Chapter 12
Tucker
Five Years Later…
The morning sunlight streams through the kitchen window as I flip the last pancake onto the plate, smiling as I hear the sound of little feet padding across the wooden floor. Our daughter, Ella, bursts into the room, her messy blonde hair a wild halo around her head, and her bright blue eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Daddy, can I help?” she asks, already reaching for the spatula.
“Sure thing, sweetheart,” I say, handing it to her and pretending not to notice as the last pancake gets a little too much syrup drizzled on it. “Just don’t tell Mommy how much syrup we’re using.”
Nori’s laugh comes from the doorway, and I turn to see her leaning against the frame, her hands resting on her growing baby bump. She’s radiant, her blue eyes filled with warmth and happiness.
“Oh, I think Mommy knows,” she says, arching a brow at me before crossing the room to kiss Ella on the head. She pauses to give me a lingering kiss, her hand brushing over my arm. “Morning, Sheriff.”
“Morning, podcaster,” I reply, my grin widening. I still get a thrill every time I see her like this—happy, confident, and mine.
Life has been good to us. After everything we went through to get here, it’s almost hard to believe how perfect things are now. Ella’s giggles fill the kitchen as Nori sits down at the table and starts talking about her latest podcast episode. Her true crime series has taken off, and she’s gained a loyal following of fans. She even records interviews with experts and law enforcement—and yes, I’ve been a guest a few times. Her fans really seem to like that. They say we have great chemistry, and I have to agree.
“So, what’s today’s big case?” I ask as I set the pancakes down on the table and sit beside her. Ella climbs into her seat, already munching on a piece of bacon.
“A local mystery,” Nori says, her voice tinged with excitement. “The Twisted Oak train robbery from 1885. There are rumors the gold is still hidden somewhere in the forest.”
“Let me guess. You’re planning on dragging Ella and me out to go treasure hunting this weekend?”
“Of course. Who better to have on my team than the Sheriff and his junior deputy?” Nori winks at Ella, who beams proudly.
Before I can respond, the doorbell rings. I groan and rise from my chair, heading toward the front door. Even on a day off, duty calls.
Opening the door, I’m greeted by Crew’s familiar smirk. He’s holding a box of donuts and balancing two cups of coffee.
“Thought you might need reinforcements,” he says, stepping inside.
“You’re a lifesaver,” I reply, taking the coffee and leading him into the kitchen. Ella’s eyes light up at the sight of Crew, and she leaps from her chair to give him a hug.
“Uncle Crew!”
“Hey, kiddo,” Crew says, ruffling her hair. He turns to Nori and gives her a nod. “Looking good, Nori.”
“Thanks, Crew. Ready to be interviewed for my podcast again?” she teases.
He groans. “Do I have a choice?”
“Not really,” she says with a grin.
The rest of the morning passes in a blur of laughter and stories. Crew eventually heads out, and Ella runs off to play with her toys, leaving Nori and me alone in the kitchen.
I step behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and resting my hands on her belly. She leans back against me, her contented sigh filling the space between us.
“I can’t believe how much has changed,” she murmurs, her fingers brushing over mine. “Five years ago, I never would have imagined this.”
“Me either,” I admit. “But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
She tilts her head up to look at me, her eyes shining. “Not even the chaos of a toddler and another baby on the way?”
“Not even that,” I say, kissing her gently. “You’re my everything, Nori. You and Ella and this little one.”
Her smile is soft as she reaches up to touch my face. “And you’re ours, Tucker. Always.”
After lunch, we take Ella outside to play in the yard. She’s full of energy, running around with her favorite stuffed wolf, a toy that Crew gave her on her third birthday. She’s convinced it’s just like the one her daddy turns into, and I’m not going to argue with her.
As I toss a ball for Ella to chase, I glance over at Nori, who’s settled into a chair on the porch, a notebook in her lap. She’s scribbling down ideas for her next episode, her brow furrowed in concentration. She looks so at peace here, and it fills me with a sense of pride and gratitude. We built this life together, and it’s everything I ever wanted.
Ella runs up to me, clutching the ball in her tiny hands. “Daddy, look how far I can throw it!” she says, her voice full of excitement.
“Alright, show me,” I say, stepping back to give her space. She winds up and tosses the ball, and I’m genuinely impressed by how far it goes.
“Wow, you’re getting stronger every day,” I tell her, scooping her up and spinning her around. She squeals with delight, her laughter ringing out across the yard.
Nori looks up from her notebook, her smile soft and full of love as she watches us. “You’re spoiling her,” she says teasingly.
“It’s my job,” I reply, setting Ella down and giving Nori a wink. “And I’m pretty good at it.”
The afternoon slips away as we enjoy the simple pleasures of family life. After lunch, Ella curls up on the couch for her nap, and Nori and I steal a rare quiet moment together. We sit on the porch swing, her head resting on my shoulder as we watch the breeze rustle through the trees.
“I was thinking about the nursery,” Nori says, breaking the comfortable silence. “Maybe we should go with a forest theme this time.”
“A forest theme sounds perfect,” I say, brushing a kiss against her temple. “We’ll start working on it this weekend.”
She smiles, her fingers lacing through mine. “Thank you, Tucker. For everything. For being the best husband and father I could have ever hoped for.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “You and Ella are my world. And this little one,” I add, placing a hand on her belly, “just makes it even better.”
As the sun sets, casting a golden glow over the yard, Ella wakes from her nap and joins us on the porch. We sit together, watching the fireflies come out and listening to the sounds of the night. It’s a perfect end to a perfect day, and I can’t help but feel a deep sense of contentment.
Later that night, after Ella is tucked into bed and the house is quiet, Nori and I sit together in the living room, her head resting on my chest as we talk about the future. We dream about the adventures we’ll have as a family, the places we’ll go, and the memories we’ll make.
“Do you think Ella will want to be a podcaster like her mom or a sheriff like her dad?” Nori asks, her voice soft with amusement.
“Maybe both,” I say with a chuckle. “She’s got your curiosity and my stubbornness. She’ll be unstoppable.”
Nori laughs, the sound warm and full of joy. “I like the sound of that.”
As the clock ticks closer to midnight, I feel a familiar warmth spread through me. It’s the feeling of belonging, of knowing that I’ve found my place in the world. With Nori by my side and our family growing, I know that the best is yet to come.