Finally Home

Finally Home
Author's POV

Days later, the warm California sun welcomed the group as their plane touched down in Los Angeles.

Holly was the first to step off the jet bridge. She closed her eyes, breathed in deeply, and sighed with pure contentment, practically bouncing on her toes.

“Home sweet home,” she whispered.

David stood beside her, jaw tight, shoulders tense. 

The conversation they’d had before getting on the flight still lingered between them like thick fog. 

Holly was determined to finish her medical licensing in LA. 

David hated the idea of her being so far away but he didn't object when she told him about it. 

Instead, he’d been making secret arrangements to transfer her to a top school in Chile, but he hadn’t told her yet. Today, he planned to ask Ava for her blessing first.

A few steps behind, Nathan and Kayla walked hand in hand. Nathan’s fingers kept squeezing hers, unable to hide his boyish excitement.

“I can’t wait to meet Caden,” he said, voice warm with anticipation.

Kayla looked up at him, her heart swelling. “He’s going to love you. Just…be yourself.”

A sleek black SUV sent by Ava waited for them at the arrivals area. 

The four of them climbed in…Nathan and Kayla in the back seat, hands still linked, while Holly and David sat across from them. 

The tension between Holly and David was very obvious. Neither of them spoke to each other, but David couldn't keep his hands away from Holly. His hand rested possessively on her thighs like it's always meant to be there.

Nathan, on the other hand, couldn’t keep his hands to himself too. 

His arm stayed draped around Kayla’s shoulders, fingers playing with her hair, occasionally brushing her cheek. 

Every few minutes he’d lean in and press a soft kiss to her temple, making her smile shyly.

The car ride was mostly quiet, the city scenery blurring past the windows. Kayla’s stomach fluttered with nervous excitement. She couldn’t wait to hold her son again.

When the SUV finally pulled up to Ava’s sprawling mansion, Holly didn’t wait for the car to fully stop. She bolted out and sprinted toward the grand entrance.

“Ava!” she yelled, arms wide open.

The massive double doors swung open, and Ava stepped out, glowing with that effortless big-sister energy. Holly launched herself into her arms, nearly knocking her back.

“I've missed you sisi,” Ava said softly, patting her sister's back slowly.

Watching Holly grow into the woman she is today has filled Ava's heart with so much peace. Just last night, she got a message from the police that their father died in prison. Cardiac arrest.

When Ava told Holly about it, they both exhaled like they've been holding their breaths for the longest time.

It was just the two of them. But now, they have a growing family.

“I missed you so much too,” Holly mumbled into Ava’s shoulder, hugging her like she never wanted to let go.

Orion appeared behind Ava, grinning as he ruffled Holly’s hair. “Still acting like a kid, I see. You want Ava to sing you a lullaby?” He joked.

Holly swatted his hand away. “I’m not a child anymore!”

Laughter filled the air, warm and familiar as they all entered the living room.

Then came the sound of small, hurried footsteps.

“Mommy!”

Caden came barreling down the wide staircase, his little legs moving as fast as they could. Ava's Don, Jayden, was right behind him.

“Cay. Wait up!” He called playfully.

Behind them, a nanny carefully carried Ava’s newborn girl to meet the full house. 

Kayla’s heart exploded the moment she saw her son. She dropped to her knees right there on the marble floor, arms stretched wide.

Caden crashed into her like a tiny hurricane, nearly knocking her over. 

Kayla wrapped her arms around him tightly, burying her face in his soft hair, inhaling that sweet baby-shampoo scent she had missed so desperately.

“Mommy…” Caden whispered, clinging to her like she might disappear again. “Mama,” he repeated again like he couldn't believe she was truly there.

Tears streamed down Kayla’s cheeks as she dropped kisses all over Caden's cheeks. “My baby… Mommy missed you so, so much.”

Caden pulled back after a moment, cheeks flushed. “Mommy, I’m a big boy now. You’re embarrassing me in front of everyone!”

The whole room burst into warm laughter. Even Kayla couldn’t help smiling through her tears.

Caden then spotted Holly and ran to hug her too, squealing with delight as Holly lifted him up and spinned before setting him back down. 

But his curious eyes soon landed on the tall man standing beside his mother.

“Mommy…who is that?”

Kayla’s heart pounded. She stood up, taking Nathan’s hand and gently guiding both of them to the side away from the rest for a little family discussion. 

Holly on the other hand lifted Jayden up and ruffled his hair as he giggled wildly.

Kayla crouched down again so she was at Caden’s eye level.

“Caden, sweetheart… This is Nathan. He’s a police captain. He makes sure bad guys don’t hurt people.” She swallowed, voice soft but steady. “He wants to marry Mommy… and he wants to be your daddy. Is that okay with you?”

Nathan held his breath, his usual confidence replaced by raw nervousness. His big hand gently rested on Kayla’s shoulder for support.

Caden studied Nathan carefully for what felt like forever, tilting his head as though in deep thought.

But Nathan, Nathan wasn't finding it funny. He knows how much Kayla loves her son, and how his response could play a huge role in their relationship.

So he prayed…silently, as though waiting for a judge’s verdict.