Red, blue and yellow balloons floated in the corners of Nina’s kitchen. A computer-generated banner with the words, HAPPY ADOPTION streamed down the center of the dining-room table. Andy was fourteen months old, and Tori had officially been his mother for eight months. Now Jake was officially his dad.
Jake handed Tori the cake knife as they stood on either side of Andy in his high chair. “Do you want to do the honors?” he asked.
Charlie Nexley chimed in from where he was sitting, “Now that you’re officially a father, maybe I’ll become one, too.”
Charlie and Nina had been married a month ago. They were still in their honeymoon stage—the same stage Jake hoped he and Tori would be in for the rest of their lives.
Nina playfully jabbed her husband’s arm. “You’re already a dad.”
“I mean officially. I’d like to adopt Ricky and Ryan.”
The tears Jake saw come to his sister’s eyes told him better than any words that she and Charlie were right for each other and that she couldn’t want anything more.
Jake felt the same way with Tori.
He knew now that Nina had been right. Tori was indeed the right person for him. Marriage had come to mean a freeing, life-giving chance to explore the world with someone else. Each and every day Tori and Andy enriched his world, and he didn’t even want to imagine life without them. He was working for the Santa Fe Police Department now, teaching negotiations skills. He was also on call when special situations arose. He’d been doing the lecture circuit, too, at colleges and law-enforcement conferences. Whenever possible, Tori and Andy went with him. Tori had more help at the gallery, and life couldn’t be any more perfect.
Except…
When Andy stuffed cake and icing into his mouth with his fingers, Jake laughed, along with Tori, Nina and Charlie, Ricky and Ryan, and his mom. The icing was smeared all over Andy’s fingers, on the tip of his nose and in his hair. But Tori just looked on with that tender sparkle in her eyes she always had for their son.
A short time later, the twins grabbed their jackets and ran into the yard to play with Charlie. Nina and Rita had gone into the living room.
Jake kissed icing from Andy’s nose, then kissed his wife. Passion rose, hot and hungry. That was always the way it was between them.
Tori laughed as he broke away. “You taste good,” she said.
“So do you.”
“Uh-oh. That look in your eye says Andy’s bath is going to be a short one tonight.” Her smile was wide.
“Is that okay with you, Mrs. Galeno?”
“You know it’s always okay with me, Mr. Galeno.”
This was as good a time as any to bring up a subject that had been on his mind. “With Sean and your mom moving out to Albuquerque in a couple of months, we’re going to have plenty of baby-sitters.”
“I love the idea of them retiring out here. Are you afraid Andy’s going to get too spoiled?”
“Just to make sure he doesn’t, I was wondering what you thought about adopting another baby.”
“Really? I’ve been thinking about it, but…”
His arm went around her. “But what?” They didn’t keep secrets from each other.
“But I want our honeymoon to last.”
“Whether we adopt another baby or not, our honeymoon is going to last as long as we’re married. Maybe even longer.”
Her expression was radiant as she responded, “Then I’d love becoming a mother again.”
Jake’s kiss this time was a fervent commitment to their vows. He would love, honor and cherish Tori Phillips until the end of time.