Epilogue
SERENITY
Four years later
“Fletcher Whitlock.”
At the sound of his name being called by the dean and the sight of him walking across that stage to get his diploma, the not-so-small entourage from Hope Valley that had made the trek to watch our boy graduate exploded in cheers and whoops that reverberated through the stadium.
I could have sworn I saw Fletcher’s cheeks tinge pink even though he was so far away.
Tears of happiness swelled in my eyes before falling down my cheeks as our cheers finally tapered off and we all sat back down to watch the rest of the college graduates take their walk across the stage.
My heart was so full at that moment, I wasn’t sure what to do with everything I was feeling.
As I stared at Fletcher, it was hard to believe that, only four years ago, he’d been this scrawny, beaten-down boy living in constant fear.
He didn’t look like the same person. My boy grew up to be a looker, I’ll tell you that.
And with those looks were brains and heart.
He liked to say that I helped, but he’d done it all himself. And I couldn’t have been prouder.
“Daddy, Mommy’s cwyin’ again.”
At my little girl’s proclamation, Hunter turned to find me bawling like a baby as I clutched the program to my chest with both hands.
“Aw, is my Wildcat deep in her feelings again today?”
I sniffled and batted at my cheeks as I shot him a glare. “I can’t help it,” I said on a pout as I rested a hand on my extremely round belly. “It’s all your fault. You know what my hormones are like when I’m pregnant.”
After all, we’d already done this once. Our little Gracie had come squalling into the world nearly three years ago, and the whole time I’d been pregnant with her, I’d been an absolute basket case.
He patted my belly and smiled down at me with a look of adoration that made me weak in the knees. “And until you push our little man out, I will gladly take the blame for anything you want to throw at me.”
It had to be said, not only was Hunter the world’s very best husband, he was also a pretty kickass father as well. But I’d already known that from how he was with his own boys.
Speaking of, Liam leaned forward so he could see me past his big brother and Uncle Hunt. “Don’t worry, Aunt Sere. We’ll stop on the way home and get you all the ice cream. How’s that sound?”
“Like heaven. You know you’re my favorite, right?”
Luke rolled his eyes, knowing I switch favorites more than most people changed their underwear.
I’d worried for a while what would happen to Hunter’s relationship with the boys after he made it clear to Vera he wasn’t going to be the backup plan any longer, but it was a testament to how he’d helped raise them that they’d grown up to be good, solid men with big hearts.
He might not have had a relationship with their mother any longer, but Luke and Liam had made it clear that Hunter was their family, and there wasn’t anything anyone could do to change that. He was their constant.
That meant, as the years passed, my relationship with them grew even stronger, and now they were a part of our family in an even bigger way.
Gracie already had them both wrapped around her little finger, and I couldn’t wait to see how they’d behave when our little man came into the world in a few short months.
It wasn’t surprising that Vera’s second marriage hadn’t lasted long, after all, if a woman could make eyes at another man on her wedding day, it didn’t say good things about the man she was pledging herself to.
She and Oliver divorced in less than a year, but she’d quickly moved on to someone else.
I didn’t know what she was searching for, but I hoped she eventually found it.
Stella’s head peeked out from the other side of her husband. “Did someone say ice cream?” she asked as she rubbed her own pregnant belly.
While Hunter and I were on baby number two, jumping into our lives together headfirst, West and Stella had taken things a little slower, wading in comfortably. She was currently pregnant with their first baby. A boy who was due only a week after mine.
And just like their moms, I knew they were going to be the very best of friends.
When I first moved to Hope Valley, and I’d been looking for a fresh start, a new life. But never in a million years did I think I’d end up this blessed.
My husband turned to me then, his icy blue eyes swimming with sunshine, not a single shadow in sight.
“You happy, baby?”
I smiled up at him, warmth spreading through my entire body. “Every single day.”
The End.