“Sorry, honey,” she tells her, watching as Hope shrugs then takes another bite of her cereal.

“I gotta head out,” Jax says, placing his cup in the sink and shoving his keys into his pocket. “I won’t be back until dinner.”

“We’ll be here all day,” I say, leaning up on my tiptoes when his arm bands around my waist.

“Be good.”

“Maybe.” I smile, watching his eyes darken right before his head dips and he whispers, “Or don’t,” kissing me softly then letting me go. Placing his hand on the top of his sister’s head, he rubs it roughly, messing up her hair and making her shriek before going to Hope and kissing her forehead.

“Men are jerks,” Ashlyn grumbles, running her hand down her hair, trying to tame it. Then, she looks toward the front door and back to me when we hear it close, signaling Jax’s departure. “He’s gone,” she whispers.

“Go brush your teeth, Angel, then come back down and I’ll tell you what we’re going to do today,” I tell Hope, watching her scoot off her chair and run for the stairs. “Did you bring the stuff?” I ask looking at Ashlyn, referring to the decorations for Jax’s surprise party.

“They’re in my car.” She smiles, and I feel excitement bubble up inside me.

“What time is everyone getting here?”

“Around five. I’ll be back at three to help set up,” she says, going to the coffee pot and pouring herself a cup. “Are you sure you don’t want me to pick up a cake?” she asks, going to the fridge and getting out the cream, pouring some into her cup.

“I’m sure. I figured Hope and I could make him one.”

“He’ll love that,” she says as her face goes soft.

“I hope so,” I mutter. This whole family thing is still kind of new to me, but this is what I have always wanted, and this is what I want Hope’s memories to be filled with.

“Have you talked to July today?” she asks, changing the subject and leaning back against the counter.

“We talked this morning,” I say, wondering if she knows about us confirming that the picture was of the guy who had gotten away.

“She told me that you guys identified the other assailant.”

“We did,” I say quietly, looking toward the hall in case Hope comes back down.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m glad we know who he is and that there is now a chance of him getting caught,” I say then drop my voice. “But it doesn’t feel real anymore. It feels like something I made up in my mind, like it never really happened.”

“I think that’s because you know you’re safe.”

“Maybe, but I worry I’ve let my guard down too much, that this is all to easy.”

“Maybe it’s your turn for easy,” she returns as I hear Hope’s feet on the hardwood floor and watch her run past the kitchen doorway. Then I hear the sound of her being followed by little paws a moment later, letting me know she let the puppies out of their pen in the living room.

“You got a puppy?” Ashlyn asks, and I fight back my smile.

“Your brother got Hope two puppies,” I mutter, holding up two fingers as Hope runs into the kitchen, followed by Chocolate Chip and Pancake.

“Wook at my puppies, Aunty Ashwyn!” Hope cries excitedly, and I notice she put her tutu on over her pajama bottoms.

“Oh, my God,” Ashlyn whispers, looking at me.

“I know.” I shake my head, watching her bend down to pick them up. “Careful, we need to take them out again. Last night that one peed on Jax,” I say, pointing to Chocolate Chip, who barks at me.

“No.” She laughs.

“Yes.” I nod, going to the backdoor, opening it for her, and following her down to the grass, where we watch as both puppies run around and play until finally handling their business. When we get back inside, I tell Hope what we’re going to be doing today, while Ashlyn goes to her car, coming back a few minutes later with her hands full of bags and a promise to be back at three.

Shutting the door behind her when she leaves, I turn to look at Hope and ask, “Are you ready to bake?”

“Yes!” She yells making me smile.

Looking down at the phone in my hand, I angrily type out the words: We are never having babies, to Jax before pressing send.

I don’t care if I’m being irrational. Taking care of Hope and two puppies has put things into prospective for me today. I’m completely exhausted, the house is messier than before I cleaned it this morning, and Jax’s birthday cake—which is sitting on the counter in the kitchen—is burnt and completely lopsided. I want to cry and sleep for a week, but I still have to attempt to decorate then cook for and host his surprise birthday party.

Feeling my phone vibrate in my hand, I look down and fight back the smile I feel creeping onto my face as I read his message: Babies are easier than puppies.

Hell no, they aren’t, I text back, pressing send as I walk into the living room, where I find Hope asleep in the crate with both puppies curled around her. Snapping a picture, I send it to him, saying: Okay, this is definitely cute, before taking a seat on the couch, needing to rest for a minute.

Blinking my eyes open when I hear Hope say, “She’s sleeping,” I come face-to-face with Ashlyn, July, and some guy I have never seen before.

“Is everything okay?” I ask, sitting up and looking around.