Epilogue
MADDISON
“ How am I ever going to get anything done?” I’m sitting on the couch, just staring at my sleeping boy. I’m exhausted, but now that my parents have left for home and the girls have been over to meet him I can finally spend some time with my husband and our son.
“Hell, if I know. I’ve done nothing all day.” Jace rests beside me, staring at him too.
“So are we sticking with JJ?” I ask him, wondering what the future will hold for him.
“It seems strange to call him by anything else.” Jace smiles. “Babe, we gotta talk about somethin’.” I don’t like the serious tone of his voice as I turn my head to look at him.
“My uncle called, he wants me to sign the paperwork that makes this place ours.”
“Okay.” I stare back at him, wondering what’s so bad about that.
“Before we do, I need to make sure that this is what you want. This place can be hard work; there are long hours involved and, as much as I wanna be here like this all the time, I gotta hustle. If you got any doubts, now’s the time to say. We can move on, find somewhere smaller. I have enough in a trust fund to start over. It wouldn’t be anything fancy, but...”
“Jace, this is your family home. It’s your legacy. I would never expect you to leave it behind for me,” I tell him.
“But I would,” he assures me, brushing my cheek with his fingertips.
“You belong here. We belong here.” I look down at the newest little Sullivan who I’m sure is going to make his mark on this world. “I want to fill these walls with laughter and happy memories, and you can hustle all you like as long as you still have a little energy for me.” I reach up to kiss him.
“There’s always gonna be energy for you. Don’t you worry about that,” he promises.
“So, you and your uncle, is it still going to be awkward?” I check.
“I spoke to him this morning while you were both asleep and no, it ain’t gonna be awkward. I’m gonna give him a chance. Life’s too short for regrets, and he may be a little harsh sometimes but he’s a good man deep down.”
“And you're sure he didn’t kill Billy?” I hold my little boy tighter when I think about the fact there's a murderer out there on the loose. Jace may be dangerous, but only to those who threaten the safety of this town. If it wasn’t Jamie who killed Billy, I can almost guarantee that Jace will want to get to the person who did, before Sheriff Hale does.
“It wasn’t him, you can trust Jamie. He’s family,” he reassures me and when the door opens, the man himself walks in with a huge teddy bear and I feel guilty for doubting him.
“Wow, that's quite a size,” Jace points out.
“Well, I don’t know much about buying gifts for kids. The girl in the store said I couldn’t go wrong with one of these.” He places it on the floor beside the fireplace and leans forward to look between my arms.
“You could hold him if you want?” I offer.
“No, he’s sleeping, don't disturb him.” He shakes his head.
“It won’t disturb him, trust me. Jace was lifting him out of his crib all night.”
“You sure?” Jamie looks between us both.
“Of course, she’s sure. You're his grandpa.” Jace stands up to take JJ from me and when I look at Jamie, I can see how moved he is by what he just heard.
“You mean that?” he asks as Jace carefully places our baby in his arms.
“Yeah, I mean it.” Jace nods, keeping his face serious as he sits back down next to me.
“I never thought I’d ever be someone's granddaddy.” Jamie smiles as he looks down. “He’s a handsome little thing.” He looks across to me. “You did good.”
“Thank you.” I stretch out and yawn.
“If you’re tired you should sleep,” Jace tells me. “I’m sure me and Grandpappy here can take care of it.” There’s sarcasm in his tone, but also a huge smile on his face. It’s going to take some time, but I already know them building a relationship will be good for Jace.
“I’m fine, honestly. I don't think I could sleep even if I wanted to.” I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling since JJ was first put in my arms.
“I have the paperwork, we just need someone to witness it being signed. I was thinking of Grayson since he already knows about the situation,” Jamie explains, without taking his eyes off his grandson.
“I’ll go grab him.” Jace stands up and just as he’s about to walk out the door, he turns to look at me again. “You’re sure?” he checks.
“Never been surer.” I smile back.
“Do you have doubts? I know this place can be a lot to take on,” Jamie checks once we’re alone.
“Not at all, Jace can handle it and I’ll be by his side, no matter what.”
“This house was built to be filled with children, it was always Keith’s intention,” he tells me with a bitter-sweet smile.
“Do you think he knew?” Maybe it’s rude of me to ask, but we’re family now.
“I wouldn’t be sitting here if he did,” he assures me.
“And do you regret it, betraying him that way?” My question comes out harsher than I intended it, but Jamie doesn’t seem fazed by it.
“I felt awful, Keith was my brother and I would have died for him. You may not believe that but it’s true. I’ll go to my grave with that on conscience but sitting here, holding this little guy, makes it impossible to regret it.” He looks up at me and grins.
Jace steps back inside with Grayson and once the paperwork is handled, Jamie hugs his son before he leaves.
“I think you're both gonna be very happy here.” He fusses over his grandson one last time and kisses my cheek before he leaves me and Jace alone together.
“Well, Mrs Sullivan, how do you feel?” my husband asks me, taking our son from my arms and holding him out in front of us.
“Like I won the lottery.”
“You know he’s got your pout.” Jace points out as we both admire our little creation.
“That is not how I pout.”
“You’re doin' the same pout, right now,” he laughs at me.
His phone beeps and seeing as his hands are full, I reach across the couch and grab it for him.
“What’s this?” I see a notification on the screen from the app he’d downloaded onto both our phones when we were trying to get pregnant.
“Oh, I just thought it would be a good idea to re-download it.” He shrugs, still mesmerized by our son.
“Jace, he’s a day old. Surely you can’t be thinking about knocking me up again, already?” I laugh to myself, nervously.
Baby Momma…” He shakes his head and laughs at me. “...believe me when I say that until you got another little Sullivan tucked away in there, not a day is gonna go by when I’m not thinking about knocking you up again.” He turns his head and flashes me that adorable cocky smile.