30. The peace within.
Chapter 30
The peace within.
Christian
T he scent of freshly cut pine still lingers in the air, a faint echo of the weeks of relentless labor. But the cabin, once a rugged, isolated refuge, has been transformed.
Sunlight streams through the wide windows, illuminating the polished hardwood floors and highlighting the fact that we still don’t have furnishings. I put all my savings into the build and didn’t have much left to buy furniture to sit on. A problem we’ll remedy soon enough.
The walls, once bare, are now adorned with a collection of photographs Amelia took. She documented the cabin’s progress and framed selected photos. They bring a touch of life and color to the space.
I glance around, a wave of contentment washing over me. This isn’t just a cabin anymore. It’s our home. A place to build our own little family.
I look out the window at the clearing, where the remains of the overgrown brush and tree stumps have been cleared away. Soon, it’ll be spring, and the barren soil will be covered in grass. We’ll build a swing set there, and maybe even a sandbox, for our child.
The kitchen is my favorite addition. Food has always meant love in my family. My Grams finds great joy in feeding those she cares deeply for. Hell, she’ll even feed her worst enemies if they’re in need of a good meal.
With this gourmet kitchen, we’ll be able to host dinner for both mine and Amelia’s family. It’s an enormous space with a large center island. The island has a double sink, an endless amount of storage, and a row of seven stools. Enough to seat all my brothers.
Amelia picked out all the appliances, cabinets, and countertops. I didn’t really care what we had, as long as it made her happy. This kitchen lightens up my dark soul with its white and silvery granite countertops and white cabinets.
The space makes me chuckle. Even though she denies it, I think she designed this space to be bright to contrast my typically dark demeanor. She’s determined to bring nothing but joy into my life. I have to admit, it’s working.
Amelia is in the nursery, her voice a soft hum as she adds the finishing touches to the decor. I head upstairs to see if there’s anything I can do to help.
She’s standing next to the white crib, attempting to hang the mobile above it.
“Let me do that,” I say as I walk up behind her.
She looks over her shoulder and smiles. “I thought I could reach the hook, but my belly’s getting too big.”
I wrap my arms around her and rest my hands on her growing belly. It won’t be long before this little one joins us in our new home.
We painted the room a soft shade of pink and adorned the walls with whimsical fairy prints. A couple of weeks ago, we found out that we’re having a girl, and the news has filled my heart with an overwhelming joy I never thought I was capable of feeling.
Amelia looks up at me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Think about it, Christian,” she says, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Eleanor Rose. I know how much you love old names.”
I growl and take the mobile from her hands. “Be serious. Nothing like that, please.”
She’s been suggesting names ever since we found out. Most of them are jokes or suggestions she makes out of fun. We have yet to settle on something we both like.
“What about Christina Grace?” she says, her voice soft and more serious this time. “It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
I lower my eyes to meet her gaze, overcome with emotion. The past several weeks have been difficult for both of us. I’ve hardly had time to process the death of my mom with everything that happened with Badger.
“You’d really consider that,” I ask, taking her into my arms, the mobile long forgotten.
Badger is in jail, awaiting his trial. Due to the nature of his crimes, he was denied bail. If Amelia hadn’t been pregnant, the judge might have taken a different view.
But we’re both working through what happened with the help of therapy. We’re happy and healthy and excited about our baby girl. For now, that’s enough.
“Yes.” She presses up on her toes and kisses my lips. “Let’s bring new life to your mom’s name. Give her the happy-ever-after she never got through the life of our daughter.”
“God, you’re amazing.” I cup her cheek and deepen the kiss. Something I will never tire of doing.
It feels surreal, my nightmares replaced by a dream I never dared to hope for. It wasn’t that long ago that I was a solitary wolf, living a life of isolation and self-destruction. Now, I have Amelia, this beautiful, vibrant woman who has brought light and laughter back into my world.
And soon, we’ll have a little girl to fill our lives with even more joy.
A sudden knock on the door startles us both. We exchange a confused look. We weren’t expecting anyone.
“I’ll get it,” I say, releasing her. “I’ll hang that mobile for you later.” I call out as I run down the stairs.
I open the door to find myself face-to-face with a wall of Koch brothers. Linden, Aaron, Tanner, and Jason stand shoulder to shoulder, their faces a mixture of curiosity and … well, something akin to apprehension. Behind them, their parents stand awkwardly beside a moving truck parked in the driveway.
This is something I never thought I’d see in my lifetime. The Koch’s visiting my house.
It’s … weird. Seeing them all here.
My family has been at odds with the Kochs for generations. A blood feud passed down through the years, a legacy of animosity that I supported with every ounce of my being.
And now, here they are, standing on my doorstep.
We haven’t spent much time together since that dreadful day at Williams’ Family Market, but the mood between our families has shifted considerably.
We’re struggling to figure out how to act around each other. It’s hard to forget about a lifetime of hatred and feuding in a few short months. But Amelia is determined to help us figure it out and bridge the gap between our two families. She’s hopeful that our baby girl will be the seed that brings healing and new life that ends this feud forever.
Linden clears his throat, his gaze shifting between me and Amelia, who has emerged from the bottom of the stairs. Her eyes are wide with surprise. “Uh… hi,” he says, his voice gruff.
“Hi,” I reply, unsure of what else to say.
There’s an awkward silence, broken only by the sound of the back door sliding open on the moving truck.
“We … uh … we brought some things,” Ben, Amelia’s dad, says, gesturing towards the truck. “For the house.”
I look at Amelia, who smiles warmly at her father before she rushes toward him. “That was very thoughtful of you, Dad.” She wraps her arms around him in a loving embrace.
Johanna, Amelia’s mom, steps forward, her eyes twinkling as she looks at me. I never thought I’d see Amelia’s parents looking at me like they’re happy to see me. This is weird, indeed.
“We couldn’t let you start your new life empty-handed, now could we?” she says.
I feel a wave of warmth spread through me. They … they actually care. They’re acknowledging our life together, accepting me into their family.
The sound of engines roaring fills the air. Grams’s old pickup truck pulls up behind the moving truck, followed by a convoy of vehicles—Liam, Warren, Garret, Chase, Ash, and even Mac and Sophia. They all arrive with trucks full of furniture.
“If you can believe it,” Tanner says with a playful tone to his voice. “We actually worked together to get you all this stuff.”
Amelia laughs, and it’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. “It’s shocking, actually.”
“It’s true.” Linden smiles at me and squeezes my shoulder. “We did it for you. For saving our sister. Not once, but twice. There’s not enough furniture in this world to express our gratitude. You may be a Mutter, but you’re not so bad.”
“Thanks, I think.” I nod and accept his appreciation. “Your sister will always be safe with me. I promise.”
“I don’t doubt that for a second,” he says before he heads to the moving truck and helps his brothers unload the furniture. It looks like they brought enough to fill our entire living room.
My brothers pile out of the trucks, grinning. Garret even brings his daughter Rayne, who squeals with delight at the sight of the cabin. Charlotte, Garret’s girlfriend, hugs her close and laughs. Now I understand the happiness that Garret found with Charlotte. It confused me at first, but having found love myself, I want to see all my brothers this happy.
“You ready to fill that house, brother?” Liam asks, extending a hand.
I shake his hand and pull him in for a hug. “Thanks, Liam.”
“Show me to that kitchen,” Grams demands. Her arms are full of grocery bags. “I hear it’s gourmet. Need to find out if it’s worth all the talk or just another kitchen.”
Everyone breaks out into laughter as Grams marches into our home like she owns the place. I wouldn’t expect anything different from her.
The next few hours are a whirlwind of activity. My brothers work with Amelia’s brothers to unload the trucks, their teasing banter filling the air. It’s a sight to see and one that still has me a little stunned.
My Grams, ever the matriarch, insists on making a pot of her famous chili, filling the cabin with the comforting aroma of home-cooked food.
Amelia’s parents, initially hesitant, gradually relax, joining in the conversation. Soon, our home is filled with stories and laughter.
I watch Amelia interact with her family. Her face lights up with happiness, and I realize that this is what I’ve always wanted—a life filled with love, laughter, and the warmth of family.
The years of animosity, the bitter feud between our families, fade into insignificance. I’m sure we’ll still face many difficulties and moments of weakness in which we blame the feud, but today, there’s only love, acceptance, and the promise of a bright future.
And for the first time in my life, I feel truly at peace.
It starts with Amelia’s laughter, and radiant face of joy.
This is just the beginning of our happy-ever-after.
We’ve overcome so much to get here, but now, we can finally build the life we’ve always dreamed of—a life together with both our families and the sweet sound of our daughter’s laughter echoing through this beautiful cabin.
I never thought I’d find happiness like this or a love that could mend the wounds of the past and bring two families together.
But Amelia has shown me that even the deepest wounds can heal, and that love—true love—can conquer all.