Epilogue
I knew Addie would be the best mother when I married her five years ago. What I wasn’t expecting is that she would be such a fucking MILF. I’ve never been more attracted to her than I am now, and I can’t wait to put more babies in her belly just as soon as I can.
Our family is a little unconventional, but it’s ours, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. We have our oldest child, a four-year-old named Nathaniel, who we call Little Nate. We decided to name him after Addie’s dad. He was thrilled. Then we have a two-year-old daughter named Anna who was left in foster care by her drug-addicted parents. We’d originally just planned to foster, but then it became apparent that she was not going to go back to her bio parents, and we’d already fallen in love with her. She’s a fiery little redhead with bright green eyes that sparkle with mischief. It wasn’t that long ago that we found out Addie was pregnant again this time with a little girl. So today, we’re celebrating finalizing the adoption of Anna and the upcoming birth of our new addition, Katey, named after Addie’s mother.
Nate lives just down the road from us now. He moved up here right after that first meeting. Said he had nothing in Florida keeping him there and that he could do his line of work anywhere. He’s married now and has settled nicely into the role of grandpa. I’m pretty sure he’s the one who’s spoiling my kids the most. He and his wife, Shelby, have been inseparable since the first time they met. She’s a sweet woman, and I’m glad Nate has her in his life, even if she is a good bit younger than him. Who am I to judge? The man is happy and that’s all that matters.
Everyone who means anything to us at all are here to celebrate. My sister and her husband, who happens to be my best friend Dean, Jenna and Nash and their two kids, Bones and Danny and their kids, Mari and Silas and their kids, Janie and Sean and theirs... Even Agnes from the bakery beside Inked Redemption... The whole gang is here and we’re all having a blast hanging out in the back yard, drinking, eating, listening to music... Just enjoying life.
Little Nate is running around the yard playing tag with the rest of the older kids. Addie and Anna are dancing in the grass, laughing and smiling. My heart swells at the sight of them. Addie is the best mom, and Anna is the sweetest little girl. I still can’t believe that I’m a father, that I have a family of my own, and that I’m married to the most perfect woman in the world. It’s like a fantasy come true, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I’m watching my girls dance in the grass, feeling content, when Nate walks over to me, handing me a beer.
“You have a beautiful family,” he says, smiling at them. “She really is a great mother.”
“She is.”
“And you are a great father,” he says, and I can hear the sincerity in his voice. “I know I’m not your father, but I’ve come to think of you as my son... And I’m proud of you.”
I take a swig of my beer, and I can feel my heart beating faster.
“Thank you,” I say. “That means a lot to me.”
He goes off to join Shelby and her daughter as Addie comes over to me, sitting down on my lap. Her belly is so swollen now. It’ll likely be any day now that we’ll be meeting our little Katey. She wraps her arm around my neck, and I kiss her cheek.
“Are you having a good time, baby girl?”
“I’m having a great time,” she says and kisses me deeply. “It’s nice to have everyone we love all together. I’m so happy,” she whispers.
“Me, too,” I say, and I mean it. “I’ve never been happier in my entire life.”
“Neither have I,” she says. “You’ve given me everything I’ve ever wanted, everything I never knew I needed.”
“You gave me the same things,” I tell her.
We sit here in silence for a moment, just enjoying the feel of each other’s bodies. I wrap my arms around her, and she leans her head on my shoulder. It’s a perfect moment, one that I will never forget.
“I love you,” she says, and I kiss her again.
“I love you, too,” I say.
She’s smiling when I pull back, and I can see the happiness in her eyes. “Do you remember the night you marked me with this tattoo?” she asks me, and I laugh because it’s not the first time she’s asked me this.
“Yes, baby, I remember it very well. Well... At least as well as any drunk fucker could.”
She laughs and shakes her head, her curls bouncing around her face.
“I’m glad you did it. If you hadn’t, I don’t know if we’d be here right now.”
“We would be. It just might have taken us a little longer to get started,” I say, resting my hand on her belly. “But we would have found our way to each other eventually. We’re meant to be together, baby girl.”
“Yes we are, daddy,” she says with a mischievous grin.
“You’re playing with fire.”
“I know,” she says in a sing-song voice before she gets up and goes to mingle with her two best friends.
I watch as the kids play around her and she laughs. I can’t believe what an incredible life we’ve built together.
She’s the love of my life, my soulmate, and I will never let her go.