproach him.
Layne, on the other hand, kept his distance. He gave her father a polite nod, but focused on his new surroundings, as if he was looking for signs of danger. His duties to her came naturally, whether he believed in himself or not.
She believed.
He swept his eyes over every part of the house, studying any objects that entered his vision. It all came to a halt when he noticed Delia. For an instant, he seemed relieved to see Dylan’s mother. Truth be known, they all were. She could provide them with answers to their questions. Yet his energy said it was more than that. He had something to say to her. The way he twitched his lips confirmed her suspicion.
The thought faded from her mind just as a warm hand touched her shoulder. She turned to see who it was when she met a set of olive colored eyes. The same warmth she saw in them also spread across the set of lips below them. Both signified one truth she could never deny—her mother’s love.
When her mother reached the final step, a perfect blend of curiosity and relief swirled within her energy. “Hi, sweetheart.”
“Hi, Mom.” She cradled her belly once her mother’s eyes shifted to it.
“Wow,” her mom chuckled, “Your little bump is an array of colors.” She reached forward, as though she wanted to touch her stomach, but hesitated at the last minute. “There’s so much pink and silver. The baby loves you, Heaven. So much unconditional love beats in that tiny heart.”
Heaven fought with the moisture stinging her eyes. She couldn’t wait to meet her child. Couldn’t wait to see and hold the beautiful miracle that she and Dylan created. Even the thought of him holding the baby warmed her inside.
But the anticipation she felt soon disappeared. Her mother’s smile receded as she leaned closer. She hadn’t moved her eyes from Heaven’s waist, but something in her energy shifted.
“Is everything okay, Mom?”
“Magenta…and lavender.” Her mother mumbled the words before she gazed behind her where Dylan and Layne stood. She gave each one a thorough look, then moved her eyes back to Heaven. “What’s going on, sweetheart?”
The rapid beat of Heaven’s heart echoed in her ears. Had her mother sensed something about the baby? Perhaps she’d picked up on the friction between Dylan and Layne.
“What makes you think something’s
She stepped toward the staircase, half tempted to take him up on the offer. Solitude was a precious commodity that many took for granted. She used to do the same before she met Dylan. Much had changed since then and in such a short time.
Even if she managed to get away for a moment, she’d never enjoy it. Thanks to her abilities, she’d be forever linked to the emotions of those around her. Being out of Dylan or Layne’s presence would evoke emotions she didn’t want to feel.
“As tempting as it is, I can’t sneak off, Dad. It would make things worse. I feel their energy. Remember?”
A spark of recognition flitted in his eyes as they fell to her belly. Then his chuckle filled the air. “They’re in hover mode, aren’t they?”
“Humph,” she grunted, watching Delia enter the room from the kitchen. “It’s more like smother mode.”
In spite of her frustration with the men in her life, she was glad to see her mother-in-law. Maybe Delia could talk some sense into her son…and Layne.
Right on cue, the sources of her frustration stepped under the threshold. Dylan moved through the door to the left where her father stood. Layne remained a few steps behind. He closed the door behind him as Dylan reached his hand toward her dad.
It didn’t surprise her that Dylan was quick to shake her father’s hand. He respected her dad, but he wanted to remain on his good side too. His recent behavior weighed on his mind, and he knew her father could read those thoughts. This was his way of admitting his faults before her dad had a chance to reproach him.
Layne, on the other hand, kept his distance. He gave her father a polite nod, but focused on his new surroundings, as if he was looking for signs of danger. His duties to her came naturally, whether he believed in himself or not.
She believed.
He swept his eyes over every part of the house, studying any objects that entered his vision. It all came to a halt when he noticed Delia. For an instant, he seemed relieved to see Dylan’s mother. Truth be known, they all were. She could provide them with answers to their questions. Yet his energy said it was more than that. He had something to say to her. The way he twitched his lips confirmed her suspicion.
The thought faded from her mind just as a warm hand touched her shoulder. She turned to see who it was when she met a set of olive colored eyes. The same warmth she saw in them also spread across the set of lips below them. Both signified one truth she could never deny—her mother’s love.
When her mother reached the final step, a perfect blend of curiosity and relief swirled within her energy. “Hi, sweetheart.”
“Hi, Mom.” She cradled her belly once her mother’s eyes shifted to it.
“Wow,” her mom chuckled, “Your little bump is an array of colors.” She reached forward, as though she wanted to touch her stomach, but hesitated at the last minute. “There’s so much pink and silver. The baby loves you, Heaven. So much unconditional love beats in that tiny heart.”
Heaven fought with the moisture stinging her eyes. She couldn’t wait to meet her child. Couldn’t wait to see and hold the beautiful miracle that she and Dylan created. Even the thought of him holding the baby warmed her inside.
But the anticipation she felt soon disappeared. Her mother’s smile receded as she leaned closer. She hadn’t moved her eyes from Heaven’s waist, but something in her energy shifted.
“Is everything okay, Mom?”
“Magenta…and lavender.” Her mother mumbled the words before she gazed behind her where Dylan and Layne stood. She gave each one a thorough look, then moved her eyes back to Heaven. “What’s going on, sweetheart?”
The rapid beat of Heaven’s heart echoed in her ears. Had her mother sensed something about the baby? Perhaps she’d picked up on the friction between Dylan and Layne.
“What makes you think something’s
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