Epilogue Two
Keaton
Another Five Years Later
“It’s not funny, Keaton,” Charlie whines playfully as I help her to her feet. “Do you know what it’s like not being able to control your bladder? Not being able to stand up on your own or even see your feet because you’re growing a tiny human?”
I press my teeth into my cheek, fighting back a grin as she rants. “You’re right, baby. I’m sorry. There’s absolutely nothing funny about peeing yourself.”
She places her hands on her hips and glares at me. “I did not pee on myself. Just tinkled a little. And it’s not nice to make fun of your pregnant wife, you know.”
I draw her close, letting my lips graze her soft, pouting mouth. “You’re beautiful.”
Charlie sighs and melts into me. “This is our last one. Three is enough.”
“But—” I start, but she leans back and aims another glare at me.
“No.”
“Fine,” I sigh happily.
I always believed marrying Charlie would be the happiest day of my life. It still ranks high, but nothing compares to the day I watched her bring our first daughter into the world. That moment felt like pure magic.
She was sweaty, tear-streaked, and hurling curses my way as she pushed, but I had never loved her more fiercely than in that wild, raw moment.
On our wedding day, I told her that her saying yes was the most humbling experience of my life.
But when I cradled Jessamine for the first time, I realized I was wrong.
That was the moment. It was then that I truly grasped the weight of my betrayal and the pain I had caused Charlie.
The thought of our daughter ever facing that kind of hurt made it nearly impossible to face my own reflection for a long time.
After cheating on Charlie, accepting the good in my life felt impossible. I didn’t believe I deserved any of it, so I returned to therapy. It wasn’t until Sunshine Joely, our second daughter, arrived that I finally understood I was worthy of the love Charlie had given me.
Charlie and our kids are the very best parts of me, and I never let them doubt that.
“Jessamine Amelia, you be nice to your sister,” Charlie scolds gently before waddling out of the room.
Life is a whirlwind with a wild four-year-old and a toddler deep in the terrible twos, but Charlie and I always carve out time for each other.
We promised we would, back when she first told me she was pregnant.
Our children come first, but so does our marriage.
Every day, we show up for one another. We love with everything we have, and we never let that love go unspoken. Communication is our lifeline.
Our love flourishes because we tend to it, day after day.
Charlie rarely faces those old triggers now. Still, I sense them lurking in the shadows of her mind, waiting for a chance to pounce. I do everything I can to keep them at bay.
“Pwane, dada,” Sunshine demands, stomping her little foot.
Laughing, I scoop her up and soar her through the living room, drinking in her bubbling giggles as Jessamine clings to my leg, determined to join the adventure.
My gaze drifts from our daughters to meet the warmth in my wife’s eyes. She watches us, beaming, her hand cradling the curve of her belly where our son grows.
I ruffle the girls’ hair as I cross the room to Charlie.
She takes my hand and presses it to her belly. The moment my palm settles, our son stirs beneath her skin.
I kneel, cradling her bump in my hand, and lean in close. “Ransom Eli Carr, you better behave in there, son. You’re making your mama pee on herself.”
“Keaton,” Charlie admonishes with a laugh before sighing and running her fingers through my hair. “Not much longer.”
I beam up at her. “Then our family will finally be complete.”
“It’s been a long road, huh, dragon boy?” she murmurs, her hand drifting to curl around my jaw.
“But we made it, baby.”
“We did, didn’t we?”
I rise and pull her into my chest, resting my chin atop her head as I turn us to watch our girls together.
“I made you a promise years ago, butterfly. There was no way in hell I was going to break it and let you down again.”
Charlie leans her head back to peer up at me. “I love you, Keaton.”
“I love you too, Charlie. More than you’ll ever know,” I whisper, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead as we sway to a silent melody only our hearts can hear.