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Jackson sat on the couch and pulled her into his lap "Oh, to be as resilient as a four-year-old Nothing fazes that kid" He squeezed her gently "Go ahead and cry I almost cried myself"
Ridley did just that, then buried her face in his shirt and sentle hand on her still-flat stomach, Ridley whispered, "I never knew I could be this happy"
He tilted his head to one side, regarding Ridley silently for aI can to keep you that way"
"Thank you"
"For what?"
Ridley shrugged It wasn’t soh she hadn’t been that close to her own mother prior to her death, she’d felt the loss keenly every year since There were so otten used to doing things on their own Then she’d ed Now they were a part of this aain
"For loving me That’s all"
AS EVERYONE CROWDED around Ridley, Eli edged closer to Kaylee She sat on the floor near the door, obviously feeling a little left out
She shtly when Eli sat next to her "Aren’t you supposed to be right in the thick of things? You know, peeking into your stocking?"
He wasn’t sure if she was kidding but just thewas a little too silly to be believed
"Peeking is for little girls If I wanted to knoas in there, I’d just dump the stuff out" He shot her a sardonic look "Unless hed, just like he’d hoped she would He didn’t like how lonely and lost she’d looked sitting off to the side by herself
"Besides, I already knohat’s in there It’s always a piece of candy, a silly card that loves or a hat" Even Eli could hear the affection in his voice It was hard not to adore his mother when she so obviously adored each and every one of them
"Sounds like you know your eted, the s heavier and heavier by theto think of a sive it to her and just dropped it in her lap "This is for you"
"You gotbow on top of the box Then she sht obvious in the way she attacked the wrapping paper
He knew she hadn’t expected anything It had beco over her that she didn’t expect much from anyone Far less than she deserved It was foolish and a dangerous thing, but he just wanted her to kno much she deserved
How valuable she was