Epilogue
Three months later
“He got the maximum sentence. Twenty-five years.”
Vanessa squealed into the phone at Paul’s ear, making him laugh out loud.
He’d laughed more with her since they’d reunited in September than he had in the past five years combined.
They saw each other as often as possible despite their busy schedules.
Paul was new to the mounted force in San Angelo and worked long hours on horseback.
Vanessa’s position at the PT clinic was a more typical nine-to-five, which was great for Emily.
The little girl had started preschool in the fall and she loved learning with other kids.
She’d done a delightful drawing of Paul on horseback with his face on backwards.
He’d displayed this art piece on the fridge in his apartment, and he smiled every time he looked at it.
Vanessa had invited him to several family dinners, hosted by her father.
Eric had been teaching Emily how to make tortillas and other Mexican staples.
The Navas had been thriving. Paul was glad Vanessa had the support of her family, because he couldn’t be there for her as much as he wanted to.
Between his demanding job and the hundred miles of distance between them, opportunities to visit were limited.
Emily didn’t like the long drive and Paul’s lodgings in San Angelo left a lot to be desired, so he usually came to them.
He’d been careful about going out in public, however. Although Miguel Mendez was behind bars, Aiden Mendez had yet to be apprehended. Paul had been watching his back for so long it had become second nature.
But now things had changed.
Miguel Mendez’s case had been expedited because of the threat he posed to Houston and all of Texas. He’d been convicted on thirteen counts last week. This week the judge had announced his sentencing.
“It’s over,” Vanessa said. “He’s finished.”
“He can appeal, but the case is ironclad.”
“Does this mean you’re safe?”
“I’m safe as long as I keep my part of the bargain.”
Vanessa laughed at the reminder of Aiden Mendez’s promise. Paul had to endeavor to make her happy—or else. “How should we celebrate?”
They’d already made plans to spend the weekend together.
Paul had two days off in a row and so did Vanessa.
They sometimes met in Rocksprings, a dusty little town halfway between San Angelo and Lost Lake.
Rocksprings had a decent café and a run-down hotel that was the only option for fifty miles.
As a romantic getaway, it didn’t pass muster.
“Let’s go to Arden,” Paul said.
“Arden?”
“It has a nice park off the main drag.”
“Okay,” she said. “We’ll be there in an hour.”
Paul was always excited to see her and Emily, but this weekend was special. He’d been waiting for the right time to propose an idea to her. With Mendez safely behind bars, this was the perfect opportunity to take the next step. He wanted more.
Most of his dates with Vanessa were too brief.
They spent a single night in a hotel room or shared a few hours at her apartment.
They supplemented these short visits with extended phone calls, but Paul wasn’t satisfied with the arrangement.
Although he cherished every moment with her, he longed for more permanency.
He wanted quiet evenings at home together.
He wanted to sleep in with her, not just sleep with her.
I’ll wait forever, he’d told her after the close call with Aiden Mendez. As it turned out, waiting to spend the rest of his life with the woman of his dreams was more difficult than he’d anticipated.
He drove to Arden and picked up a set of keys.
Then he continued to the park to meet Vanessa.
His heart skipped a beat as he watched her exit the vehicle.
Emily ran to him with a bright smile, her new doll clutched in one hand.
He scooped her into his arms and held her tight while his eyes met Vanessa’s.
Damn. He was already getting choked up.
Instead of waiting her turn, Vanessa joined the hug and squished the little girl between them.
Emily loved it, but probably not as much as Paul did.
When they broke apart, Emily gave him a bracelet she’d made out of painted macaroni shells and yellow yarn.
She told a story about a friend in preschool while she tied it to his wrist.
“Can I go on the slide, Mommy?” she asked abruptly.
“Sure.”
Emily left her doll with Paul for safekeeping rather than bringing it along. He tucked Libby into the pocket of his jacket. Vanessa slid her arm around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder. He pressed his lips to her hair and breathed in her honey-sunshine scent.
Heaven.
“I love you,” he said idly.
“Still?”
“Always.”
She nuzzled his neck, which drove him crazy. “This town doesn’t have a hotel.”
“I know. I have a surprise for you.”
Her hand went still on his back. “What kind of surprise?”
Paul remembered how she’d reacted when her father had surprised her with a room for Emily. It wasn’t the sort of thing he could spring on her without warning. That was why he’d asked to meet at the park first. “Let’s sit down.”
She chose a bench with a view of Emily, her face troubled. He settled next to her and grasped her hand in his. “I’m looking at a rental property.”
“Where?”
“A few miles from here. It’s a small ranch house, only two bedrooms, but it sits on five acres and the price is right. The current owner is an old lady who can’t do the upkeep. She wants a handyman to stay on site and take care of it.”
“You’re going to rent a house in Arden?”
“Only if you like it.”
“What about your job?”
“I’ll commute to work.”
“Why don’t you want to live in San Angelo?”
He lifted her hand to his lips to kiss her knuckles. “It’s too far away from you. Also, I find that city life has lost its appeal.”
“Since when?”
He tried to pinpoint the moment his mind had changed.
“I had a lot of time to think when I was hiding out in Katy. I spent every evening staring at the horizon, contemplating my future. I got nostalgic for the ranch I grew up on. I had this recurring fantasy about buying a piece of land with you, maybe taking care of some baby animals.”
“Baby animals?”
He smiled at her emphasis. “Emily wants a kitten. We can start there.”
“You want children.”
“I think I do, yeah.”
“With me?”
“Who else? I love you. I love Emily.”
She removed her hand from his. “This is a lot to process.”
“I’m not in a hurry,” Paul said easily. “When I finish my contract in San Angelo, I’ll apply to Lost Lake and Eagle Pass. There are always openings for police officers. I can work anywhere. I just want to be close to you. We don’t have to make any set plans other than being together.”
“Are you asking me to move in with you?”
“I’m asking you to look at the property and tell me what you think. I was hoping you’d visit on weekends, but you’re welcome to move in. It’s a shorter drive for both of us. I’d like to spend time together in an actual home.”
“You want to play house.”
“No. I’m not playing.”
She glanced at Emily again. Then she turned toward him, nibbling her lower lip.
“I’m willing to look at this house and offer my opinion.
I like the idea of meeting somewhere other than a Motel 6 but I’m not ready to give up my apartment.
We have to make it clear to Emily that the place will be yours, not ours. ”
“And the kitten?”
“You can have all the kittens you want, Paul. Just don’t tell Emily she can take one home to Lost Lake.”
“Fair enough.”
They waited for Emily to tire of the playground before setting off.
Vanessa followed Paul in her SUV. They passed the main drag, which boasted a gas station and convenience store, along with a few other businesses.
Arden’s only claim to fame was its proximity to Catarina, a Western-style ghost town on the same route.
Paul took a left turn on a lonely country road.
Five minutes later, they arrived at the ranch house.
Gravel crunched beneath his tires as he parked out front.
He felt a frisson of nerves as Vanessa pulled in beside him.
The place was rustic, and Vanessa … wasn’t.
With her glossy dark hair and perfectly manicured nails, she looked more like a rich man’s mistress than the girlfriend of a cowboy cop. She was so damned beautiful.
Fortunately, he had an ace in his pocket: Emily.
She ran in a circle around the property with airplane arms. There were several trees to explore.
Although none made for easy climbing, she declared one suitable for a treehouse.
Then she asked to meet the livestock, which included three noisy goats and a very fat pig.
“What’s his name?” she asked, pointing to the pig.
“Wilbur.”
She turned to Vanessa. “Mommy, I want him.”
Paul couldn’t hide his smile as Vanessa grasped Emily’s hand and gently led her away. “Let’s go look at the house.”
Emily hop-skipped toward the front door.
Paul unlocked it and let them inside. He’d inspected the place earlier in the week, so he knew it wasn’t impressive.
The living room had nothing but a large multi-paned window.
There was a fridge in the kitchen, along with a square table and three chairs.
Vanessa strode forward with her arms crossed over her chest. She perused the space, perhaps noting the lack of a dishwasher, and glanced out the back window.
Paul inhaled a hopeful breath.
“The view is nice,” she said.
He nodded an agreement at the spare compliment. If she meant the exterior was better than the interior, she was right. The allure of this property was the land and trees, fresh air and farm animals.
“Are you going to live here with Wilbur?” Emily asked him.
“I might live here, but Wilbur isn’t invited inside.”
“What about me? Am I invited inside?”
“Yes.”
Emily scampered past him and ran down the hall.
There was a single bath, rather old-fashioned with a claw-foot tub and a pedestal sink.
The first bedroom had a twin bed with a new mattress, still covered in plastic, and a single window.
Vanessa continued to the second bedroom.
It was more spacious, with a large, four-poster bed. The sight brought a smile to her lips.
Emily tested this mattress, also new, by climbing on the surface. After a few jumps, she declared it “bouncy enough.”
Vanessa sighed and slipped her arm around his waist.
“Yeah?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she said.
That was all the confirmation he needed.
Emily asked for her doll and went to play in the smaller bedroom, as if intuitively aware it would be her space.
They could hear her chatting to Libby about Wilbur and the goats.
Paul felt his throat close up again, so he hugged Vanessa tight until the feeling passed.
“It’s not much,” he said.
“It’s perfect.”
He cupped his hands around her face. “You’re perfect.”
For some reason, her pretty brown eyes filled with tears. “Hardly.”
He kissed her with everything he had inside him, all of the passion and tenderness, joy and uncertainty. He was overwhelmed by the moment, unable to believe his luck in securing this woman as his own.
“What if she’s like Emily?” Vanessa murmured as they broke apart.
“Who?”
“The future baby.”
He blinked in surprise. They’d been careful about using protection. “Are you …”
“No. I’m just asking.”
“You’re worried that if we have a child, she’ll turn out like Emily? Creative, spirited, smart, and strong-willed?”
“You didn’t meet her when she was two.”
Paul laughed, delighted by the thought of an even more irascible Emily. “If we have a baby, I hope she’s exactly like Emily. Either way you’ll have my help and my support. No matter what happens I’ll be right there beside you.”
“Do you promise?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
The tears spilled down her cheeks. “I love you.”
“I know.”
“You’re a good man.”
“I try.”
“You’re the best time I’ve ever had.”
“Still?”
“Always.”
He kissed her again, lifting her off her feet in a dizzying circle, and they both laughed, because the best was yet to come.
The End