Chapter 9

Kristen’s POV

I raised my eyebrows. “And why is that?”

“He told me I didn’t have a mother,” Noah said. “He said I was weird for not having a mother.”

I frowned. “Dan doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” I said immediately. “You’re not weird at all.”

“I told him so,” Noah said. “I told him that my mommy was coming back. And you did.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Uh… Noah, sweetheart… You know that I’m not your mommy, right?”

“You’re my new mommy,” he qualified.

I froze for a moment, but I didn’t let my surprise show. “Sweetheart, why do you think that?”

“Because you cooked my dinner and read me a story and looked after me when I got cut. And because you smell nice and are very pretty.”

I smiled and leaned in to kiss him gently on the forehead. I wanted to correct him again, but for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to disappoint that sweet, innocent face. “Do you remember your mommy?” I asked instead.

“No,” Noah said, shaking