Epilogue
CORD
Six months later
“Get the lead out, dollface,” I hollered toward the hall. “We’re gonna be late.”
“I’m coming!” Rory’s sharp snap carried back, and at the sound of it, Bill and Zach let out a small chuckle. “Just hold your damn horses!”
Honestly, I didn’t give a damn if we were late. And I didn’t care if Rory threw all the attitude she had at me—which was a lot. Nothing could ruin my mood.
I came to Hope Valley with all my earthly possession fitting into a duffel bag. I had no family, no home. Then I met my dream woman standing behind a bar.
She was wild and spirited. She was full of fire and could pour a Guinness perfectly. Her bright blue eyes danced when she smiled, and her laugh was the best sound I’d ever heard.
Now I had more than any man could possibly dream of.
My home was a perfect countrified house that sat on a huge ranch with stunning views as far as the eye could see.
My rings were on that dream woman’s finger, she’d taken my name, and just like that, she’d given me a family.
I had a son, a wife, and two nutty, albeit well-meaning, in-laws.
With them and all our friends, I was surrounded by more love than I could have ever thought possible.
And that love was going to continue to grow as soon as I could knock my woman up.
I was a kid who’d grown up with nothing. Now I had everything.
“I’m ready! I’m ready! Sorry, I couldn’t find my earrings!”
Rory exited the mouth of the hall, a little clutch tucked under her arm while her head was cocked to the side so she could slip the diamond stud I’d gotten her as a wedding present into her ear. At the sight of her, I was transported back to that night all those months ago.
“Jesus, dollface,” I said on a growl, hooking her around the waist just as soon as she was within reach and pulling her in to me. “You look gorgeous.”
Her eyes danced as she looked up at me. “You don’t look too bad yourself, stud.”
Leaning down, I brushed my lips against hers and whispered, “Have I mentioned yet how much I love you?”
“Maybe once or twice.” She giggled. “But I haven’t gotten tired of hearing it yet.”
“With all my heart, baby.”
“Agh! Gah! That’s it, I’m waiting out in the truck!” Zach shouted, throwing his arms up and stomping toward the door. “All day, every day! It’s not right! I’m gonna end up needing therapy!”
The screen door slammed shut on his continued rant, and Rory’s head fell back on a deep belly laugh at his dramatics.
“You think he’ll tell all of that to the judge when we go in to finalize his adoption next month?” she asked once her laughter had dulled to a chuckle.
“No doubt about it. But I’m not worried.”
“And why’s that?”
“’Cause that judge’ll take one look at us and see two people who aren’t afraid to share their love, and he’ll know we’ll give that kid the best life.”
Bill came up just then and clapped me on the back. “Just wait ’til he discovers an appreciation for girls. Next thing you know, you’ll be findin’ him in the hayloft of our barn with his jeans around his knees, ruttin’ away like a—”
“Gah, Dad!” Rory shouted, slapping her hands over her ears as I felt all the blood drain from my face. “Enough! I don’t even wanna think about that!”
He let out a whoop of laughter before turning to the screen door and hollering out, “Hey, Zach! I got ’em back for you, son!”
And our boy returned, “Thanks, Pop!”
“You’re absolutely terrible!” Becky chided, smacking her husband on the arm.
“See if you ever get another bacon cheeseburger when you come into the bar,” Rory grumbled, glaring up at her father.
“Sorry, dumplin’,” Bill said, kissing her forehead. “It’s a grandpa’s duty to team up with his grandson to make his mama and daddy’s life a nightmare.”
Then he looped his arm around his wife’s neck and led her out of the house, leaving Rory and me with a second to ourselves.
“I don’t think I’m ever gonna get that image out of my mind,” she murmured, glaring at the door with a look of disgust on her face.
“I’m right there with you, dollface.” I followed Bill’s lead, pulling my woman close and guiding her out.
“But I kinda love it,” she continued, her head tilted back, those bright blue eyes on me. “Having them team up against us like that? I love that Zach has that, and I love that we were the ones able to give it to him, you know?”
“Yeah, baby,” I whispered, smiling down at the love of my life. “I know.”
Rory
An hour and a half later
The second the scissors in my hand sliced through that big red ribbon, the crowd standing at the base of the stairs exploded into cheers and applause.
Hope House was officially open, and over the next few weeks, we’d be bringing in kids in need of a good home, love, and care.
I got lucky finding Zach, but there were so many other children out there who didn’t end up the same.
Cord had been looking out for the other kids who’d been living in the Caswells’ house, and they’d fortunately fared better than what they had before.
And hopefully, with the opening of Hope House, we could help even more.
It looked like most of Hope Valley had come out for today’s ceremony; then again, the entire town had rallied at my family’s back to help make this dream come true. The donations the Hope Foundation received from those we knew had rocked me to my very core.
But what I’d said to Mrs. Niedermeyer all those months ago had been true. One of the wonderful things about living in a small town was that we looked out for each other. We went to bat for each other. And these people had gone to bat for me and my family.
My eyes scanned through the sprawling crowd.
I looked to Eden and Lincoln, Nona and Trick, Tempie and Hayes, Gypsy and Marco.
I looked to my mom and dad. I looked to Joe Silvester, Mrs. McClintock, Roxanne.
I looked to all the men from Alpha Omega and all of the police officers in attendance.
I looked to Dusty and to Edward Pierce from Child Welfare Services.
I looked to all of the people who held a piece of my heart, not only for what they’d done to make this happen but because of who they were. Good, kind, loving people.
“This is awesome,” Zach whispered, coming close to my side. I looked down to see him staring out at the crowd in wonderment. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“We did this, honey,” I returned, grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze. “All of us.”
I felt Cord’s arm wrap around my waist as his heat pressed into me, his strength filling me up. As I turned to look up at the man of my dreams, tears welled up in my eyes.
“You’re magnificent, you know that?”
“Cord,” I breathed, leaning even deeper into him.
“Most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Oh yeah, I thought as I lifted up on my toes to give my husband a kiss in front of the whole town while still holding my son’s hand. This is so totally bliss.
The End.