Epilogue Rafe
Nine weeks on...
She jammed her chin down on my shoulder—hard—and huffed. The wipers were clearing the windshield in double time, but the going was still slow.
“I’m driving as fast as I can, baby girl.” Somebody was impatient to get home. That made two of us.
I was wearing the hot pink beanie—yeah, I got side glances, but nobody dared to say shit. Princess burrowed in her new jacket, but had kicked off her booties the first chance she’d gotten. She was not amused.
We passed the exit to Troutdale, only about an hour left now. Less if this snow let up.
During her week with me in Boise and every day and night since, Rose and I had made plans. Sure, we’d made love plenty, too—even got intense on the phone, although the distance thing still sucked. But the plans were for the future, our future.
First mission was to get married. Not if, but when.
Fuck waiting.
We’d probably do it during Finn’s spring break. He’d escort his mamma down the aisle and step over to be one of my best men. He’d join Mateo, Jean-Luc and Tony (if he agreed after our visit next month). Rose’s girls would be at her side. We’d asked Pete to officiate, and—after he’d recovered from the shock of “you can get ordained online?”—he’d said an enthusiastic “you betcha.”
Rose claimed Pirate and Princess wanted to be in the ceremony too. Something about ring-bearer and flower girl. She’d have her way, no doubt. Always would with me.
Kinda fitting though. We wanted to hold the whole shebang—wedding and reception—in the Chocolate Lab. And invite everyone and their dog.
Hmmm. Which Portland exit to take? Duh…the one that will get your ass there the fastest, as Finn would say. Or text. The kid was back at school now. He’d taken his mamma’s car since we’d have my pickup for wheels. That was until I could lay my hands on another beater ready for my DIY skills.
“Princess! Quiet the fuck down!” When I turned on our street, she started running back and forth in the crowded cab space, still barking her fool head off. There was some kind of long sign—banner?—strung high between the two side doors of the café, but she was making too much of a racket for me to pay attention.
I pulled into the driveway and decided to leave my stuff where it was in my rush to get to Rose. Baby girl beat me to the punch and jumped over the seat and out my door. Yipping all the way, she headed around to the front of the house.
I followed her down the sidewalk, ready to thunder up the porch steps and pound on the front door. Ready to kiss the living daylights out of…
Welcome Home, Rafe!
The front door burst open, and Rose raced under the banner and down the front steps. She leaped onto me, arms around my neck, legs around my waist. I wrapped my arms around her, supporting her, and hung on for all I was worth.
“Rafe. Sweetheart. You’re finally here. I’ve got you. You’re safe now,” she whispered in my ear. And again. “I’ve got you.”
The End