Epilogue
Tessa
~Seventeen Months Later ~
“Tessa! Goddamn it! You are supposed to be sitting down!” Meredith yells as I’m standing on the step stool, trying to hang the new curtains that came in.
We are finally opening Hope + Mane Foundation tomorrow and we have an interview with Ainsley’s newspaper and a big magazine that I was able to call in a favor for.
Killian paid extra to get things done quickly so I could hopefully enjoy the opening of our new foundation.
What we didn’t anticipate was my pregnancy.
I’m on maternity leave from Anchor Light and Brynlee offered that I could work part-time once I return.
I sigh heavily and step down, knowing if Killian hears her, it’ll be a million times worse.
“I’m fine, Mer.”
“You’re about to freaking pop!” She says through gritted teeth.
Yes, I’m thirty-seven weeks pregnant, but I can’t just sit around all freaking day. It’s a big, big day for us.
“I’m fine,” I tell Meredith, but then, Penelope enters and gasps.
“Tessa! We have staff to do that!”
I put the curtains on the table and lift both hands. “Fine. I was just trying to help.”
“Help by sitting over on the couch and putting your feet up,” Penelope says, pointing to said couch.
“I just want the photos to be perfect,” I explain as I flop my ever-expanding ass on the couch.
“It will be,” Meredith assures me as she pats the tiny butt belonging to the baby strapped to her chest.
Two months ago, my niece, who is technically my step-granddaughter—but we’re not even going to entertain that shit—was born.
“Give me Callie.” I extend my hands, waiting for her to let me hold my niece.
Meredith rolls her eyes, but unstraps her and then places her in my arms. “I’m only doing it because I know you’ll stay on your ass that way.”
“Works for me.”
Penelope and Meredith work together as I supervise, surely annoying the shit out of them. Finally after about another hour, I’m content with the way things look and feel a little more confident about today’s interview.
“Give me the baby so you can do one more walk through. I’m sure you want to,” Meredith says as she lifts her daughter into her arms.
Like a beached whale, I flop my top half, hoping the momentum will help me up, which it does, and I push my distended stomach forward, stretching my back. “God, I’m going to be so happy when this baby vacates my body.”
She laughs. “You say that until they’re out and then you dream of the quiet again.”
Callie has not been an easy baby. The first four weeks were absolute hell for Meredith and Jake. Killian and I came and stayed for two days to give them both some much needed rest. I didn’t know a child could cry that much.
“She’s doing much better now that you found the right formula,” I say, rubbing Callie’s back as she sleeps against her mother.
“Yes, thank God she sleeps through the night now.”
“I miss that,” I say.
Meredith laughs. “I forgot that part of pregnancy where you’re just miserable.”
I nod. “Yes, I do miss my second trimester. I felt good, was horny, and every new change was so cute. Now, I fart when I move and I can’t see my feet.”
“Well, even with all that, you look stunning.”
I wish I believed that lie. “Thank you. Okay, I’m going to check out the two cabins, and I’ll be back.”
Just then, my extraordinarily sexy husband enters, his eyes immediately narrowing.
Oops.
I told him I was going to take a nap and then…didn’t.
One would think after being married for a year, he would know that I don’t really ever do as I say and be used to this. Seems not.
“Tessa…”
“Hi, baby.”
His jaw tics. “Don’t Hi, baby me. You said you were going to lie down and to come wake you up in an hour. Then, I find out that you had Gary drive you out, on the damn side-by-side, to check on things. Literally one minute after I left to go pick up the food you asked for.”
I smile, hoping that’ll soothe him over.
It doesn’t.
“I couldn’t sleep. Besides, the baby doesn’t like daytime naps. He gets very restless.”
“You didn’t try. You’re going to be on your feet all freaking day,” he grumbles, but no matter how much Killian blusters, he always finds a way to get over it.
I go to him, resting my hands on his broad chest. “I’m sorry, my love. I promise I sat on the couch and let Meredith and Penelope do the work.”
Meredith scoffs. “Yeah, after we had to browbeat her to not hang curtains.”
He pales, and then I glare at her. “Traitor.”
She shrugs.
Killian’s thumb moves to my chin, and he lifts it until I’m looking at him. “Please tell me she’s joking.”
I would love to do that, but lying to him will only make it worse. So I lift up on my toes and kiss him. “Did you bring my food?”
His heavy sigh fills the room. “I did.”
Just another reason why I love him so damn much. “Where is it?”
“It’s in the kitchen.”
I grin and kiss him again. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Go eat. The photographer will be here in twenty minutes. I’ll go check on the cabin and the barn with Penelope. Just…don’t get on any ladders, please.”
“I promise,” I say and then head into the kitchen to eat.
I have been craving one thing every day…mozzarella sticks. I swear, I can eat them for three meals a day. It’s not the healthiest option, but that cheesy goodness just makes me feel so happy. Killian goes to the bar at least once a day to pick up two orders. They have to be from there too.
It’s something about the oil. I swear.
A few minutes later, Killian comes into the kitchen where I’m now licking my fingers to get every ounce of deliciousness left and he chuckles. “Feel better?”
“I’m literally that old Snickers commercial where I become an angry person until I eat. I’m ready now for our big day.”
He comes behind me, wrapping his strong arms around my middle. I lie my head on his chest and sigh. “We have several big days coming.”
We do. Today is part of it, and then we open the camp. Thanks to some of the press I’ve managed to get, we’re full for the summer. The fundraising efforts helped a lot because we were able to grant all ten girls a full scholarship to attend.
That probably means the most to me.
All of the girls are struggling with the loss of their father.
The camp will provide equine therapy along with group therapy.
Plus, each week we’ll focus on a life skill that will help them, from changing tires to electrical work, woodworking, and other things many girls learn from a male role model.
The best part is that the guys who all stepped up without even a moment of hesitation are the Disc Jocks.
Each one offered their time, and they’re all excited to help mentor these girls.
After that, hopefully, we’ll be having a baby.
While the timing definitely isn’t ideal, it is what it is, and my husband has made sure that everything will be handled and I’m going to have to trust that everyone around me will not let this falter.
Easier said than done, but I really have no choice. My need for control is going to have to take backseat.
“I just want everything to go well, you know? Not just the camp, but also the baby, the horse race coming up, and…”
Killian kisses my neck and then my cheek. “Everything will be fine, and if it’s not, someone will handle it.”
“Yes, I know. But still, not the way I would handle it.”
He snorts a laugh. “You are going to have something much bigger to worry about.” His hands rub circles on my stomach. “Our son is going to be here, and you’ve said you wanted time with him.”
“I know, I know. I just didn’t expect to get pregnant so easily.”
Seriously, we weren’t even officially trying. I just decided to stop birth control and two weeks later I got pregnant.
“Well, I needed to prove my virility.”
I roll my eyes. “Yes. Good job, babe. Way to prove your manliness. I’m so impressed.”
He laughs and nips my ear. “Cheeky.”
“It’s going to be okay,” I say aloud. “Everything is going to go according to plan. We’ll have the magazine today.
Ainsley said we can do her article anytime this week.
The kids come in two days, all the guys already have their schedules, and the staff moves in today.
It’s going to work out. I have a few days to get things in order and…
” I’m cut off as the most intense pain shoots through my body.
It holds, like a horrible freaking cramp that causes my breath to catch.
Jesus, that hurts.
“Tessa?”
It ends and I move my hand to my belly. “Ouch.”
“Ouch?” Killian echoes.
“Yeah, I got a cramp. Maybe I shouldn’t eat so much dairy.”
He turns me, which is sort of impressive since I’m as big as a house. “Maybe that wasn’t a dairy cramp?”
I shake my head. “Stop. I’m not going into labor. I have shit to do.”
One of his dark brows rises. “Yes, and you can control that?”
It’s not happening. I don’t have time to go into labor now. I still have a few weeks to go. This is my first baby, and all the books say I will probably be a little late.
I step back out of his grasp. “It’s the dairy.”
Killian chuckles once. “Okay then.”
“I’m going to go out there and make sure things are perfect,” I inform him.
Only, that’s not really what happens.
No, I take two steps and am greeted with yet another round of cramps. Only…they don’t stop. And then my water breaks.
“Hello, son,” Killian says as he lifts Nico out of the bassinet. “You gave us all quite a scare.”
My eyes are closed, after I took another nap, I’m just starting to wake.
The birth was…a lot.
I pushed for almost four hours.
The doctors wanted to make the call for a C-section at hour three, but I pleaded for just a little more time. I don’t know why it was so important to me to keep trying, but it was.
Killian was near to begging, and when the doctor informed me that Nico was starting to show signs of distress, I accepted the reality and was rushed into surgery.
I lost a lot of blood, and my body just isn’t cooperating on staying awake for long periods of time.
“Your mother is so brave and she fought so hard for you,” Killian tells him.
I move my head to the side and slowly open my eyes, looking at my husband holding our son. I smile softly. “I didn’t know you could look any hotter, but here you are.”
Killian comes over, brushing my hair back. “Are you feeling better?”
I inhale and groan a little. “Tired, but…okay.”
He kisses my forehead. “You should rest, Tessa. You went through a lot and I was worried we might lose you both.”
I force my arm to extend and rest my hand on his. “I’m not going anywhere.”
The bed depresses as he sits beside me carefully and places Nico between us. “He needs you. I need you.”
I push away the remnants of sleep. “I need you both, too.” Nico fusses a little. “Can you put him on my chest?”
Killian does as I ask, placing our son on me, and instantly I feel more at ease.
He’s here and he’s absolutely perfect.
All the pain, fear, struggles, and worries were worth it. I have more than I could’ve dreamed of.
I look up into my husband’s green eyes and smile.
“What is it, love?” he asks.
“I was just thinking how lucky I am.”
“I think I’m the lucky one.”
I smile and kiss the top of Nico’s head and then crook my finger so Killian will come close. He leans down, his mouth just hovering over mine. “You have given me everything, Killian Thorn, and I love you more than you’ll ever know.”
His lips just graze mine. “I think I know, sweetheart, because if it’s anything like how I feel about you, then I think we both are the luckiest people alive. Now rest and I’ll be here to watch over you and Nico for the rest of our lives.”
As though all the weight of the world was lifted, I close my eyes and drift to sleep, knowing nothing will harm me as long as he’s here.
THE END
Thank you so much for coming on this journey with me to Ember Falls.