Delia Epilogue
DELIA: EPILOGUE
I ’m too tired today. My head is ringing and my eyes are so dang blurry I can’t think straight.
Walking and bouncing our little girl, Ruby, I groan and struggle to stay awake. Brandon’s on a late stake-out and Ruby has decided that she can’t stand going to bed without her daddy. She’s running a fever and her eyes are glassy with tears and the sickness.
I can’t stop moving or she starts wailing like her little heart is breaking. Her hazel eyes are red and just as tired as mine. Her dark curls are tousled and tangled.
The door swings open and I screech. “Hey, honey. I’m home.”
Sobbing, I sink to my knees and Brandon races to me, dropping his bag and grabbing me up in his big, burly arms. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
“Ruby’s sick. She’s been crying all day long.”
“You should have had them call me at work. Let me take care of you, honey. And her.”
He wraps us up in his arms and leads me to our room, tucking Ruby up in her swing for a moment. “I’m going to run you a bath and you’re going to go rest while I help Ruby. When was the last time you gave her some Tylenol?”
“About an hour ago.”
“Good. Then she’ll be good for a minute. Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
Ruby has settled in her swing, her puffy eyes drifting closed as the swing rocks her. It’s like she knows her daddy is home.
Brandon comes back out and holds my hand, then ducks down and lifts me up in his arms. “You take your time and get a good rest. I’ve got this. I promised you I’d take care of you and I will. For the rest of our lives, angel.”
His lips touch mine briefly. “Rest.” He kisses my forehead and grins, shutting the door.
I hear him cooing to our daughter and I slip out of my clothes and slide into the warm, scented water. My eyes close and I groan, exhausted.
My eyes drift closed and I smile to myself. Brandon has been my rock since our marriage. I have not regretted our lives and I never will.
As a partner, he’s what every woman would wish for.
Thank heaven for Princess Peppercorn and her klepto tendencies or I might never have met the man of my dreams. I think she knew what she was doing. After all, I always knew she was doing it for a reason.
And since we got married, she’s been a perfect angel. Not a step out of line.
It’s too bad she couldn’t help Felix and Hetty.