Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Skylar
SIX MONTHS LATER
I stand in front of the full-length mirror, smoothing down the simple white dress that hugs my curves. I've never felt as beautiful as I do right now, even six months pregnant. I can't believe this day has finally arrived—I'm getting married to the man of my dreams, to the man I love. Grayson.
A soft knock on the door interrupts my reverie. "Come in," I call out.
Jake pokes his head in, a wide grin on his face. "You ready, sunshine? There's a very anxious mountain man waiting for you out there."
I laugh, feeling a flutter of butterflies in my stomach. "As ready as I'll ever be. How does he look?"
Jake's grin widens. "Like he might pass out from happiness at any moment. I've never seen the boss man smile so much."
Warmth blooms in my chest at his words. Even after all these months, it still amazes me how much Grayson has opened up, and how much lighter he seems.
I take one last look in the mirror, running a hand over my swollen belly. Our little surprise—an engagement baby, as it turned out. The news had initially thrown Grayson for a loop, but he'd quickly embraced the idea of fatherhood with the same intensity he approached everything in life.
"Okay," I say, taking a deep breath. "Let's do this."
Jake offers me his arm, and together we make our way out of the small cabin that's serving as my dressing room. The ceremony is being held outdoors, in a beautiful clearing on Fire Mountain. It seemed fitting to start our new life together in the place that brought us together.
As we approach the clearing, I can hear the soft murmur of voices and gentle guitar music. My heart races as we round the final bend in the trail.
And there he is.
Grayson stands at the end of the aisle, looking more handsome than I've ever seen him in a simple dark suit. But it's the expression on his face that takes my breath away. His eyes lock onto mine, filled with such love and awe that I feel tears prickling at the corners of my eyes.
The world seems to fade away as I walk towards him, my focus narrowing to just us—me and Grayson, about to start our forever.
When I reach him, Grayson takes my hands in his, his touch grounding me. "You're beautiful," he whispers, his voice rough with emotion.
I squeeze his hands, unable to stop smiling. "You're not so bad yourself, Mountain Man."
The ceremony passes in a blur. Before I know it, we're being introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Wells, and Grayson is pulling me close for another kiss as our friends and family cheer.
At the reception, held at the newly renovated Fire Mountain Lodge, Grayson and I are surrounded by our loved ones. The room is filled with laughter and music as we celebrate our union.
During a quiet moment, Grayson pulls me aside, his hand resting gently on my swollen belly. "How are you feeling?" he asks softly, concern evident in his eyes.
I smile up at him, placing my hand over his. "I'm perfect. A little tired, but so incredibly happy."
He leans down to press a tender kiss to my forehead. "Sometimes I still can't believe this is real," he murmurs. "You, me, this little one on the way... it's more than I ever dared to hope for."
I feel tears welling up in my eyes at the raw emotion in his voice. "Oh Grayson," I whisper, wrapping my arms around him as best I can with my pregnant belly between us. "It's real. We're real. And I fall more in love with you every day."
He holds me close, one hand cradling the back of my head while the other remains protectively over our unborn child. We stay like that for a long moment, swaying gently to the music.
Suddenly, I feel a strong kick from the baby. Grayson pulls back slightly, his eyes wide with wonder. "Was that...?"
I nod, grinning. "I think someone wants to join the party."
Grayson kneels down, pressing a kiss to my belly. "Hey there, little one," he says softly. "We can't wait to meet you. But for now, let your mama enjoy her wedding day, okay?"
As if in response, there's another kick, softer this time. Grayson looks up at me, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "I love you both so much," he says, his voice thick with emotion.
I run my fingers through his hair, my heart overflowing with love for this man. "I love you too."
The rest of the evening passes in a whirlwind of dancing—as much as my pregnant state allows—heartfelt toasts and funny ones from Jake. As the reception winds down, we say our goodbyes and head up to the honeymoon suite.
Once inside, Grayson sweeps me into his arms, careful of my belly. "Mrs. Wells," he says, his voice low and husky. "I believe it's time I properly welcomed you to married life."
I grin, wrapping my arms around his neck. "I thought you'd never ask, Mr. Wells."
As Grayson lays me gently on the bed, I'm struck by how far we've come. From that first day when I stumbled into his office, to our adventure on the mountain, to this moment—starting our life together as a family.
THREE MONTHS LATER
I wake to the sound of Grayson's voice, low and soothing. Opening my eyes, I see him sitting in the rocking chair by the window, our newborn daughter cradled in his arms.
"And that bright star there," he's saying softly, "that's Polaris. The North Star. Sailors and travelers have used it to find their way home for thousands of years."
I watch silently, my heart swelling with love as Grayson continues his impromptu astronomy lesson. Our daughter, barely two weeks old, stares up at him with wide, curious eyes.
"But you know what, little one?" Grayson says, his voice thick with emotion. "You and your mama are my North Star now. You guide me home, keep me centered when the world gets stormy."
Tears prick at my eyes as I listen to his heartfelt words. Grayson has taken to fatherhood with a tenderness that never fails to amaze me.
"That's beautiful," I say softly, not wanting to break the spell of the moment.
Grayson looks up, a tender smile spreading across his face. "Hey there, sleepyhead. Did we wake you?"
I shake my head, pushing myself up to a sitting position. "No, I think my body just knows when it's feeding time."
As if on cue, our daughter begins to fuss. Grayson chuckles, standing carefully. "Looks like someone's ready for breakfast. Here you go, mama."
He gently transfers our baby to my arms, and I can't help but marvel at how natural it feels now. Those first few days had been a whirlwind of uncertainty and sleep deprivation, but we're slowly finding our rhythm.
As I settle in to feed the baby, Grayson perches on the edge of the bed beside us. His hand comes to rest on my knee, a gesture of support and connection that has become second nature.
"How are you feeling?" he asks, his eyes searching my face for any signs of discomfort or fatigue.
I smile up at him, touched by his constant concern. "I'm good. Tired, but good. How about you, Mountain Man? Ready for another day of diaper duty?"
Grayson grins, leaning in to press a soft kiss to my forehead. "Bring it on. I've scaled mountains and braved blizzards. I think I can handle a few dirty diapers."
We share a quiet laugh, mindful of the now-contentedly nursing baby. As I look at Grayson, I'm struck once again by how much he's changed since we first met. The gruff, closed-off man I encountered that first day in his office has been replaced by this open, loving husband and father.
"What are you thinking about?" Grayson asks, noticing my contemplative expression.
I reach out to cup his cheek, feeling the slight stubble under my palm. "I was just thinking about how far we've come," I say, softly. "How much has changed since that first day I stumbled into your office."
Grayson turns his head to press a kiss to my palm, his eyes soft with emotion. "Best day of my life," he murmurs. "You turned my whole world upside down, Skylar Wells."
"In a good way, I hope," I tease gently.
He chuckles, the sound low and warm. "In the best way possible. You brought light back into my life when I thought I'd be in darkness forever. And now..." He trails off, his gaze dropping to our daughter, who has fallen asleep at my breast. "Now you've given me more than I ever dared to dream of."
I feel tears prickling at the corners of my eyes, overwhelmed by the love I feel for this man and our little family. "Oh, Grayson," I whisper, not wanting to wake the baby. "I love you so much."
He leans in, capturing my lips in a tender kiss. "I love you too, Skylar. More than I could ever express."
As we sit here, enjoying parenthood, I can’t believe how much things have changed. From him being a grumpy boss and me being his eager assistant to partners, lovers, and now parents. It hasn't always been easy, but through it all, our love has only grown stronger.
Grayson gently takes our sleeping daughter from my arms, cradling her against his broad chest with a tenderness that still makes my heart melt. "I'll put her down," he whispers. "You should try to get some more sleep."
I nod gratefully, already feeling my eyelids growing heavy. As I settle back against the pillows, I watch Grayson move around the room with our baby, humming softly under his breath. It's a scene I never tire of witnessing—this strong, sometimes gruff man being so gentle and loving with our child.
Just before sleep claims me, I hear Grayson's voice, low and full of emotion.
"Sleep well, my little mountain flower," he murmurs to our daughter. "Daddy loves you more than all the stars in the sky."
My last conscious thought is one of pure contentment. This is home. This is love. This is everything I ever wanted and more.
As I drift off, I know that whatever challenges lie ahead, we'll face them together—Grayson, me, and our little family. Because that's what we do. We climb mountains, literally and metaphorically, side by side. Always.