Epilogue
CHARLES
The inn is decorated in nontraditional Christmas décor, with pink streamers and balloons. There’s a huge Douglas fir that’s almost hidden in silver tinsel and white and pink bulb ornaments, with pink bows in every visible corner.
For someone who fell in love with the color pink two months ago, exactly when our daughter made an early arrival into this world, even I think it’s a tad too much. But this party is run by Chloe and Daisy’s friends, who have made it a personal mission to ensure my daughter’s first Christmas is nothing short of the biggest event this town has seen.
And I’m fucking grateful for this life, these people who make every day feel like it’s a celebration, and most of all, for this woman under my arms, holding my baby.
Yes, my sister once again got what she wanted, and I am the happiest man on the face of the earth.
Our blip now has a beautiful name, exactly like her.
Penny Georgina Hawthorne, named after two amazing women who have played a big role in my and Daisy’s life—Daisy’s mom and my great-gram.
“You know Penny isn’t going to remember anything, right?” Daisy raises an eyebrow as Willow and Chloe bring in another box of decorations and place them on the next table.
“There’s something called photographs, Daze.” My sister makes her duh face. “Plus, we will remember, and I don’t want to ever feel like I could have done something more for my favorite niece’s first Christmas.” Chloe visibly shudders, and Willow nods her head furiously.
“Ditto.”
“How do you know she’s your favorite niece? We could have another daughter, who you might love more,” I say, even when it seems impossible.
I don’t think I could love anyone more than I love Penny. Okay, maybe one person.
My dear wife.
But that’s only because she’s the one who brought all this happiness into my life.
A warm, soothing feeling spreads throughout my chest, filling me with a sense of peace as I pull Daisy a bit closer and her gaze flies up to me.
“What?” she whispers for only my ears, and I shake my head.
“I’m just…happy.” When I smile, her lips curl further.
“Me too.”
“For someone who used to be so scared and a total jerk about babies, look at you now. Already talking about baby number two.” Willow wiggles her brows.
These past two months, I’ve grown closer to Daisy’s friends, and not by choice. These women are at my house to see Penny almost every day.
Neither of the girls wait for my answer and are already marching toward the door, where they meet Daisy’s dad. Jason Price strolls in, dressed in a red suede coat over a white turtleneck. His long white hair is loose today and not in the statement ponytail, reaching almost to his shoulders.
He’s followed by Kai, who has become more like family to all of us, but mostly to Jason.
“There are my favorite girls.” Jason immediately reaches us.
The days of his memory lapses are still there, and when all of a sudden this sweet man looks at me like a stranger, it kills me. I can only imagine how it must affect Daisy. But not today.
I hug my father-in-law before shaking hands with Kai.
“Dad, you’re early.” Daisy hugs her father before placing Penny in his arms.
“I know, Doodles. But I didn’t want to wait until the evening to give my daughter and granddaughter their presents.”
“You being here with us is the greatest gift of all.” Daisy’s voice gets heavy, and when I pull her closer, she leans into my touch as we both watch Jason look down and smile at his granddaughter. “You don’t have to give us anything more, Dad.”
“It’s my right to spoil my granddaughter and any other future grandkids. Isn’t it, Charlie?”
“Absolutely.” I nod.
Jason grins at me before kissing Penny’s forehead and giving her back to Daisy.
He pulls a small jewelry box from his pocket and opens it for us.
Wow. It’s the smallest hair clip I’ve ever seen, with a bow and two pearls.
“Oh my God, Dad! It’s so beautiful, but you really didn’t have to buy anything for her.”
“I didn’t buy it, Doodles.”
I take Penny from Daisy’s arms. It seems whatever Jason is going to say next, they won’t be just words.
“Many, many years ago—a year after our marriage to be exact—your mom was pregnant for a very short while. It was her birthday, and I saw this at a jewelry shop.” Jason places the box into Daisy’s quivering hands.
“Why did you and Mom never tell me…about the baby?” Daisy’s voice trembles.
“Before you came into our lives, we never talked about it. After Penny’s miscarriage, doctors confirmed we could never have kids. But then you walked into our lives, and it was as if we all were meant to be. Just the three of us.” Jason brushes away the tears rolling down Daisy’s cheeks. “Your mom didn’t give this to you, simply because you were too old for this when you first started wearing her clips, and that’s the only reason, Doodles.”
“I’m sure of that, Dad. But I’d have loved to know that I had an angel sister or brother.”
My chest tightens as waves of emotion crash over me, and I secure Penny closer to my heart.
“Then someday we’ll talk about it. But today, I want to give this to my granddaughter. I found it while cleaning out your mom’s drawers some months back and gave it to Kai in case I forgot.” Jason grins, cocking his head toward his nurse. “And when I was talking to him about Penny’s first Christmas gift, he reminded me of this. So, this is from him too.”
“Thank you so much, man.” I give Kai a nod.
“You can thank me for reminding Jason, but I’m not piggybacking on his gift. I have my own gift for Penny, and it might not be as emotional as Jason’s, but it’s still pretty cool.”
“I’m sure she’s gonna love it.” Daisy gives Kai a hug before standing next to me. “It’s like Penny got Mom’s blessings today.”
“You gave your daughter your mom’s name, Doodles. Her blessings are always with Penny, with all of you. And before I forget, this is for you, my sweet daughter.” Jason pulls out a pair of keys from his pocket.
“Dad! Why are you giving me your house keys?”
“They’re more symbolic right now, and I’m going to take them back because these are Kai’s set.” Jason grins, shaking his head. “The lawyer couldn’t get the papers ready, so we had this idea that I could share the news with the keys.”
“What…news?”
“I’m transferring the house into your name, Doodles. It has always been yours.”
“Dad, I don’t—”
“I know you don’t need it.” Jason looks at me before looking back at his daughter, making my pulse pound. I hate that my wealth has made this sweet moment awkward. Thankfully, Jason doesn’t hold on to it for long. “But it was my and your mom’s dream to pass the house on to the next generation when we built it. After I’m gone, you can do whatever you’d like with the place, Doodles. Keep it as your parents’ house with their memories, turn it into a B and B or a library…”
“Those are all amazing ideas, Dad. But I don’t want to think about it now. I want you to live there so I can visit you often. I want Penny to crawl on those wooden floors I never got to crawl on. I want my kids to have picnics on your porch like I did with my friends while you watch over them like you and Mom watched over me.”
Surprise marks Jason’s features as if he hadn’t thought of it.
“And, Dad, there will never be something of you and Mom that I won’t need. I am honored and so will my kids be when I pass it to them.”
“Was it too much for her?” I ask Daisy as she places Penny in her crib next to our bed.
“She was napping for most of the evening, Charles. I feel bad for all the work our friends and families put in for her, while she ignored everyone like a diva.” Daisy slides beside me on the bed and I immediately pull her closer, right under me where she looks the prettiest.
“She’s Charles Hawthorne’s daughter. She was born with a license to be a diva in Cherrywood, butterfly.” I tuck a curl behind her ear before following the path with my lips.
Daisy’s laugh turns into a moan, and I immediately pull back. We haven’t had sex in a long time, and to be honest, my dick has started to hate my own hand. But after watching Daisy endure that long labor, I’m gonna give her all the time she needs, even if it means my body parts might go to war with each other.
“Are you practicing to be a saint?” Daisy’s hands cup my face. “Or have you lost interest in me?” There’s a mischievous grin on her face.
“Didn’t I once tell you there would never be a time when I wouldn’t want you, butterfly?”
“I remember clearly, since it was the day we made that.” She juts her chin toward Penny’s crib.
“Gosh.” My head falls over her shoulder. “I sometimes can’t believe I had something to do with the making of something so precious and delicate.”
“You always undermine yourself, my dear husband.” Daisy’s hands bring my face closer to hers, and as always, I give in to her every command, silent or otherwise.
She gives me that siren look that turns me on like a teenager who’s just hit puberty.
She hasn’t looked at me like that in a long, long time.
“The doctor okayed me for…sex,” she whispers, confirming my suspicion. “I mean, only if you want.”
“Want? I’m dying for you—to be inside you, to be above you, to be under you—but…” I pause, my mouth dry. My dick’s screaming in protest, ready to dull any rational thoughts. “I’ll die if I ever hurt you, especially when we make love.”
“But I want—”
My lips crush over hers, her words getting lost in our breaths. She never has to ask.
Daisy moans when our tongues make contact, and that sound, that touch, has a direct line with my cock, which is now at full attention. And it’s his Christmas when Daisy rubs her legs up and down, occasionally brushing her sex covered in silk shorts against my hardening dick.
Before I can lose all sense and start to think with my little head, I pull away. “Fuck, butterfly.”
“Charles!” Her cry and protest are the ultimate test of my patience.
“I know.” I move down until my face is on level with her core and then tug the waistband of her shorts lower. Before I can repeat the move with her panties, she places her hands over mine.
“I…I’m not the same down there.”
“Of course you aren’t, butterfly. You’ve become a mother. You’ve made me a dad. You’re more beautiful and more precious to me in every way.” I place a kiss on the stretch mark near her belly button before placing a kiss on her sex through the cotton of her panties.
“God, I missed your mouth.” Her head falls back against the pillow.
“Good, because I’m determined to show you such a good time, you’ll not even miss my cock.”
“What does that mean?” Daisy’s smile drops as she stares at me with wide eyes.
“We’re not going to have sex, but I’m gonna blow your mind with my hands and my mouth. So are you ready, Mrs. Hawthorne?”