Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

S cott sat cross-legged on the floor of Megan's San Diego apartment, surrounded by Ruby's artwork. Each drawing told a story. There was Santa's Village with twinkling lights, Cupid prancing near his pen, and another with the ocean waves under a starlit sky. The modern apartment's clean lines and neutral tones seemed to soften under Ruby's colorful interpretations of their island home.

Ruby bounced on her toes, holding up another drawing, "And this one is you and Cupid and me and Mama at Christmas!" Her curls danced with her enthusiasm as she pointed out each figure. "See? I drew your special hat!"

"You definitely got the hat right," Scott said, grinning as he studied the crayon version of himself, complete with an impressively large red hat and what appeared to be a candy cane in each hand.

Ruby dropped the drawing and launched herself at him without warning, her small arms wrapping around his neck. "You found us!" she exclaimed, her voice muffled against his shoulder. "I knew you would! I told Mama you'd come!"

Scott's heart squeezed as he hugged her back, breathing in the familiar scent of her bubblegum shampoo. "Of course I did, kiddo. I missed you too much not to."

The sound of movement in the kitchen drew his attention. Megan stood in the doorway, holding a plate of chocolate chip cookies, her eyes soft as she watched them. The afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows caught the gold in her hair, and Scott's breath caught at how right it felt, seeing her there.

"Cookie break?" she suggested, padding over to join them on the floor.

Ruby immediately grabbed two cookies, offering one to Scott with solemn importance. "Mama's are almost as good as Miss Doris's," she declared.

"Almost?" Megan laughed, settling beside them. "I'll have to work on that."

"You'll have plenty of time," Scott said softly. "Miss Doris is already planning baking lessons for when we get back."

The word 'we' hung in the air, full of promise. Ruby's eyes lit up. "When are we going? Can we go tomorrow? Can we take Mr. Bear on the airplane again?"

"Not quite that fast, sweetheart," Megan said, brushing crumbs from Ruby's chin. "We have some things to take care of first."

"Like what?"

"Well," Megan counted off on her fingers, "we need to pack everything up, talk to the landlord about the apartment, and I need to let the firm know I'm leaving."

"I'll help," Scott offered immediately. "With all of it. I'm not going anywhere without you two."

Megan's lips curved into a teasing smile. "What exactly was your plan if I'd said no? Camp out on my doorstep until I changed my mind?"

"Pretty much," Scott replied, his eyes meeting hers with quiet certainty. "I bought a one-way ticket. Wasn't planning to leave here without you."

He watched the impact of his words register on her face, the way her eyes softened and her lips parted slightly. The trust she was placing in him—in their future together—made his heart swell.

"Can we go on the airplane again?" Ruby interrupted, oblivious to the moment passing between them. "I like being up in the clouds!"

Scott chuckled. "Actually, I was thinking we could drive. Make an adventure out of it. See some sights along the way."

"Really?" Ruby's eyes widened. "Like a real adventure? With stops and everything?"

"You say that now," Megan said, raising an eyebrow at Scott. "But have you ever spent hours in a car with this one?"

Ruby put her hands on her hips in a perfect imitation of her mother. "I'm a good car rider!"

"The best," Scott agreed solemnly, though his eyes twinkled. "And besides, this way we can take our time. No rush, no pressure. Just us, making our way home together."

The word hung between them, full of promise, and his heart jumped when Megan reached for his hand, threading their fingers together. "Home," she repeated softly. "I like the sound of that."

"Mama!" Ruby jumped up suddenly. "Can I show Scott the Cupid ornament? I kept him on my special shelf, just like you said!"

"Of course, sweetheart."

Ruby grabbed Scott's free hand, tugging him toward her room. "Come on! You have to see. I made him a special place!"

Scott laughed, allowing himself to be pulled along. Ruby's room was a splash of color in the otherwise modern space, her personality somehow making even the stark walls feel warmer. She darted to a small shelf where the wooden Cupid ornament sat proudly among her treasured possessions.

"See?" She pointed up at it. "I put him where he can watch over everything. And sometimes, when I miss home, I tell him stories."

Scott's chest tightened as he reached into his jacket pocket, feeling the small carved box he'd brought with him. "I have something else for you," he said, kneeling down to her level. "Something I made before you left, but never got the chance to give you."

Ruby's eyes widened as he held out the box. "For me?"

"Open it," he encouraged, watching as her small fingers traced the carved reindeer prancing around its edges.

Ruby lifted the lid carefully, her face lighting up at the velvet-lined interior. "It's beautiful!" she breathed, running her fingers along the smooth wood. "Look, Mama! The reindeer look just like Cupid!"

Scott smiled, warmth spreading through his chest at her delight. "I thought maybe you could keep your special treasures in here. Including Cupid, when we drive home."

"Can I put him in right now?" Ruby bounced on her toes, already reaching for the ornament.

"Of course."

He watched as she carefully lifted Cupid from his perch and placed him in the box, handling him like he was made of gold instead of wood. The pure joy on her face, the way she immediately hugged the box to her chest—it made every hour he'd spent carving it worth it.

"Thank you," Ruby whispered, throwing her arms around his neck. "I love it. And I love you."

The simple declaration, delivered with a child's complete honesty, nearly undid him. Scott hugged her back, his throat tight with emotion. When he looked up, he found Megan watching them from the doorway, her eyes bright with tears.

"Ruby, honey," she said softly. "Why don't you show Scott where you want to put your new treasure box?"

They spent the next hour in Ruby's room, rearranging her shelf to make a perfect spot for the box, listening as she chattered about all the treasures she would keep inside. Scott sat on the floor, watching the two of them, his heart fuller than he'd ever thought possible.

Outside the window, San Diego's skyline stretched toward the horizon, but Scott's thoughts were already on Palmar Island—on quiet beaches and twinkling Christmas lights, on morning coffee runs and evening walks by the shore. On all the moments yet to come, with these two beside him.

They had details to sort out, logistics to handle, a whole life to pack up and move. But none of that mattered. What mattered was right here, in this room, in this moment.

They were going home. Together.