CEO Single Dad Falls For Her, Never Expected She’d Love His Kids Like Her Own
Chapter 13
Noah was sixteen when he finally asked Ava the question he had been carrying for years.
“Do you regret it?”
She looked up from her laptop.
“Regret what?”
“Coming here.”
Ava knew immediately.
“No.”
“Even though Dad was impossible?”
“Especially because of that.”
Noah smiled.
“I mean us.”
Ava closed the laptop.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you and Lily changed my life.”
Noah looked down.
“I remember when you first came.”
“I remember.”
“You made those stupid paper flowers.”
“They weren’t stupid.”
“They were terrible.”
Ava laughed.
“I was trying.”
Noah smiled.
Then he became serious.
“Mom would have liked you.”
Ava’s smile disappeared.
“Thank you.”
“I mean it.”
He handed her a photograph.
Claire.
The children.
Ethan.
Ava.
All four.
It had been taken at Christmas.
On the back Noah had written:
Four people. One family. More love than we know what to do with.
Ava cried.
Noah hugged her.
That evening, she showed Ethan.
He stared at the photograph.
“He’s growing up.”
“I know.”
“You’re crying again.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
He laughed.
She leaned against him.
“I never expected this.”
“What?”
“To love them like they’re mine.”
Ethan kissed her forehead.
“You don’t have to call them yours.”
“I know.”
“But?”
She looked toward the living room.
“They are.”
