Page 91 of That Right Moment

Hannah smiled. “About damn time.”

I arrived back at Madeline’s house earlier than she was expecting me. I gave Holly a hug goodbye, telling her I’d see her in a few weeks, my heart absolutely full. From where I was months ago to where I am now, I felt like a different person. I looked at Madeline’s home in front of me, knowing it was going to be our forever home. No more looming Seattle move or worrying how I’d see Holly in my weeks. All I saw was the future. My home.

I unlocked the front door, being greeted by Niko as he jumped and gave me a hug. I scratched behind his ears, loving the fluff ball that I was now stuck with. Madeline was in the kitchen, getting ready to make dinner. I leaned against the archway and watched her pull the pots and pans from the cabinet under the island. I watched as she searched the pantry for something to cook, and when she turned and saw me standing in the archway, the smile on her face brightened the room. She was glowing, positively beautiful in every way, and I couldn’t believe she was mine.

That warmth she offered started with a wonderful first date, a terrible first kiss, to now, having her next to me forever.

Madeline looked up, holding a pot when she saw me. She heaved a sigh and shook her head, dropping the pot on the stovetop.

“I’m just going to order from the Flying Pie. As much as I wanted to make dinner for you, I just have zero food. We’re going to have to go grocery shopping tomorrow because we have nothing.”

As she spoke quickly, I pushed myself off the archway. Closing the distance between us, stopping her by scooping her up into my arms, lifting her on the kitchen island, kissing her with everything that I had. Her palms ran up my chest and settled on my shoulders. She hummed and broke the kiss, her cheeks red, and she wore a hint of a smile.

“What was that for?”

“I’m the luckiest man in the world. I get to come home to you every night, rummaging through the cabinets or reading a book or … just being here.”

She kissed me again. “You are pretty lucky, aren’t you?”

I shook my head at her, still in awe that she was here. “I’m never going to get over the fact that it took us twelve years to figure this out. This whole thing could have been avoided.”

She tilted her head. “Nah, it wasn’t the right moment back then. We had to wait until that perfect timing happened. Twelve years ago, it wouldn’t be what it is now.”

“Our moment, huh?”

She nodded and ran her hands down my arms. “I love you, Milo Harris.”

“I love you more than anything, Madeline Iverson.”

I kissed her, with a new feeling and new passion, one that I knew I would have for the rest of my life.

Epilogue

-Madeline-

Six Months Later

When Milo had told me what Hannah had agreed to, I almost didn’t believe him, but there we were, six months down the road, spending our last day with Holly before she went to see Hannah for Christmas. The months had moved in a blur, navigating the world of becoming a step…whatever I was. Milo and I decided to keep Holly’s life as normal as possible, because for her, it was learning to be with just one parent for an extended time, which thankfully, she settled into easily.

Even though Milo would have moved into my house in a heartbeat, we decided to have him keep his apartment until we moved to the next step in our relationship. That went without saying that whenever Holly was in Seattle with Hannah, Milo lived in my place. I loved having Holly in my life, and I loved how she and Milo were gaining a closer relationship, but the time I had with Milo was precious—time that I valued above all others. The more time we spent together, the more I knew he was the right person for me, and even though I had told him we were meant to be together at this season in our life, I always wondered in the back of my mind what it would have been like twelve years ago if that first kiss wasn’t terrible.

Would we have dated during college, and would he have been there when I didn’t make it into dental school?

Would we have bought my house together?

Would we have gotten married?

Would we still be living happily ever after?

Would we have Holly?

Would our lives be as blissful as they were now?

Those questions and more always rang through my mind, but I ignored them.

When we were alone and folded up into each other, it was a different experience, different feelings every time, like there was never enough to get. Never enough love to pass between us. And when we added Holly to the mix, the love grew, and we were a family.

On the last day with Holly, she requested we go to one of my favorite places, Powell’s Bookstore. Not only did this place have Christmas decorations hung all over, adding to the holiday feel, but this was where Milo and I had our first official date, bringing back all the memories when we walked in the door.