Rory held Terry tightly in her arms, utterly overwhelmed by a rush of pure joy and disbelief.
The little boy was soft, warm, and so adorably chubby that every line of his tiny body seemed deliberately designed to melt hearts. Her own heart was already in imminent danger of dissolving into a puddle.
"Terry, when did you grow up?" she breathed, stunned. When she was coming here just now, this was the last thing she expected to see.
"Just now," the little boy answered brightly, almost laughing from happiness.
He snuggled deeper into her embrace, rubbing his cheek affectionately against the curve of her neck.
"Mother, I missed you so much while I was sleeping. I dreamed about you every single day."
Tilting his head back, he gazed up at her with enormous blue eyes brimming with sweet anticipation. "Did Mother miss Terry too?"
"Of course I did," Rory whispered, hugging him tighter as a wave of unbearable tenderness swelled in her chest.
