Picture Perfect

told me that she was it for him. They were both just nineteen years old and I know most people were stunned that they got so serious so fast, but when you meet your soul-mate, you know. We could all tell, too. It was impossible to be with them and not see how connected they were. When they got married two months later, Mason and I finally had a beautiful daughter. I knew that girl was going to give me a gaggle of grandchildren. She gave us our perfect Flynn, and he’s been the light of my life since the day he was born and his chubby hand reached out and touched my finger. We spoiled him rotten, but he was such a wonderful child. Through Flynn we got Cole, and I love him as one of my own. Todd and Rachel had been trying to have another baby, and I was so excited that my family would be growing. I just knew granddaughters were in my future. And then, our Rachel got sick. My son lost the love of his life, my grandson lost his mother, Mason and I lost the daughter of our hearts and we all lost the chance to have a bigger family. Todd never remarried because he never found anyone that made him feel the way Rachel did. You can call me an old fool, but I’ve prayed every day that Flynn would bring home someone for us to love. I just know that we were meant to be a bigger family. I’ve always felt it. I’m counting down the days until this stubborn ass gives me some great-grandchildren to love. Flynn’s twenty-nine years old and you’re the first girl he’s ever introduced us to. Let me enjoy the moment, sugarplum.”
    My Gram broke my heart with that explanation, completely ripped me open. I hated the thought of the people I loved hurting, and I knew that only having one son and one grandchild wasn’t all that she wanted because she had so much more love to give. I felt bad though, because I knew she had to have made Tessa uncomfortable by saying all of that.
    Instead of being uncomfortable, Tessa turned to my Gram and pulled her in for a hug. “That was beautiful Sylvia. You’re an amazing woman, and I just know that your future great-grandchildren are going to adore you.”
    We were past the twenty-four hour mark of knowing each other by that point, so it was pure insanity that I spent the rest of the time at the table imagining Tessa pregnant with our child.
    Our dinner lasted for almost three hours. Everyone had a wonderful time, and we all laughed and ate entirely too much. Tessa, Devon and Ian all fit in, and Cole looked like the cat that ate the canary. I figured I had the same look on my face.
    Hugs and kisses were exchanged as we made our way to the parking lot to leave. Tessa told Gram that she’d email her the photos as soon as she got home and Gram reminded Tess to follow her on Twitter. Gram couldn’t seem to believe her ears when Tessa told her she wasn’t even on Twitter.
    “What? My goodness Tessa, you’re behind the times! You must make an account. Everyone does the Twitter these days sugarplum.”
    My father and grandfather both hugged Tess, telling her that they wanted to see her at dinner in the week she was here before the tour started. Dad also told her that she needed to come over for breakfast to eat one of his omelets.
    It was very clear to me that my family didn’t just approve of Tessa, they really liked her and they were welcoming her with open arms.
    It was just after eight but the night was still young. I didn’t want to take Tess back to her hotel and just drop her off. I wanted… no, I needed… to spend more time with her. A lot more time.

Chapter Fifteen

    I was in deep shit.
    Like, knee deep, no paddle and there wasn’t any way out.
    Flynn’s family was perfection. I liked them all, particularly his Gram. But most of all, I adored Flynn.
    Like an absolute idiot, once his Gram planted the idea in my head about Flynn giving her great-grandchildren, I sat thinking about how beautiful it would be to carry his babies. Yes, I know that makes me nuts. I barely knew him and I was wistful about the idea of a child with Flynn’s eyes holding my hand and asking me for butterfly kisses.
    Getting into the car with him was like being enveloped in a sensual cocoon. It was just the two of us and it felt like we were alone in the world. The Foo Fighters were on the car stereo, Dave Grohl was singing Everlong, and my heart was beating out Flynn’s name. When he reached over and took my hand in his, I flushed from head to toe.
    I kept trying to snap back into reality, repeatedly