The Heart Left Behind (Cole and Yvonne) novel Chapter 39

"Daddy..." Jonas tugged at my sleeve gently, his eyes full of hope.

"Jonas, can I join you on the trip?" Lorraine asked Jonas. Her way with children made me wonder if she had studied child psychology.

Jonas looked up at me nervously, biting his lip before nodding. I could tell he was afraid I would be upset, and his uncertainty broke my heart.

I ruffled his hair gently. "Well, let's all go together."

As a father, I couldn't give him a complete family or his birth mother, so I tried to make up for it in other ways.

"But the tickets..." I had only planned for two people as I hadn't expected Lorraine's sudden proposal.

"I already bought mine!" Lorraine giggled sweetly, looking slightly embarrassed as she poured Jonas a glass of orange juice. "If you hadn't invited me, I was planning to go anyway."

"We wouldn't leave you behind, Ms. Sommerton," Jonas said, holding her hand and swaying it gently, making Lorraine beam with joy.

"No, we wouldn't," I agreed, scratching my head awkwardly and smiling at Lorraine. For a moment, I felt like a teenager in love again—nervous but full of hope.

...

On the day of our trip, Lorraine showed up at the house to help us pack.

"I'll handle that," I said quickly, embarrassed despite being a divorced dad who should've been past such awkwardness.

"I said I'd help..." she trailed off, her face turning a deep shade of red as she held a newly opened pack of underwear.