Epilogue 1 ABBEY #2
I never did find out why she needed help from the Southern Sadists once upon a time, but maybe one day, when she’s ready, she’ll tell me.
Celina stepped back into the role of head Doxy, her confidence returning after Smitty was finally removed from her life, and her new companion is Molly, Smitty’s dog who walks with a permanent limp after being shot.
The only thing that still isn’t right in my life is Maggie.
She’s not here today. But with the help of the Angel sisters, she’s now getting rehabilitated at a very exclusive centre in New South Wales.
I made it very clear that under no circumstances were they to drug her.
I know she so easily helped my parents do that to me, but I won’t be that person. I know what it’s like to have control of your body taken away from you, and I will not do the same to her. Not ever.
We had a little trouble with her in the beginning when she kept trying to take her own life. But Tahli and I visited her often, and the Doxies took it upon themselves to try to help her learn the difference between the cultish upbringing she had, and what the real world is like.
It was actually Celina who formed the closest bond with her, but that may have been because of Molly. Maggie has really taken a liking to the old dog.
Still, she needed more help than we could give, so hopefully with time, a different version of her might appear.
I don’t expect her to ever forgive me. Or even like me. I just don’t want her to live a life of delusion.
There are speeches and dancing at our reception, much like last time. But this time, anxiety twists my stomach as I find the nerve to take the microphone, preparing to talk in front of everyone.
I should have done my little speech earlier when the others were done, but I just couldn’t. I completely chickened out and simply shook my head when I was asked if I wanted to say anything.
“You’ve got this,” Lexi encourages me, the only person who knows what I’m about to do.
I place my untouched glass of champagne down on the table and look over to my husband, who is happily chatting with his mates.
“What if he doesn’t want this?” I whisper, my ongoing turmoil nearly getting the better of me, which Lexi has been trying to counsel me on, and she takes my hand, giving it a supportive squeeze.
“Abs, you’ll be giving him something he’s always longed for. Of course he’s going to be happy.”
I nod, trying to convince myself that she’s right. He’s mentioned it before, but we haven’t discussed it again.
With the mic in hand, I step out into the middle of the room, and Lexi shuts off the music so I can rip off the bandaid.
“Uhhh, can I have everyone’s attention, please?” I say, and the chattering crowd falls to a hush as all eyes turn to me.
Even my husband’s.
“Mummy!” Bobbi calls from Alana’s arms, her little hand waving to me, her smile wide, reminding me, not for the first time, of someone I’d rather not think of.
I don’t need a DNA test to know who her biological father is. It’s becoming more and more obvious every single day, but we still had testing done late last year.
I was concerned because of the whole Daniel thing. That if she was born from incest, she might have some sort of genetic defects or something.
But no, Daniel wasn’t her father.
Tim Beck was.
If I had to choose one of those bastards to be her bio dad, then it’s definitely him. He wasn’t necessarily a cruel person. Just a follower. Someone that would do what he was told to do just so he could fit in.
It doesn’t mean what he did to me is right, but I’m thankful Bobbi’s father wasn’t Daniel. Or any of the others.
Still, in my heart, the only father that matters is Ringo, a man who is fiercely protective, with a hard exterior, and a big softy on the inside.
The perfect man to be a father.
“If you’ll all bear with me, I’m not very good at talking in front of a crowd,” I say clearing my throat, and Ringo’s smile is warm as he turns fully to face me, a tilt to his head like he’s curious as to what I’m doing.
“Early last year, this man stole my heart.” I gesture to him, and his smile grows as he shoots me one of his sexy winks.
“He protected and fought for me when the odds were against me. He sacrificed for me in so many ways. Too many to count.” I clear my throat as it starts to clog with emotion, taking a moment to compose myself, and Lexi shifts to my side, snaking her arm around me to give me the courage I need to continue.
“If it weren’t for you, Cameron, I probably would’ve been dead by now, and little Bobbi may not have been saved. When we thought she was gone, you held me up, accepted me in every version I was, even when I wasn’t very nice, and you grieved alongside me, opening up old wounds.”
Ringo’s face starts to morph, his smile still there, but emotions redden his cheeks, and his eyes turn a little glassy, knowing who I’m about to bring up.
“I think you’re right.” I smile at him. “That Hope brought us together. I think she’s been our little guardian angel, watching over us and Bobbi, making sure we all had a chance to find each other, and experience happiness.”
He nods, his lips parting as he rolls his tongue in his mouth, his eyes dropping to the floor for a moment as he fights back tears.
“But she hasn’t stopped fighting for us,” I say, ignoring the sniffles that fill the room around us, and Ringo’s eyes jump back up to meet mine.
“She always wanted you to be happy, Cam. She wanted you to be a father, and you are the most amazing father to Bobbi, but she wanted you to have another chance.”
The moment I bring my hand to my stomach, the little pot barely showing, gasps fill the room, and Ringo’s eyes drop, eyeing it in disbelief.
“Angel…” He glances back up at me, tears pooling in his eyes. “Are you…”
I nod, my tears bursting free. “I’m having your baby, Cam. You’re going to be a father again.”
Sobs erupt all around us, and Ringo stumbles forward, falling to his knees before me, his big hands engulfing my hips as he buries his head into the satin fabric where our baby grows.
Cheers, whoops, cries erupt everywhere, and I laugh and cry at the same time, knowing I’m completely ruining my makeup now, and not even caring.
When Ringo glances up my body, tears wetting his cheeks, he looks at me like I’m really the angel he calls me.
Standing quickly, his hands cup my face, his lips pressing to mine, and I feel someone slip the microphone from my grip as we both cry through this kiss.
“Angel,” he rasps against my lips, right before pulling back, those whisky eyes filled with so much love for me. “You’re really having my baby?”
“Yes,” I giggle. “I’m really having your baby.”
I’m instantly lifted off the ground as he spins us around, the rumble of his laughter so soothing to my soul.
“Mummy! Daddy!” Bobbi calls, and Ringo lowers me to the floor as Alana weaves through the crowd to get to us.
“Someone wants in on the attention.” Alana laughs, and my little girl, only eighteen months old, holds her hands out to us.
Ringo claps and holds his hands out for her, and she practically launches herself into his arms, squealing as he gives her a scratchy kiss on her cheek with his beard.
“Guess what, Bobbi?” Ringo laughs with her on his hip. “Mummy’s having a baby.”
Her little mouth forms an O, and she looks at me, her eyes moving over me and then around me.
“Where’s baby, Mummy?”
I snicker. “In here.” I pat my tummy, and she frowns.
“Nooo. Baby not there.”
“Yes.” Ringo chuckles. “Your little baby brother or sister is in Mummy’s belly.”
Her frown deepens, and she shakes her head. “Mummy, eat baby?”
Everyone around us listening, bursts into laughter, and Bobbi stiffens in shock, right before throwing her head back in an over dramatic laugh to join in on something she doesn’t understand.
So this is what happiness feels like.
This is what I fought so hard for. And to finally have it… to share it with Ringo, who has had his own lifetime of heartache, is truly a blessing.
The music starts up again, and the party escalates with celebration, but Ringo’s heated gaze tells me he wants something else, and just that look has me ready for what he has in store.
“I’m ready when you are,” I whisper, and his grin spreads so damn wide.
“Our first time was on our wedding night, Angel. Are you ready to take it to another level?”
I nod, my heart fluttering with anticipation.
“I’m ready, husband.” I grin. “Let’s go.”