Epilogue - Two Months Later
Blair
Pink balloons hung from the mailbox of Sam and AJ’s place as I pulled into the driveway.
Baby Shelby arrived two weeks ago, a healthy seven pounds and six ounces, and I couldn’t wait to meet her.
Our trip to Kamloops had been an eventful one.
Missy had traded in her fancy SUV for its cheaper domestic cousin.
She had reached out to her mother for a visit, but her mom never replied.
Missy had been quieter than usual since then.
I put the truck into park and grabbed her forearm before she opened the door.
“Hey, are you okay?” I asked her.
She turned to face me. “I actually am. It was well past time I started to decide things for myself.”
I searched her face. I had gotten to know every inch of it since we met, and I would know if she was holding back.
She was not. She and Sophia had become such an important part of my life that I couldn’t even remember what it was like not to have them.
When I told Missy that I didn’t want to be a parent after spending so long raising my brothers, what I failed to realize was raising them was a responsibility that was put on me.
They are family and I would do it all again if I had to, but it wasn’t my choice.
This was my choice. Every dirty diaper, every load of laundry, every laugh, every smile, every hug with Sophia was my choice.
Every day I woke up and chose her and Missy, and I would continue making that same choice until the day I died.
I love them both with my whole heart, and there was a burning question I needed to ask Missy before we went inside.
“I have something important to ask you.” I pulled a small box out of my pocket and held it out to her.
Her eyes darted from the box to my face.
“Open it,” I said.
She pulled the ribbon, opened the box, and lifted out what was inside.
Tears started to well in the corners of her eyes as she held up a wrench-shaped keychain with two keys hanging on it. “Are you asking me what I think you’re asking me?”
I took the keys from her hand. “This key is for my truck, and this one is for my front door. You already have the key to my heart; I want you to have these too.”
She took the keys back and cradled them in her hands like they were the most precious thing.
I captured her face in my hands and wiped the tear that was rolling down her cheek.
“I want you and Sophia to move to Hope and live with me. I know Stephen is a four-hour drive from here, but since you have primary custody, I hope this is allowed. If it’s not, I’ll move to Kamloops, assuming you’ll have me.
I want to be with you and Sophia. Everyday. Always. Forever.”
She threw her arms around my neck and clung to me like she never wanted to let go.
“Of course,” she said. “My answer is yes. I don’t care where we live, so long as it’s the three of us. Always and forever sounds perfect to me.”