“Thank you,” she said, hugging Lacey tightly. It was very moving to see how much Lacey obviously loved the woman. He wanted to know who she was, what her story was, and planned to get all the information once they were alone. When Bethany let Lacey go, she set Karson with a look that meant she wasn’t joking around. “You make sure she is always happy. She’s a different person when she smiles.”

“I plan to do just that,” Karson promised, and his chest tightened when both women gave him a wide smile.

Wrapping an arm around Lacey, Bethany said, “Good, she deserves it.”

Karson couldn’t agree more.

After a tearful goodbye, and once they were in the car, Karson looked over at Lacey as he started the car and asked, “You okay?”

She nodded with a grin. “Yeah, I’ll miss everyone but I’m good.”

“Good,” he said, squeezing the steering wheel. “So who was that?”

“Bethany?”

“Yeah.”

She smiled, wiping her face with a tissue. Her makeup was smeared across her face, but to him, she was gorgeous. Hell, she was magnificent no matter what. “I love her so much. She is only eighteen and has had breast cancer since she was sixteen. They thought they had it all, but it came back and she had a mastectomy about six months ago.”

“That sucks,” Karson said as he pulled out into traffic and then going the direction that Siri was telling him to go.

“Yeah, her boyfriend left her when it happened, and she was devastated. I met her through the girls’ group I am in.”

“Girls’ group?”

“Yeah, I have a foundation that I started, and one of the perks of being a part of it is free counseling. It’s once a week and I go to the last meeting a month, just to check on the girls.”

He smiled. He knew all about her foundation and all the good it did. He was a proud sponsor, but she didn’t know that. No one knew. “So I’m pretty sure I need to buy a private plane for you so you can come to Chicago as much as you need to.”

She laughed. “Please, I can take Southwest. I’m fine, but thank you. That’s sweet.”

He shot her a grin as she went on, “But anyway, back to Bethany, she was a quiet girl from the start, but somehow we became friends. Then after she got her breast implants, I started making pieces to help her feel girly. It’s hard not having nipples, and sometimes girls don’t know how to accept it. Thankfully, every girl I’ve helped loves herself now. That was my goal when I started, and I’ve done pretty well at it.”

“That’s amazing, baby,” he said softly. “I’m very proud of you.”

Her cheeks reddened as she smiled a true smile. “I am very passionate about the things I love. Helping people is something I strive for because I didn’t have that. I didn’t love myself until you came along.”

That simple sentence meant more than she’d ever realize. As his chest constricted, he took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “You blow me away, Lacey. Really.”

“Thanks,” she said softly just as they pulled into the Martin residence. “I’m nervous.”

Karson looked over at her and squeezed her hand. “It’s going to be fine.”

“Rachel is going to lose it and, ugh, I hate to leave the boys.”

“We will come visit whenever you want.”

She nodded with a grin. “I know, but it’s hard to say goodbye.”

“But it’s not goodbye, it’s see ya later. You’re not leaving for forever, Lacey.”

Her grin grew as she leaned over, kissing his jaw. “You are my favorite person.”

“Awesome, ’cause you’re mine,” he said with a wink. “Come on, let’s go say bye.”

Jumping out of the car, Karson went around to retrieve his wife before they rushed to get out of the cold. Opening the door, Lacey led Karson in, and then two little boys who looked just like Grady attacked her. It was kind of freaky, and he wondered if Rachel had anything to do with the boys. She must have been just a carrier because those boys were Grady through and through.

“Auntie Lacey, you’re moving?” one of them asked, the taller of the two.

“Yeah, buddy, but I’ll visit all the time,” she said, bending down and hugging them both close to her.

“But we don’t want you to go,” the smaller one said with his lip out.

“You won’t even know I’m gone. You two are starting hockey soon and are so busy with school. When summer comes, maybe I can convince Mom and Dad to let you guys come stay with me and Karson.”

Saying his name must have brought attention to him because both boys’ heads whipped back to look at him. Standing, Lacey wrapped her arms around his waist and said, “This is my husband, Karson. Karson, these fine, strapping boys are my nephews, Flynn and Zander.”

“Hey, guys,” Karson said, fist-bumping both of them. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You play hockey?” Flynn asked and Karson nodded.

“I do, for the Assassins.”

“Ew, that team is wack,” Zander said with a look of disgust on his face. “You chose the wrong team.”

“Did I?” Karson scoffed.

“For sure, the only team in the NHL that’s worth anything is the Blackhawks,” Flynn said, crossing his arms across his chest, looking so much like Grady it was scary. “My daddy plays for the Hawks.”