Epilogue #2
I’m on my tiptoes, rising higher with every hard thrust, and with a strangled voice, he groans, “Come, Gina.”
“Almost…” I gasp, eyes squeezed shut as my muscles tighten more with every stroke.
I hold my breath, arching my back, and when I feel the bite of his teeth against my shoulder, I cry out.
My body shudders, and I collapse forward. He catches me, holding me as we bow forward.
His stomach shudders at my back, and his groans are deep and sexy. We’re breathless, clinging to each other as we come back from that gorgeous place.
We’re still catching our breath as he steps back.
He bends down and lifts me into his arms, carrying me to the bed.
Leaving me a moment, he steps over to the small bathroom and returns with a warm washcloth to clean us both.
Then he climbs in behind me, holding my back firmly against his chest in strong arms.
His lips press to my shoulder, then he kisses my neck, moving his nose into the side of my hair and inhaling deeply. “However long it took, despite what I went through, having you was worth it all, Gina Grace.”
My eyes close, and I wrap my arms over his, smiling as I think about how we got to this place. “Dogs are the best.”
His chest vibrates with a gentle laugh, and I close my eyes wrapped in love, shelter, and home.
“I think we might have to add snuggling by the fire with s’mores to our list of favorite things.” I’m holding Maddie’s hand as she sits on her dad’s lap beside me.
She spent the morning opening presents around the Christmas tree while we all watched. Then we had a big Christmas dinner with the family—after which we called and “sang” Merry Christmas with Ladybird.
I had a fun group text with my cousins, and they sent pictures of baby Lucy having her first Christmas in Newhope.
Gavin’s family was there as well, and I laughed at the photo of the dynamic duo showing off their matching mouthguards.
My heart was warm and only a little nostalgic.
It looked like a fun time was had by all.
Now we’re lounging on Owen’s parents’ back deck, wrapped in blankets under the twinkle lights, watching the flames flicker in the fire pit. Britt is at the picnic table behind us arranging graham crackers and Hershey’s chocolate bars to receive the marshmallows Aiden is roasting for her.
“We can put it right after facials with real cucumbers and pigs in blankets,” I continue.
Maddie nods rapidly, a smear of chocolate on her cheek. “S’mores are more delicious than cucumbers.”
“It’s true,” I laugh, remembering the night after the dog show, her in her little robe with her turban on her head, eating cucumbers while we watched Elf. “And to think some people just use them to depuff their eyes.”
She studies the graham cracker in her hand thoughtfully. “I saw my mommy in heaven last night.”
It’s like a record scratch. My eyes meet Owen’s, and I sit forward, catching her gaze. “What did you say, honey?”
She nods, her little brow furrowed. “My angel mom came to see me last night after Santa Claus left.”
“Are you sure you weren’t having a dream?” Owen puts his hand on her shoulder, and she shakes her head no.
“She was dressed in white, and she was all glowy like the fairy in that movie Aunt Haddy made me watch with all the roller skates.”
Owen and I exchange a glance. I know she’s talking about the old movie Xanadu, which Haddy thinks should be a rite of passage for all seven- to nine-year-old girls. I think it has some adult language in it…
I’m still holding her hand, and I give her an encouraging smile. “What happened?”
Maddie tilts her head, still studying her s’more.
“She told me not to be scared, because I was scared at first. Then she told me to look at the ceiling, so I did. She moved her hands like this…” Maddie moves her hands in a circle.
“And you were there and you were there…” She points to her dad and me.
“And she took my hand and put it in yours. Then she took your hands and put them together so we were all holding hands. Then she smiled and waved goodbye.”
I look at Owen with wide eyes. My stomach twists, but he’s smiling.
A calm expression is on his face, and he pulls his daughter close. “She was telling you that Mama G will always take care of you and love you the way I will. She wants us to be a family.”
“She does?” Maddie’s eyes are wide.
“Yep.” My eyes heat, and I swallow the thickness in my throat. “It’s true, honey, and I will.”
My voice wavers, and Owen sits forward, putting his arm around my shoulders, drawing me closer to join their hug.
Then I notice additional hands on our backs, and I look up to see Aiden and Britt have joined us. It’s the final sign, the dog biscuit on top, completing the circle. A home created not by fate, but by love.
Thank you for reading Cage!