Chapter 298 - 317.

Four years later:

"Emilia, if you tell me this dress makes me look like I’m trying too hard, I will end this friendship."

Kylie stood in front of her bedroom mirror, holding her phone at an angle that captured both her face and the gold outfit hanging from the wardrobe behind her.

On the screen, Emilia stared at her. "I haven’t said anything."

"Your face has."

"My face is perfectly innocent."

"Your face has never been innocent a day in its life."

Emilia laughed, shifting against the cushions behind her. "Turn around. Let me see the dress properly."

Kylie stepped back, lifting her arms slightly so the camera could catch the outfit.

She was getting ready for an evening event, one of those glamorous affairs where everyone arrived looking impossibly beautiful, pretended not to care who else had arrived, and then spent the next three hours studying one another over champagne glasses.

She loved them.

She loved the dresses, the makeup, the photographs, the music, and the excitement of getting ready with nowhere to be for another hour.

She also loved having Emilia on a video call to offer unsolicited opinions. Especially because Emilia’s opinions were usually right.

Unfortunately.

"Oh," Emilia said.

Kylie narrowed her eyes.

"It means you look beautiful."

"Just beautiful?"

"Stunning."

"Better."

"Annoyingly stunning."

Kylie grinned. "That’s my girl."

"You’re welcome. Now, are you wearing those shoes?"

Kylie looked down at the silver heels beside her. "Obviously."

"They’re going to hurt."

"They’re going to make my legs look incredible."

"Your legs already look incredible."

"Yes, but these shoes understand the assignment."

Emilia shook her head. "I’ve missed you."

"We spoke yesterday."

"And yet, somehow, it wasn’t enough."

"That’s because you’re obsessed with me."

"Pot, kettle."

Kylie scoffed playfully. "Are you calling me obsessed?"

"I’m calling you a woman who once drove across the city because Christian mentioned, in passing, that he wanted a particular dessert."

"He was having a difficult week!"

"And you bought six."

"He likes options."

"You bought six of the same dessert."

"Because he likes that one!"

Emilia burst out laughing.

Kylie was still preparing her defence when she heard the sound of little feet racing down the hallway.

Fast little feet. Very determined little feet.

And then, she heard a heartwarming call.

"Mummy!"

Kylie’s entire face transformed. The mascara wand slipped from her fingers and landed on the vanity.

She spun towards the bedroom door, her mouth opening into the biggest smile.

"Babbbbyyyy!"

The word came out in a ridiculously high-pitched sing-song, drawn out with so much affection that Emilia immediately started laughing on the other end of the call.

Kylie barely heard her.

Because William Finn Sinclair had just appeared in the doorway. And he was running.

Running with the unrestrained enthusiasm of a four-year-old who had been separated from his mother for approximately twenty minutes and had apparently decided that the separation was an unacceptable tragedy.

His blue little shoes slapped against the floor. His arms stretched towards her, and his face lit up.

"Mummyyyy!"

"Oh, my BABY!"

Kylie bent just as he reached her, scooping him into her arms before he could collide with her knees.

She lifted him against her chest, laughing as he immediately wrapped both arms around her neck.

William buried his face in her shoulder. "Mummy!"

"Hi, my angel!"

"Mummy!" He called again.

"Yes, babyyyy!"

He squeezed her tighter. Kylie squeezed him back, pressing a loud kiss to his cheek. She dropped another kiss, and then another.

"Oh, look at you! Look at my handsome boy!"

William giggled, wriggling in her arms. "Mummy, kiss!"

"You want more kisses?"

He nodded furiously.

"Oh, no! Not my baby asking for kisses! Whatever shall I do?"

She covered his face in kisses.

His cheeks, his forehead, and his little nose.

William dissolved into helpless laughter, squirming as she deliberately made exaggerated kissing noises against his skin.

"Mummyyyy!"

"You’re too cute! It’s actually a problem!"

He giggled harder. "Again!"

"Again? You want more?"

"Yes!"

"Oh, my goodness!"

Kylie kissed him again.

On the other side of the phone, Emilia had gone quiet.

She had always love watching her best friend hold her son as though the little boy were the most wonderful thing the universe had ever produced.

Which, as far as Kylie was concerned, he was.

"He’s so perfect," Emilia said softly, smiling through the screen.

Kylie glanced at the phone. "He is."

She pressed her lips to William’s cheek. "My perfect little boy."

William pulled back just enough to look at her. His hands came up to her face, little palms resting against her cheeks.

"Mummy."

"Yes, baby?"

He studied her with the utmost seriousness. Then he smiled. "Gorgeous."

Kylie froze. No matter how many times he comolimentwd hee, it would forever feel like the first time.

Emilia’s mouth fell open. For one second, nobody spoke.

Then Kylie let out an intentional delighted shriek.

"Oh, MY GOD!"

William burst into giggles at the volume of her reaction.

"HE CALLED ME GORGEOUS!"

Emilia was laughing so hard that her phone shook.

"Did you hear that?!" Kylie demanded, looking at her son as though he had just announced that he had discovered a cure for every disease known to mankind. "Did you just call Mummy gorgeous?"

William nodded proudly. "Gorgeous."

Kylie clutched him closer. "WHO TAUGHT YOU THAT?"

William considered the question. Then he touched her cheek again. "Mummy gorgeous. Daddy."

"Oh, baby! Baby, you’re going to get everything you want in life!"

Emilia covered her mouth. "That child knows exactly what he’s doing."

"He does!" Kylie exclaimed. "Look at his face! Look at him!"

William smiled at his mother. Then he leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

"Mummy pretty."

Kylie made a noise that could only be described as a squeal.

William giggled. "Mummy pretty."

"Emilia, I’m going to cry."

"Please don’t. You’ll ruin your mascara."

"I don’t care about the mascara!" She hugged William, pressing her face into his little neck. "My gorgeous baby. My beautiful boy. My sweet little love."

William wrapped his arms around her again. "Mummy."

"Yes, my heart?"

He patted her cheek. "Happy?"

Kylie pulled back.

The question had been so simple, so earnestly delivered, that it caught her off guard.

She smiled at him. "Yes, baby. Mummy’s happy."

William studied her face, apparently satisfied with the answer. Then with his tiny hand, he moved strands of her hair off her face, and kissed her cheek once more.

Emilia made a soft, wounded sound through the phone. "Oh, he’s so perfect."

Kylie looked at her. "I know." She gushed.

"He can’t keep getting cuter!"

"Apparently, he can!"

Emilia shook her head. "I’m actually offended. How can a child be this adorable?"

Kylie shrugged with a proud smile. "Good genetics."

"From you, obviously."

"Obviously."

William touched Kylie’s nose. "Mummy?"

"Yes, baby?"

"Beautiful."

Kylie pressed her lips together. She turned towards the phone. "Emilia, I need you to understand that I would commit crimes for this child."

Emilia nodded solemnly. "I believe you."

"Not small crimes, either."

"I believe you even more."

William laughed, apparently delighted that the two women were having a conversation he had no intention of following.

He settled against his mother’s chest, with one hand tucked beneath her chin.

Kylie kissed his forehead. And for a moment, she simply held him.

Four years.

Four whole years of this little boy.

Four years of watching him grow from the tiny, wrinkled newborn she had once held against her chest into a little person with opinions, favourite songs, an alarming number of questions, and the ability to make her heart feel as though it might burst simply by running into a room or towards her, and calling her Mummy.

Four years of first words. First steps. First little jokes.

Four years of hearing him babble through stories that made absolutely no sense and somehow understanding every single one.

Four years of watching him discover the world. And every day, she loved him more.

"It’s like a whole new experience," Kylie said quietly, her attention returning to Emilia. "Every single day. I swear, I think I understand him, and then he learns something new or says something that makes me look at him like—"

She shook her head, smiling down at William. "How are you a real person?"

William looked up. "Real person!" He took the word, increasing his vocabulary.

Kylie laughed. "Yes, baby. You’re a real person."

He nodded, satisfied.

Then he touched her face again. "Mummy."

"Yes?"

"I love you." He said softly, searching ber eyes.

Kylie’s smile softened. "Oh, sweetheart." She pressed her forehead to his. "I love you, too. So, so much."

"Much?"

"More than anything."

William considered that. Then he spread his arms as wide as he could. "This much?"

Kylie gasped. "EVEN MORE THAN THAT."

She opened her arms as wide as possible, nearly dropping him in the process.

William shrieked with laughter.

Emilia was wiping at her eyes. "I’m going to need a minute."

Kylie smiled at her. "You’re welcome."

"For what?"

"For letting you witness the greatest love story of all time."

Emilia snorted. "Christian might disagree."

"Christian is second."

"SECOND?" Emilia’s jaw dropped.

"William is first."

William lifted his head proudly. "First!"

Kylie kissed his cheek. "That’s right, baby. You’re first."

Emilia laughed. "You’re going to give that boy a dangerous amount of confidence."

Kylie looked down at her son. He was currently touching her eyelashes with one curious finger.

Then he leaned forward and whispered, with the seriousness of a man sharing a state secret, "Mummy eyes."

Kylie blinked. "Yes, baby. Mummy’s eyes."

"Pretty eyes."

Emilia laughed again. "You’re never going to survive his teenage years."

"Don’t say that!"

"Imagine him at sixteen."

Kylie hugged William closer. "No. He’s going to stay four."

"Mummy!" William protested.

Kylie immediately kissed his cheek. "Yes, baby?"

"Big boy!"

She pulled back, looking offended. "Excuse me?"

"I am a big boy!"

"No, you’re my baby."

William burst into giggles.

Kylie kissed his face again.

Then, with a smug little smile, he rested his head against her shoulder.

Kylie stared at him.

Emilia stared at the screen. "Your event." She reminded softly.

Kylie nodded. "Let me just hold him for a while." Her voice became emotional. "He would never be four again."

Emilia blew a kiss at her.