Marriage Of Convenience

Chapter 25: Finally At Home

McKenna's POV...

I see dozens of colorful balloons hanging on each lamp post outside. A huge welcome home banner was hung above the front door and several cars were parked in our driveway. Raleigh bound out the front door yelling mommie as Jae helped me out of the car.

I nearly burst into tears when my beautiful and cheerful daughter attacked my legs with her tiny arms wrapping around them tightly. "I miss you too, baby," I respond with a chuckle.

"Come on little lady," my father says to Raleigh as he swooped her up into his arms and carried her back into the house. My eyes searched through the dozens of smiling and tear-stained faces that were standing in the living room. I was desperately looking for Amy and Hannah. My heart began to feel heavy when I didn't see either one of them in the room.

"Where's Hannah?" I choked out with tears filling my eyes.

"She's upstairs in her room." My mom says then comes and hugs me tightly. I felt like I didn't deserve my mom's hug when Hannah would no longer feel her mother's arms wrap around her neck.

"Jae, can you please help me upstairs?" I asked him as I wheeled the wheelchair over to the stairs.

"No, you stay here, and I'll go upstairs to get her for you." He answers then bound up the stairs. Seconds later he walked back downstairs holding onto Hannah's small hand. To me, it looked like she had lost weight and her skin looked a bit paler.

The moment she looked at me tears flowed from her eyes, and she squeezed her right hand with her left one. She hung her head low and ran into the kitchen. "Hannah honey..." Jae called out to her then proceeded to go after her until I stopped him.

"Let me talk to her babe," I told him then wheeled myself into the kitchen. She was sitting at the island crying her little heart out. I didn't say a word. I just pulled her onto my lap and held her tight in my arms.

"I miss my mommy too," Hannah says in between her fits of wailing while wrapping her arms around my neck.

"I know that you do sweetie. I wouldn't dare expect you not to." I say then kissed her on her cheek. "I love you Hannah and I'm here for you. I know that I will never be able to take your mother's place and I will never try to do so but I want you to know that I will always be there for you honey."

"Do you think that my mommy misses me?" She then asked me with her face buried in the crook of the right side of my neck.

"Definitely sweetie. What mother wouldn't miss a sweet, beautiful, and lovely daughter such as yourself?" I responded while forcing her to look at me when I spoke those words to her. "Are you ready to go back into the living room where everyone else is at?" I asked when I noticed that she was a bit calmer.

"Can I stay sitting in your embrace for a few minutes longer?" She nervously inquired.

"Princess we can sit here for as long as you like," I reply. We both sat there in a comfortable silence hugging each other until Raleigh barged into the kitchen screaming mommie. "No, you stay right here," I ordered Hannah when she began to climb out of my lap to make room for Raleigh.

"Jae, come here please," I yelled.

"Sweetheart you know that you're not well enough to hold both of them." He says once he sees me trying to pick up Raleigh while Hannah was still in my lap.

"I want to and I will hold both Hannah and Raleigh at the same time with or without your help." I retort then proceeds to try and pick up Raleigh. He rushed to my side when he saw me struggling to lift Raleigh off the floor.

"Stop!" He demands then lifts Raleigh and places her in my lap. Hannah and Raleigh giggled when they saw me place a kiss on Jae's lips.

"Now can we get a hug from the woman of the hour?" Caleb says as everyone enters the kitchen.

"Forget the hug I'm ready to eat," Reagan says while at the same time hugging me from behind and causing everyone to burst out laughing.