Never Not You

The best

Mateo's giggles echoed through the house as the front door creaked open. The sound of his tiny boots scuffing against the wooden floor was accompanied by his excited babble, a constant stream of words that only sometimes made sense. Aurora looked up from where she was leaning against the counter, her arms crossed loosely over her chest. She watched as their son stumbled into the kitchen, holding a familiar book tightly in his small hands.

It was one of his Christmas gifts—That's Not My Puppy—a textured book he absolutely adored. Its corners were slightly worn from the many times he had carried it around the house, flipping through its pages with chubby fingers.

Leah followed closely behind him, brushing the cold off her coat as she hung it on the hook by the door. Her cheeks were flushed from the December chill, and her eyes lit up when Mateo toddled over to her, holding the book up like it was a precious treasure.

"Book!" Mateo declared proudly, thrusting it into Leah's hands.

Leah grinned, bending down to ruffle his soft curls. "You want me to read this to you, Teo?"

"Read!" Mateo exclaimed, clapping his hands.

Aurora leaned against the doorway, her smirk softening into a fond smile as she watched Leah scoop Mateo up and settle onto the sofa in the living room. Mateo squirmed for a moment, trying to find the perfect spot on Leah's lap, before settling down with the book still clutched in his hands. Leah opened it, and Mateo immediately pointed at the first page, his small finger tapping on the illustration of a fluffy puppy.

"That's not my puppy," Leah began, her voice soft and rhythmic. She traced her finger under the words as she read, making sure Mateo could follow along. "Its coat is too hairy."

Mateo stared at the page intently, his lips moving as he tried to repeat the words. "Tha's no' my...puppy. Hairy!" he exclaimed triumphantly, though the pronunciation was far from perfect.

Leah beamed, leaning down to kiss the top of his head. "That's right, baby! Good job."

Aurora, who had been quietly observing from the kitchen, felt her heart melt. Mateo's small, determined voice and Leah's patient encouragement were too much for her to resist. She crossed the room quietly, stopping just behind the sofa where Leah and Mateo were seated.

Leah turned the page, her voice lilting with enthusiasm. "That's not my puppy. Its paws are too rough."

Mateo repeated her words again, though they came out garbled. "No' my puppy...paws rough!"

"That's so good, Teo," Leah praised, her tone full of pride. "You're such a clever boy."

Aurora couldn't hold back anymore. The scene in front of her—Leah with their son nestled against her, both of them fully engrossed in the book—was too perfect. She reached down, gently tilting Leah's head back so their eyes met. Leah's surprised expression softened immediately, her lips curving into a small smile.

Before Leah could say anything, Aurora leaned down and kissed her. It wasn't a quick, teasing peck like earlier—it was slow, warm, and full of love. Leah's hand came up instinctively to rest on Aurora's arm, her fingers curling slightly as she kissed her back.

When Aurora finally pulled away, her voice was low and sincere. "I love you."

Leah's grin widened, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "I love you too, Rory. So much."

Aurora chuckled, brushing her thumb along Leah's jaw before gently pushing her head back down toward Mateo. "Now, keep reading to him."

Leah laughed softly, shaking her head in amusement, but she did as Aurora asked. "Alright, where were we?" she asked, glancing down at Mateo, who was still staring at the book with wide eyes.