Epilogue
BEAU - TWO WEEKS LATER
Not even the freezing temperatures or the snow on the ground could diminish this feeling. The warmth that seemed to have taken up permanent residence inside my body over the last two weeks.
For months, I’d been feeling the change. It had been slow in the beginning, embarrassingly so. I occasionally thought back on that time, those first few weeks after I’d met Jules, and I was often left feeling overwhelmed with regret.
Because I could’ve missed this. My chest ached every time I considered that possibility. To think I’d been willing to forsake this beautiful life with the woman of my dreams because nobody had shown me what it was supposed to be like was devastating.
Standing in the doorway to the bedroom, arms crossed over my chest, all I felt was warmth. Happiness. Boundless love.
My wife.
My gorgeous wife was sitting in our bed with her gaze fixed upon our beautiful son as she nursed him.
No sight had ever left me feeling so content. So thankful.
Being completely consumed by Jules months ago, I never suspected it could get better. That the feelings I had for her could grow.
But I should’ve known better. It had taken a matter of weeks of knowing her for Jules to have me reconsidering my plan to never fall in love and settle down. That should have been all the proof I needed.
The way my chest felt like it had expanded since our son was born was slightly alarming.
I hadn’t realized it was possible to feel like this, to feel like it was only them who mattered.
Being able to love like this—to know I’d sooner cut off my own arm than to ever make Jules or Wilder feel like they were all that mattered to me—felt like I’d unlocked the world’s greatest superpower.
I used to think I was the happiest I could ever hope to be. And there was no question I enjoyed my life when it was all about skateboarding, being with my friends, and having no responsibilities.
But it didn’t come close. It didn’t compare.
Not to this. Not to the privilege I felt at being able to love her, to raise him.
“That’s a new one.”
I’d been so focused on Wilder in her arms, I hadn’t realized Jules noticed I was standing there. Shifting my attention to her beautiful face, I asked, “What’s a new one?”
She jerked her chin in my direction. “That look on your face. I’m not sure it’s one I’ve ever seen.”
I pushed off the doorjamb and crossed the room, climbing into the bed beside her. Leaning in, I gave Jules a soft peck before I rested my hand on our son’s head. He was still so small. “I think you’ve been too preoccupied lately to notice it. Trust me, it’s not the first time it’s been present.”
“What does it mean, though?”
“It’s a mix of a lot of things. Love and pride. And maybe a touch of disbelief.”
Her lips curved into a smile as she glanced briefly at Wilder. “He really has changed our lives, hasn’t he?”
I nodded. “Yes, but that’s not it.”
“I don’t understand.”
My eyes roamed over her face, wondering if I’d be able to put it all into words. “How did I do it?”
A crease formed between her brows. “Do what?”
“How did I get it right on my first try?” I asked. “Do you know how lucky I feel that I decided to stroll over to that bakery and buy cookies from you? That one decision turned out to be the best of my life. Because I got you. And now we have him.”
Jules shrugged, her lips twitching. “I think you were just hungry for a taste of something sweet.”
I chuckled. I certainly couldn’t argue that.
She just happened to be so much sweeter than I bargained for.
“I didn’t think it was possible to get this lucky.
To be this happy. I thought I’d reached the pinnacle just being loved by you.
By loving you back and marrying you. But watching you become a mom has been life-changing.
It’s everything I never knew I needed. Maybe because I know you’ll never make this boy feel like he needs to do anything to earn your love. ”
Her features softened. “Maybe I could’ve looked in the mirror and understood.”
“What?”
“The expression you were wearing when you were standing by the door,” she clarified.
“Because I feel the same, Beau. Of all the things I’ve known that I wanted and went after in my life, I never imagined anything as beautiful as this.
As you and him. Nothing has been more rewarding than getting this life we’re building together.
You are an amazing husband, a tremendous father, and Wilder and I are so, so lucky to have you. ”
I couldn’t stop myself from smiling proudly. “There isn’t anything I won’t do for either one of you.”
“Do you really mean that?”
My chin jerked down swiftly. “Absolutely.”
Jules grinned. “That’s great news, because your son needs to be burped and have his diaper changed, and I used the last of the diapers we had in here earlier.”
Laughter spilled out of me as I took him from her arms to burp him.
I’d perfected that art quickly. It was the dirty diaper changing that had caught me by surprise on this fatherhood journey.
I hadn’t realized that such a tiny human could produce such a big mess.
And the first time I’d experienced it had been eye-opening.
I could still recall the way Jules laughed at my response to what had come out of him.
“I’m beginning to think you two are secretly plotting against me,” I teased her.
“We would never.”
I rolled my eyes before I gave her a kiss. “Yeah, I don’t believe that.”
With my son held firmly in my arms, I got out of the bed and went to change his diaper on the changing table in his nursery. Once he was all cleaned up and burped, we returned to the bedroom, where I found Jules was fast asleep.
A smile formed on my face at the sight of her.
Glancing down at Wilder, I said, “Looks like we’re having a guys’ night. Mommy’s down for the count.”
I climbed back into bed with him, turned the television on with the volume low, and settled in. Minutes later, Wilder was asleep.
Sitting there with the two most precious people in the world sleeping close to me, I had no doubts. I’d gotten the greatest reward when I’d opened my heart to love.
WYATT - FOUR MONTHS LATER
“I can’t believe you did this.”
It wasn’t uncommon to hear the disbelief in my wife’s tone, but there was something about it this time that had me wondering if I’d gone too far.
With our feet in the grass on the farmland where our home was, I stood beside Rhea, my fingers linked with hers. “You don’t like it?”
“It’s not that. This is… This is a lot right now. Don’t you think?”
I shrugged. “I think it’s perfect. They’ll grow up together. They’ll be best friends.”
At that precise moment, like the proof I needed to prove this was an excellent idea, Jack’s squeal of laughter floated through the air. Our son had recently celebrated his second birthday. I’d wanted to do this then, but I figured it’d be better to wait until the weather warmed a bit.
And now, Jack was being chased around by our new golden retriever puppy, loving every minute of it.
“The sentiment is nice, Wyatt. I get what you’re saying, and it’s clear he’s enjoying himself.”
“But?”
Rhea inhaled deeply and let out a long sigh. “Raising a baby is a lot of work as it is. Adding a puppy to the mix isn’t going to make life easier.”
Jack fell on his bottom before the new puppy trotted over and pounced. Our son landed on his back, giggling.
“Are you saying that hearing that doesn’t bring you immense joy?”
For the first time since we’d come outside to give the pair an opportunity to run around and play, Rhea looked away from them and focused her attention on me. “I’m not saying that. Obviously, it makes me happy to hear him happy. It’s just a huge responsibility right now.”
I nodded. “I know. But it’s a great opportunity to teach Jack, too.”
Rhea’s expression didn’t warm. In fact, her features became pinched and more strained as she returned her focus to our son and the dog I was suddenly thinking we weren’t going to be able to keep.
I’d grown accustomed to her stubborn nature, but perhaps this was one surprise I should have discussed with her ahead of time.
“Babe, if this is too much, it’s okay. I’m sorry. I should have discussed it with you first. If there’s anything I can do to help you feel better about it, just tell me.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to have a dog, Wyatt,” she said. “And Jack is clearly having a ball. I’m just worried.”
“About what? The responsibility? I’ll handle it. Everything that needs to be done to care for the dog, even the vet appointments, I’ll do it.”
Some of the tension eased out of her shoulders. “I think you’re going to have to do that. At least for a while.”
Tipping my head to the side, I eyed her profile curiously. “What does that mean?”
Rhea turned her body fully to face me. Unshed tears had filled her eyes. The sight of those tears had me ready to kick my own ass for doing this.
“It means that I’m worried about the upcoming responsibility of raising not just Jack and taking care of a new puppy. It means that I’m terrified about adding another baby to the mix.”
“What?”
“I’m pregnant. I took the test this morning when you went out to get this surprise.”
Suddenly, Rhea’s response to the puppy made sense. At those words, my heart was pounding. “You’re pregnant?”
She nodded.
“Aw, babe.” I engulfed her in my arms and hugged her tightly. She burst into tears. “It’s okay. We’re fine. Everything is going to be perfect.”
“But it’s a lot.”
“And I’ll be there every step of the way,” I promised her.
Keeping my eyes focused on Jack as he cuddled with his new puppy, no less than a dozen thoughts ran through my mind.
Another baby.
I couldn’t wait. I’d been wanting to build a family like the one I grew up in from the moment I knew Rhea was the one.
I kissed the top of Rhea’s head. “It’s going to be okay, babe. This is what we’ve always wanted.”