Epilogue
One year later
Sheila Patterson’s favorite place to be had always been the kitchen. As a child, it had been the heart of her parents’ home, and she’d been determined to make it the heart of her own as well.
Though their usual Sunday dinner was still hours away, the house was already overrun with family.
Weston and Kayleigh had arrived first, their arms loaded down with drinks and snack packs for the kids. Instead of offering to cook, which wasn’t always her strong suit, Kayleigh had kept Sheila company, talking all about her newest photography series and how Weston had transformed yet another elderly neighbor’s garden into a little piece of paradise.
Sheila listened as Kayleigh spoke about her husband with pride, peeking up from food prep occasionally to see her son glancing at his wife, their eyes equally full of love and devotion. It soothed something in her to see her quietest child find the love of his life.
Halfway through an anecdote that involved a rampaging Weston and a mole he couldn’t catch, Brax, Tessa and Walker arrived. The moment Walker saw his favorite auntie, Kayleigh’s attention had been stolen, but Sheila didn’t mind. She’d sat Tessa on a stool in the kitchen and talked baby names while sneaking her treats before dinner.
Tessa and Brax were pregnant with another boy, and the way Brax looked at her...it was like no one else existed when she was in the room. Like she was the light his life had always needed. And Walker? He was overjoyed at the idea of a baby brother to play with.
Luke and Claire’s arrival was followed by much shrieking from Walker once he saw they’d brought their Maine coon cat, Kahn. Claire, once shy and quiet around them all, immediately began telling a story of a second cat they were adopting. Luke kept a firm arm around her waist, his eyes brimming with love too.
Sheila was putting the final touches on everyone’s favorite potpie when the sound of cheers told her the last of her family had arrived. First through the door, Maci was glowing, even though little Autumn was five months old and had barely slept since she’d arrived earth side.
Still, there was a calmness that motherhood—and Chance—had brought Sheila’s final daughter-in-law. A peace that had allowed her to settle into the family and really open herself up to the rest of the Patterson clan.
Evelyn had joined too. It hadn’t been an easy road, and there had been more than one setback, but the woman was trying. For her daughter, for her granddaughter.
But most importantly, for herself.
Sheila looked around the chaos and couldn’t help but smile. Her family was here, made up of every skin tone and bound together by love.
Clinton wrapped his arm around her waist and pressed a kiss to her neck. “Remember how distraught we were when they told us we would never have children? Did you ever imagine we’d have this?”
Sheila took a look around at the sounds of yelling and laughter, the mess of toys already spilling out from the living room, the crush of bodies crowded into the kitchen.
Not only did she have four sons, but she’d gained four daughters.
She had a family that was happy, healthy and so full of love you could see it the second you walked into the room.
“No,” she told Clinton, burrowing farther into the comfort of his embrace. “I would’ve never imagined this. But the reality is so much better.”