Epilogues
Daisy
“I bet it’s the coolest and like a castle.”
“Are you excited, Mom?”
“I can’t wait so bad my tummy’s got butterfwies!”
The riot of little voices echoed from the backseat as we bounced down the narrow lane beneath the cover of the trees. Their branches stretched overhead sent blips of sunlight splashing down and hitting against the windshield as the SUV was jostled back and forth by the rugged terrain.
The windows were down, and the cool breeze whipped through and stirred my hair into disorder.
I glanced to my left. At Cash at the wheel. A tattooed arm stretched out and the other rested on the door, a single hand guiding the wheel almost casually. So dang beautiful with his big body filling up the space with all that ferocity, the sight of him forever making my belly quiver.
Only there was an easy grin on his face. Hazel eyes alight as he peeked over at me in anticipation.
“Yeah, Mom, are you excited?” he urged with that smile playing all over his ridiculously handsome face.
“Um, maybe a tiny scoosh.” I pinched my thumb and index finger together.
“A scoosh, huh?” Mischief danced through his features. “That’s it?”
I hiked an indifferent shoulder, as if this wasn’t one of the most momentous days of our lives.
“No biggie?” he pressed.
I bit down on the inside of my cheek, trying to keep myself from squealing and stamping my feet in excitement.
Cash reached out and clamped his hand over the top of my thigh.
That was all it took for me to break, and I tipped my head back with a gleeful giggle as he dug his fingers into my thigh. “Oh my gosh, Cash, stop. That tickles so bad,” I gasped and choked through the boisterous laughter.
“I won’t stop until you stop fibbin’.”
“Yeah, Mom, no fibbin’,” Colin scolded from the backseat. “Because fibbin’ is bad.”
“Okay, fine! I’m the most excited that I’ve ever been!” I shouted it, lifting my arms up and flinging them around as I shifted in my seat to look back at my kids.
My chest squeezed at the sight of their precious faces.
So much joy.
So much peace.
Belief and safety woven in their sweet spirits.
My pure and utter relief.
“That’s what I thought,” Cash said with a chuckle as he removed his hand and replaced it on the wheel, those eyes skating over my bare legs for a beat, a smirk taking over his mouth as he returned his gaze out the windshield.
No question, he was contemplating all the ways he was going to have me later.
The SUV angled down into the ravine, the engine grumbling as it carried us back up to the other side of the mountain.
My breath hitched as we entered the clearing, oxygen fleeting as I took in the awestriking beauty.
Our home.
That time, when Cash set his hand on the top of my thigh, it was gentle.
Knowing.
A stroke of adoration.
A lifetime of promises.
A stitch of grief because of what was lost here and the gutting thought of the near tragedy that Cash and the guys had stopped.
But this was also the place where Cash and I had rediscovered each other. Where he’d fallen in love with my children. Where our futures had aligned.
And we were going to live in that future together.
“Oh wow,” Addy wheezed.
“I told you it was going to be the biggest in the world and we got some stairs in there, because I worked on ’em with my Daddy Cash because I’ve got all the skills.”
Colin frantically unbuckled as he said it, standing up behind Cash and holding onto the back of his headrest as he peered out. “Do you like it, Mom?”
My heart stretched full. “I love it.”
“I wuv it, too, and I need to see it!” Eva pushed at her straps.
Cash let go of a low laugh as he killed the engine and opened his door. “Well, what my little Eva wants, my little Eva gets.”
“That’s ’cause you wuv me, wight, my Big Gwumpy Daddy?”
He opened her door. Affection pouring out. “That’s right,” he said, words gruff and low and filled with so much meaning. He unbuckled her and swung her into his arms. “Come on, let’s go check this thing out.”
Addy and Colin scrambled out the opposite door while I fumbled out on my side, gratitude and awe thick in my throat as I took in the cabin.
It was similar in style to the one that had sat there previously.
Simple.
Cozy.
Warm.
Taking up basically the same amount of area, though now, the roof pitched high into the trees. The second story stacked on top, three shuttered dormer windows peeking out from the roofline, a chimney off to the side.
The porch quaint and covering the entire front portion.
I’d been there many times over the last year as Cash and the guys worked to reconstruct what had been destroyed in that fire, though I hadn’t visited in two months. Cash insisting that he wanted the finishing touches to be a surprise.
We had the plot for my organic garden picked out, and I’d already reserved the open shop space next to Moonflower and Ivy Threads to open my market.
Cash set Eva onto her feet, and the kids went running toward the porch.
“It’s the best house I’ve ever seen,” Eva proclaimed as she scrambled up the steps.
“That’s because our daddy made sure it was special for us,” Addy told her.
“And me. I did a whole lot of work, and you can’t be forgettin’ that.” Colin jumped across the planks toward the front door.
While I stood there with my heart trying to rupture from my chest.
Cash eased up from behind, wrapping me in those strong, massive arms. The scent of him invaded. The woods and leather. “What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful, Cash. So beautiful, I can hardly believe this is our home.”
He buried his face in my neck. “Only the best for my girl. She once told me she needed at least three rooms in that dream cabin, but I figured we’d go ahead and double it.”
I could feel his lips stretch into a smile against the sensitive flesh as he began to sway me back and forth.
“Because we each get our own room, right, Daddy?” Addy called. “I already picked mine and Auntie Raven said she’s going to help me paint it.”
“That’s right,” he hollered back, joy spilling out.
Anticipation ballooned inside me, my heart pressing so full. “I hope you left space for a nursery.”
He grinned wider at my neck, and his voice dropped so only I could hear. “Sure did. Can’t wait to put a baby in you.”
I took his hands that were already splayed around me and set them low on my abdomen.
Then I let all my love pour out. “You already did.”
Cash
Never could I have imagined my life turning out this way.
I’d been the recluse living in my cabin in the woods. As far away from humanity as possible because I didn’t believe any of that remained in me.
Now, I sat on the front porch of this place that once had been hollow but had come to ring with life.
A slew of children out playing in the clearing.
Addy, Colin, and Eva. Nolan, Maci, and little Finn in the mix. Duke and Nolan’s dog Rocky right at the center of it, barking as they were chased. Little screeches of delight carried on the peace.
My brothers were gathered around, sipping from beers as we chatted the afternoon away.
Today, Daisy and I were hosting our family’s Sunday afternoon gathering.
“Anyone need anything?” Daisy asked as she stood from her chair, finishing off a mocktail that Raven had made her.
I snatched her from around the waist and pulled her onto my lap. Inhaling that sweet floral scent. Her cinnamon hair in my face and her spirit written on my soul.
“You,” I whispered in her ear.
My wife giggled as she curled up tighter on my lap. “Again?”
“Always.” It was a rumble of need, and I let my hand wander. Running down her side to her hip before I slipped my hand up to her protruding belly.
Fuck.
It was the best thing in the world, watching her body grow with our child.
“You get any handsier than that, and this party is going to go from family friendly to obscene. Don’t burn my poor Little Luna’s eyes.” Otto dramatically covered Luna’s eyes where she sat on his lap.
“No, Dada.” She fought his hand off, and once she was freed, she beamed her adorable smile of tiny gapped teeth up in his direction.
“What, you don’t want to play peek-a-boo?” he cooed.
She covered her own eyes, holding them there for a beat before she threw them wide and giggled, “Boo.”
Otto smacked his hand over his chest, playing it up as he cried, “Oh, you scared Daddy.”
A tumble of gleeful giggles rolled out of the little girl. The child so sweet.
I couldn’t wait. Couldn’t wait to hold my and Daisy’s son in my arms, though that’s what all her children had become.
Mine.
My heart.
My breath.
My joy.
I loved each of them with every fiber of my being.
Daisy peeked up at me, her smile wistful, no question thinking the same thing.
I caressed up and down her side. So damned thankful that I’d been given this.
That after so much loneliness, I was whole.
Completed in this little family I’d discovered camping by my river.
“Now there he goes again.” Otto arched a razzing brow.
Theo laughed as he took a swig of his beer. “You’re worried about Cash and Daisy when you and Raven walk around loving each other up so much it’s a wonder you ever get dressed?”
“Why do you think Raven wears all those dresses? Easy access for when I don’t have time to peel her out of it.”
River groaned, though he tightened his hold on Charleigh, who was curled on his lap, the woman laughing under her breath. “Down boy,” she murmured.
He only grunted in return, shooting daggers at Otto that held no heat.
Kane chuckled and his attention snagged on Emery who walked out the front door, followed by Piper and Raven.
“I, for one, am all about the loving.” He raised his glass like he was offering a toast. “Continue on, dear Cash.”
Emery waltzed over, grinning down at her husband as she asked, “What are we celebrating?”
“We’re celebrating this thing called love. And just how hot our women are doing it,” he tacked on with a wink, the tease underscored in emphasis.
The truth that we all were lucky fucking bastards.