Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Behind me, I hear Lily laugh—a wet, choked little laugh through tears. I turn and see her standing just inside the doorway, Katherine’s arms around her shoulders. The pregnancy test sits on the table behind them.
Lily sees my dad and me shaking hands and comes over to me like a magnet. I wrap her up in my arms and pull her close, burying my nose in her hair. Her scent is my drug. Her warmth my heaven. I press my hand gently against her belly.
My baby. My family.
“How’d it go?” she whispers.
“We’re going to be okay,” I tell her without a doubt in my mind. She sobs harder, wetting my shirt with her tears. But they’re sobs of relief, not despair.
“I thought—”
“I know, baby. I know.” I tilt her face up and kiss her, right there in front of our parents. Not a filthy kiss like I give her when we’re alone but an honorable kiss that tells the world This is mine.
Katherine turns away, and Jim looks down. It’s going to take them some time to fully accept our relationship, but that’s okay. They’re on board, and that’s all that matters for now.
EPILOGUE
LILY
Four years later…
The lake glitters like gold.
Our lake.
The one that changed everything.
Colt stands in the shade by the garage, his sleeves rolled up, his forearms slick with sweat, a black T-shirt clinging to his body. He’s bent over a motorcycle—his current project—that looks brand new, even though it showed up like a pile of rust and bolts. His hands move slow, precise, with the kind of control that never fails to get me going. I bite my lip.
That’s my husband. I belong to him.
A tiny clatter draws my eye to my feet where our son, Christopher, plays with his toy car. I can’t believe he’s already four, with wild auburn curls and a pink tongue that pops in and out of his mouth as he plays. He mimics his daddy’s movements, already wanting to be just like him.
I’m sitting on the porch with my paints, working on a watercolor landscape of the property, which we now own. We bought it from our parents last year. It’s our special place, and we both knew we just had to have it.
Colt works private security now as his full-time job and fixes bikes on the side to bring in extra money. I take care of the house, am a mom, and have recently started to learn to paint.
Colt looks over at me and smiles. That grin that still goes right through me. Four years of marriage and it still feels like I’ve been struck by lightning. Four years and Colt still can’t keep his hands off me—can’t pass me in the kitchen without sliding his hand up my dress. He’s a man starving for me, and I’m more than happy to feed his hunger.
He comes over and scoops Chris up into his arms, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
Yeah, this is what forever looks like.
My throat tightens, and my eyes begin to burn. I’m such a crier now. But they’re tears of joy. And I’m so filled with joy that it seems like I’m always crying. Colt teases me for it, but I know he loves it. He loves me.
It took less time than I thought it would for Mom and Jim to fully accept our relationship. They got married, and a year later, Colt and I tied the knot. Sure, people talked, but Colt and I never cared. And Mom and Jim eventually learned to not listen. Once they saw just how happy we were and fell in love with Christopher, they understood that our family is all that matters.
The washer pendant on my neck shines as I tilt forward, setting my brush aside. The first thing that was truly ours. I smile up at my husband as he looks down at me, so tall, so handsome. His eyes steal my breath. Such ownership that make me know how safe I am.
“Momma!” Christopher calls out, reaching for my arms. “Daddy says I can help him tomorrow!”
“He did!?” I ask. “Will you be the best helper ever?”
My son nods enthusiastically. “I’m gonna help Daddy fix everything!”
“Oh, I bet you will!” I stand, and Colt opens the door for us. “But right now it’s time for bed.”
Christopher starts to protest, but Colt comes over and tussles his hair lovingly. “You listen to your mother, son. Besides, the sooner you go to sleep, the sooner tomorrow comes and the sooner you can be my assistant.”
He thinks for a second, his beautiful young eyes focused on some vision of tomorrow he’s formulating in his mind. Then he smiles that sweet smile that melts my heart. “Okay!”
The world is warm as I carry my son to his room and put him down. My body tingles with joy as I watch my husband kiss him goodnight and close the door, leaving it open just a crack.