Epilogue
Kayla
Seven years later
“Why are you working on your birthday?” my lifelong bestie, Lily, asks, getting my two-year old, Jack’s, shoes on.
“Merton Elementary was my first ever big customer,” I remind her. “That’s how PB&J cupcakes got so popular. I pretty much owe the fact I have three franchises now to them, so I always do their orders myself.”
Jack kicks his shoe across the shop and it bounces off the sandwich display glass. He rolls over in a fit of giggles while Lily crawls for the shoe with infinite patience.
“You can leave them here, they’re not trouble,” I say, praying she won’t take back her very generous offer to keep them at her house while she helps prepare for my birthday barbecue later this evening.
My four-year old daughter Sam is practicing pirouettes and nearly knocking over a display of wedding cake toppers while she waits. She stops dead and lets out a long whine.
“I want to play at Aunt Lily’s!”
Lily assures her that the plan hasn’t changed and Sam rushes to greet the first customer when the bakery doorbell dings.
“Grampy?” she asks.
My head jerks up to see my father standing inside my bakery, backlit from the early morning sunlight. Sam runs to hug him, then looks at me with confusion.
Damn. She’s never seen us together and is getting old enough to realize it’s weird. And it is weird, him showing up here after seven years.
He refused to accept Liam, even after my mom secretly contacted me and told me she’d work on him. When I sent the wedding invitations, he booked a cruise to keep her away. My mom and I met as much as we could, and she tried her best to mend the rift in our family. She adores Liam, and even helps decorate whenever we acquire a new house or apartment to rent out. He thinks of her as the mother he never had. But my father never swayed, and Liam and I are a matched set, inseparable. You have to take us both or not at all.
When the kids were born, we agreed it would be cruel to keep them from their grandparents, so my mom picks them up often to spend time together. But always without us.
“Hello,” I say, the same as I would greet any other customer.
“I’d like to place an order,” Dad says stiffly.
Lily looks uncomfortable and hauls the kids out, calling that she’ll see us tonight. I wait until my father comes forward and places a folded sheet of paper on the counter.
“I’d like to order a cake,” he says, clearing his throat. “With this sentiment.”
His face is downcast and I’m so curious I wordlessly open the paper to read his familiar scrawl.
To my daughter and son-in-law.
I gasp, glancing up to see him shifting on his feet, still not meeting my gaze, so I return to reading.
Kayla, it’s time to admit I’ve been wrong. You did just what you set out to do and more. Your success with the bakeries makes me so proud I could burst. Whenever I see one of Liam’s tow trucks or pass one of your Chase Real Estate signs, I can’t help but smile so wide my face hurts.
You and Liam have given me two grandchildren who are the lights of my life. Those lights would only be brighter if you and Liam were a part of it, too. If you’d give me a chance to make things right between us.
I was wrong and I’m so dreadfully sorry.
Your father, if you’ll have me back.
A tear drops onto the note, and I take a moment to blink the rest away before I look up. Dad is finally looking at me, his face still stern, but there’s hope in his eyes. Even love.
“You know I charge by the word?” I say, my voice breaking.
Not quite sure I’m joking, he says. “Whatever it takes.”
“I hope you’re going to order one for mom, too,” I say.
He sighs. “Keeping her from your wedding is one of my biggest regrets in life,” he says.
“There are bigger ones?” I prod.
“Letting you go— no, sorry. Pushing you away. Not having faith in your astounding abilities. For trying to control you.” He stops abruptly, his lip trembling. Is my hard as nails father about to cry?
I hurry around the counter, holding out my arms. “Of course I forgive you.”
His arms go around me somewhat awkwardly. “Thank you,” he says, clearing his throat again.
He steps away, looking around the place. I give him a tour, surprised at how excited he is to see everything. I even invite him and Mom to the birthday barbecue later on this evening and he eagerly accepts, saying he’ll cancel their dinner at the country club.
“Who are you?” I ask.
He knows I’m teasing now but looks crestfallen. “I see what a tyrant I was. It was those amazing babies of yours that did it. I was always so busy when you were little, I never got to see how free and full of curiosity and life you were, probably just like them. I could never try to squash their spirits. I’m sorry again, Kayla.”
“It’s a fresh start,” I say. He nods and waves as he leaves, a smile on his face that transforms him into a jolly looking grandpa.
I hurry through the cupcake order and arrange for one of my employees to deliver it later on this afternoon for the school fair, then head to Lily’s. She won’t let me help with anything since it’s my birthday, but I can keep the kids occupied.
I decide to take the scenic route, letting my thoughts meander. My emotions are a jumble as I turn onto Old Mill Road and I take off my sunglasses as the forest canopy blocks the bright sun. I don’t think things are going to be perfectly smooth sailing from now on with my dad. He’ll certainly try to give his two cents on everything from how I make cookies to how Liam and I decide which houses to buy for our rental business. But he does seem to have realized there’s more to life than his rigid path and maybe Liam and I, and the kids, can loosen him up even more.
A deer jets out in front of me and I slam on the breaks. I miss it, but everything on the car seat flies into the footwell. My purse’s contents are strewn on the floor and my brand new sunglasses, an early birthday gift from Liam when we were out shopping together last week, are under all of it.
I don’t want them to get scratched, so I slow down, leaning over to try to find them under the mess. I barely glance down for two seconds, finally locating them under my wallet. When I straighten up, I let out a scream and slam on the breaks again, sharply veering to miss another deer.
I skid along into the ditch, knuckles white on the steering wheel until I come to a stop, inches away from a tree. My heart is in my throat and I drop my forehead to the wheel, letting my breath get back to normal. Sitting up, I start to laugh, mixed with swearing.
“Don’t let me down,” I tell my car, starting the engine, which cut out sometime during my abrupt stop. It turns over but my tires only stir up mud and slippery pine needles. I’m good and stuck.
I dial my husband, bracing myself for his teasing. “I’m in a ditch,” I say, when he answers.
“Jesus Christ, are you okay?” he asks, panic in his voice.
“Just annoyed. Can you send one of your guys out to get me? I don’t think anything’s wrong with the car, it’s just stuck. I’m supposed to be at Lily’s to help with the party.”
“I’m on it.”
Since it’s a nice day, I get out and wander a bit in the woods, picking up pinecones and interesting fern fronds. I have a nice collection that I think will make pretty decorations, when I hear a motor coming down the road. Hurrying back to the car, I see one of Liam’s bright blue tow trucks heading toward me. With my forest goodies gathered close to my chest, I try to wave, dropping half of the pinecones.
The truck parks and Liam hops out, grinning widely. “Is that our dinner?” he asks, hurrying over to me. He swoops me into a rough embrace. “God, you scared me.”
I don’t mind being pressed against his muscular chest and wrap my arms around his broad shoulders. Looking up at his handsome face, barely changed at all besides being a bit leaner, there’s concern in his dark eyes. His beard is trimmed shorter than when we first got together, and he’s gotten three new tattoos since we’ve been married. My name, along with our kids’ names, each surrounded by a heart. He still takes my breath away.
I assure him I’m fine by rising on my toes to kiss him. “You didn’t have to come,” I say.
He steps back, his hands on my shoulders as he looks me over. His brow arches. “Well, I happen to know that you have a thing for tow truck drivers. I’m not taking any chances.”
I burst out laughing, since his other drivers consist of a high school senior and two guys in their fifties with wives and grown children.
“What?” he says. “You don’t?”
I pull him close again. “I do,” I say, breathing in his soapy scent, then kissing his neck. I start to feel heat rising in my core as his hands trail down my back. “I really do.”
A camper passes by us but we don’t pull apart. A whole line of traffic could be backed up all the way to the highway and I wouldn’t let Liam go. He tugs on my hair, tipping my head back to kiss me.
“Only one, though,” he says.
“Only one,” I agree.
Satisfied, he winches my car out of the ditch, peering underneath it with a scowl. “Axle’s broken. You’re not driving anywhere in this.”
“But—”
“I’ll take you to Lily’s, get the car to the garage, then come back. Your birthday isn’t ruined,” he promises.
Once it’s up on the platform and secured, I ask if I can ride in it up there in the same voice Sam uses whenever he lets her go out in the truck with him. I swear that girl is going to take after Liam, because she has no interest in baking yet but can’t get enough of riding along with her dad.
He playfully smacks my behind, then gets a wicked gleam in his eye. “Actually,” he says, lifting me by my waist to stand on the platform. “There’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
He jumps up beside me and opens the backseat of my family sedan. Since Lily has the kids, she has their car seats too, so except for a few crumbs, it’s nice and roomy.
“Oh, I think I see where you’re going with this,” I say.
“What do you think?”
As an answer, I scurry in and pull him in after me. His lips are on mine before my back hits the seat, and I wrap my legs around him, eager to feel his body against mine. His cock is hard as steel, hitting me just where I need it to. Moaning, I tighten my thighs around his hips and grind.
He stops kissing me, moving my hair behind my ears to smile down at me. “I first thought of this when I picked you up all those years back. It was barely a flicker, but it’s never left my mind. You just never needed a tow after that.”
“Just so long as it’s only me you have thoughts like that about,” I say, pretending to scowl.
He presses his thick bulge against my pussy. “You know it is,” he says.
There is way too much clothing between us, so I tug at his jeans. “I need you inside me right now.”
He scrambles up and shoves them down his hips, his big cock springing free. I grab it, stroking the silky hot skin, watching his eyes roll back with pleasure. The car sways on the platform, making us laugh, and he ducks down to press flat against me when another car speeds past. He works my skirt up, easing his fingers under the edge of my panties. We both sigh as he sinks them into my slick folds.
“I need a taste,” he rumbles, moving down.
“We’re on the side of the road, this is probably illegal, I’m already late—” His tongue swipes my clit and I stop, mind blank.
“Just one little lick,” he murmurs. “Your pussy is so fucking delicious.” He circles my tender nub before plunging his tongue inside me.
I gasp, forgetting my arguments. My back arches and he chuckles, his breath hot against my skin as he works his way back up. Grabbing for his hair, I pull, but he’s still teasing every inch of me with kisses. He pushes up my top and snaps open my bra, licking one nipple, then the other. He leans back and tweaks the taut peaks, a proprietary, hungry look in his eyes.
“These tits of yours drive me crazy.”
His cock pulses against my belly and I reach for it, guiding it to where I desperately need it to be. He puts his hand over mine and rubs his wet tip against my clit until my legs are shaking. I open my mouth to beg but he plunges his tongue between my lips as he rams his cock home, deep and hard.
“Happy birthday, my gorgeous wife,” he says, dropping his head to my shoulder.
I grab onto his rock hard ass and push him deeper inside my body, wanting every last inch of him. He growls as I tighten around his shaft, but I’m not ready to let go yet. I need more. When I cup his balls, he roars, his hands gripping my hair.
“Fuck me even harder,” I plead.
“Can your tight little cunt take much more?”
His breath against my throat and his low rumble in my ear makes me dig my nails into his hips as I rise to meet each thrust of his cock.
“All of you,” I say, losing control. “I need all of you.”
My orgasm takes me and moments later he bellows out his own pleasure to mingle with my screams. I can feel his seed shoot inside me as my pussy spasms around him, feel my fingers gripping him. But my mind is lost, gone. This is what he does to me, has always done. And will always do. He’s mine, really mine. And I’m his.
He lies against me, our sweaty bodies cooling in the breeze from my open driver’s window. It takes a moment to remember where we’re at and when I come back to earth, Liam is smiling down at me, stroking the hair out of my face.
“You have all of me,” he says.
I nod, still too weak to talk. I close my eyes, smiling as he pulls my skirt down and clasps my bra. Then I’m in his arms as he lifts me down to put me in the tow truck.
“Wow,” I finally say. “That was a great present.”
He starts the engine and pulls out onto the road. “It’s not the only one.”
I grab his hand, remembering the morning. “You won’t believe this.” I tell him about my dad’s apology in a rush of excitement.
He scowls. “He’s going to have to work to make things right after all the tears he caused you over the years.”
“I think he will,” I say. “He’s been great with the kids and seems to want to change. Are you going to be nice?”
He leans over to kiss me, never taking his eyes off the road, a professional behind the wheel at all times. “For you and the kids, I’ll do anything. You know that.”
I do know that. He’s been showing me for seven years.
“Can I say it?” he asks, with a huge grin.
For a second, I’m confused, then understand. “It seems appropriate. More than appropriate,” I agree. “So yes, go ahead and say it.”
With a squeeze of my hand, he tells me what I’m already thinking.
“Our life is perfect.”
~The End