EPILOGUE
One year later
Heather—
“Higher, Mommy! Higher!” Tucker calls as I push him on the tire swing in the backyard of the little white house Cody and I bought. It came with two acres of fenced-in land, perfect for our three big dogs.
“Do you remember where we had your last birthday, sweetie?” I ask, giving him another shove.
“Yes, are we going there again?”
“Well, would you like to have your next birthday there or somewhere different?”
“I want to go to the place Finn had his birthday.”
“The trampoline place?”
“Yeah, the trampoline place. I loved it there. When can we go back?”
“We’ll ask your daddy when he gets home.”
The rumble of a motorcycle carries to us, and the dogs start barking, running to the picket fence that lines the road.
Cody comes over the rise, and the dogs chase him all the way along the fence line until he turns into the long gravel driveway.
I stop the tire, and Tucker climbs out and runs over to him. I follow behind.
Cody scoops him up and tosses him in the air.
“He’s getting so big, you won’t be able to do that for much longer,” I say with a smile and kiss my husband.
He pulls me flush against him with Tucker in his arms. “How’s my girl?”
I stroke a hand over my rounding belly. “Tired and hungry.”
He sets Tucker down, then turns and pulls a blue bakery box from his saddlebag. “That reminds me. I stopped at Fiona’s shop. She sent cupcakes.”
My face lights up, and I hold my hands out. “Gimmee, gimmee.”
He chuckles. “Gotta keep my pregnant wife fed. What do sweet cravings mean? A boy, right?”
“Yes, but I craved nachos last week, so…”
“We’re having twins?”
“Bite your tongue.” I open the box and drag my finger through the icing. Before I can pop it in my mouth, he grabs my hand and licks my finger clean. “Hey! No fair. These are for me.”
He lifts a brow. “You’re not going to share? Not even with Tucker?”
I roll my eyes. “I suppose. Come on. Dinner is on the stove.”
The dogs jump around us.
“Zeus, Apollo, Artemis… come,” Cody says, snapping his fingers. The three young German Shepards trot after us to the kitchen door. They were abandoned puppies, all from the same litter, born on the side of the road last year. I couldn’t say no.
“Wash up,” I say.
“Something smells good,” Cody replies, moving to the kitchen sink and lathering his hands.
“It’s salsa pork chops. I got the recipe off TikTok.”
He starts laughing.
“It might be good. It smells good, so…”
“I’ll give it a shot.” He dries his hands and lifts the lid. “Looks okay.”
“I made rice to go with it.”
He dishes a serving and leans against the sink, crossing his boots at the ankles. “Here goes nothin’.”
“Well?” I ask, watching him chew. He stares at me, like he’s afraid to hurt my feelings, then shakes his head and spits it out in the garbage can.
“Nope. Sorry. Another fail, TikTok.”
“Really?” I stick out my lower lip. “That’s depressing. It smelled so good.”
“You might like it. Here, have a bite.” He scoops another bite on his fork, and I back away.
“No, thanks.”
He chases me around the kitchen table with it until I give up, laughing and clutching my stomach.
He immediately drops the plate and fork in the sink and is at my side. “Is it the baby? Are you having pain?”
“I’m fine. Just a twinge.”
“That’s what Melissa said, and Billy almost had to deliver their baby on the side of the road last Christmas.”
“I’m not having my baby on the side of the road, Cody.”
“Damn straight you’re not, cause we’re going to the hospital.”
“Baby, I’m fine.”
“Look, we’re miles outside of town. Just humor me. Besides, then we can stop at In and Out for burgers.”
“Okay, fine.”
“I knew that would seal the deal.”
“By the way, my family is flying out for a visit after the baby is born.”
“Great,” he says with a lack of enthusiasm.
“You’ll like them. Especially my brother. He’s a lot like you.”
He chuckles. “I doubt it.”
I feel another pain and hold my stomach. “Okay, maybe I should go to the hospital.”
“See? I told you everyone says the second one comes faster.”
He loads me and Tucker into the crew cab pickup he recently bought, and we head into town. On the way, he calls his mom.
“Ma, Heather’s having contractions. We’re headed to the hospital, just to be safe.” Then he looks at me. “She’s meeting us there.”
I smile. “Your mom is so excited about this baby.”
“Almost as much as Mary was when Billy gave her a grandchild. And that little girl is going to have our president wrapped around her little finger.
“Cody?”
“Yeah, babe?”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too, sweetheart.” He reaches across and pats my leg.
“Cody?”
“Yeah, babe?”
“Drive faster.”
Three hours later, our daughter is born three weeks early, but perfectly healthy, weighing in at just five and a half pounds.
I let Cody pick the name.
*****
I’ve taken to writing notes to Ryan in my journal.
I think it’s helped me move on.
Tonight, as I stare at my husband holding our newborn daughter, both sound asleep in the hospital chair, I feel like this may be my last entry.
My dear sweet Ryan—
Today I gave birth to Tucker’s little sister, and she’s beautiful.
She came early, and I was scared to death, but she’s healthy in every way.
I let Cody pick her name.
He named her Ryanna.
I know you’d like that.
I’ll always love you, baby.
And someday I’ll see you again.
Until then, I’m going to try very hard to have a good life and to raise our boy to be happy and to live life fearlessly, just like his father.
—Heather
P.S. I know you sent Cody to save me that day on the bridge. I hope you know how completely he’s done that job. You don’t have to worry anymore. He’s a great husband to me and a great father to your son. Goodbye, my love. Rest easy.
I hope you enjoyed CODY: Sins of the Father