Epilogue
Fallon
ONE YEAR LATER
THE SUN CAST COLSON RANCH IN AN ARRAY OF GOLDS, HITTING the display of flowers Rhodes and Thea had worked on all day yesterday. They were absolutely perfect for the recipient, touching on every color of the rainbow.
Just thinking about the perfection of the gift had me seeking out the bride.
She’d truly gone all out for the occasion.
Lolli had given herself pink and purple highlights that matched her rainbow-sequin gown, complete with embroidered pot leaves and magic mushrooms. It was over-the-top, a little ridiculous, and perfectly Lolli.
Walter held her to him as they swayed to the band’s song, gazing down at her like she was a miracle and the best thing he’d ever seen. He’d even added a few pink streaks to his hair to match her and had a rainbow-sequin bow tie.
“God, they’re perfect, aren’t they?” Rhodes said, sidling up next to me, one hand on her swollen belly and the other holding a glass of lemonade.
I glanced over at my best friend, my sister. She wore red, the first color of the rainbow, while the rest of us Colson crew bridesmaids donned the remaining colors, ending with me in purple. “I can’t believe she actually did it. I thought for sure she’d bail the night before.”
Rhodes laughed, her fingers splaying over her stomach. “She would’ve been in so much trouble after everything we put into this.”
My lips twitched. “You mean the Vegas bachelorette party, courtesy of Linc?”
“I’m pretty sure I’m scarred for life after watching Lolli getting body rolled by Thunder Down Under.”
I choked on a laugh. “What about when she danced on the bar and did body shots with the two showgirls?”
Rhodes shook her head, the red undertones of her brown hair catching the light as she did. “I still think it’s the fact that she demanded a priest, pastor, rabbi, swami, and shaman all marry her and Walter because she wanted to be blessed by as many faiths as possible.”
“I’m pretty sure they were all equally scarred when she read her own vows that included doing a strip tease for Walter every Friday night,” I said, looking toward the faith leaders, who were gathered at a table eating and looking genuinely confused.
Rhodes chuckled. “That was my favorite part. But I’m pretty sure Shep almost tossed his cookies.”
My gaze sought out our brother, who was curled around Thea at the edge of the dance floor as they watched the newly married lovebirds. He dipped his head to whisper something in her ear, making her smile, and then dropped a hand to the little one sleeping in Thea’s arms.
“I think Trace might’ve beat his reaction,” I said, grinning as I found him dancing with Ellie and Keely in some sort of wild, nonsensical way. They twisted and twirled in a circle, looking like they were having the time of their lives.
“Ellie has loosened him up, but not to the point where he’ll enjoy hearing about the new stripper pole Lolli’s having installed at her house.”
This time, I couldn’t hold my bark of laughter in. “How’d Anson take it when she asked him to install it for her?”
Rho’s grin only widened. “He looked a little green but said yes, of course.”
“He’s a sucker for Lolls.”
“That he is.”
“Hotshot, I can carry my own plate,” Sutton grumbled as Cope tried to take it from her.
“The doctor said not to lift anything heavy,” Cope argued to his pregnant wife. He’d taken overprotective to a new level after she announced to him and the whole world that she was having a baby.
Rhodes shook her head. “I’d be surprised if she even gets to pee alone.”
One corner of my mouth kicked up. “She begged me to have Kye kidnap Cope the other day. Said she needed two hours of peace without him hovering.”
“We’ll have to rescue her for a girls’ day or something.”
“I wouldn’t put it past Cope to don a wig and try to sneak into wherever we go.”
Rhodes glanced at Linc and Arden. They were each holding the hands of one of their twins, who were getting down to the music.
“I’d say the overprotectiveness should end after Sutton gives birth, but Arden told me Linc wanted to hire both an on-call doctor and a full-time security detail after the twins were born. ”
I let out a soft snort. “Why am I not surprised he wanted to go over-the-top with the safety and protection of his family?” I looked at my bestie-sister. “How’s Anson doing with it all?”
Rhodes sought out her man, who was waiting at the bar for two drinks. The moment her eyes locked on him, her whole face softened. “He’s overbearing in the best ways.” Her gaze flicked to me. “He tattled on me to Duncan, though. So now I can’t do any physical labor at the nursery.”
I grinned at that, catching sight of her Bloom & Berry boss with his arm around Thea’s best friend from LA, Nikki. “Well, I hate to say it, but I agree with Anson on that one.”
Rho made a scoffing sound. “You would.” She sighed. “But I can’t hold it against him when he also reads to the baby every night before bed.”
A lump caught in my throat as I imagined the broody ex-profiler being so tender. My fingers itched to drop to my own belly as my mind filled with images of Kye doing the same one day. “I love that you have that,” I croaked.
Rho leaned into me. “I love that we all found our versions of that.” She let out a squeak, her hand stilling on her belly.
“What?” I demanded. “Are you okay? The baby?”
Rho’s gaze flew to my face. “They kicked.” She grabbed my wrist and pressed my hand to her belly.
Just as she did, I felt a strong jab against my palm. My eyes grew glassy. “That little boy or girl is going to be a soccer player. Or an MMA star.”
“Dear God, please let it be soccer,” Rhodes said with a laugh.
“I’m so happy for you, Rho.”
She pulled me into a hug. “Love you, Fal.”
“More than all the stars in the sky,” I whispered back.
“What’s with the tears?” a worried voice asked as Rho and I pulled apart. Kye’s amber eyes searched mine. “Are you okay?”
I quickly wiped my cheeks. “I felt her baby kick.”
Relief washed through Kye’s expression, and his face softened as he wrapped his arms around me. “Happy tears are allowed.”
“Tears?” Anson asked, moving toward us, a scowl on his face. “Reckless, why are you crying?”
“Stow your murdery rage. I just felt the baby kick,” she grumbled.
Anson’s eyes widened, his hand finding her belly and his expression going soft. “I feel them.”
“Told you,” Rho said with a grin.
Anson quickly shook his head. “You need to sit down and eat a little more. And I got you some water to make sure you stay hydrated.”
Rhodes rolled her eyes but took pity on her husband and let him guide her toward one of the tables surrounding the dance floor.
As they walked away, Kye shifted so he was behind me, his arms wrapped around me, his hands curved around my middle, and his chin resting atop my head. “Have I told you how beautiful you look today?”
My mouth curved as I watched all the people we loved milling about. “Maybe once or twice, but I’ll never get tired of hearing it.”
A giggle lit the air, pulling my gaze toward the source. Gracie’s friend, Benny, spun her on the dance floor, her sparkly pink tutu dress matching the one Keely wore for their roles as Lolli’s flower girls. I felt Kye stiffen behind me.
“Benny’s been dancing with her for over thirty minutes,” he grumbled.
A soft giggle left my lips. “Have you seriously been timing them?”
“Maybe.”
“Kyler … they’re eight and nine. I don’t think they’re going to run away and get married. You’re safe.”
“Yeah, he’s nine. A whole year older than her. I don’t like it. It’s like Danny all over again.”
My mouth curved as I caught sight of Hayden dancing with her boyfriend. Her head lay on his shoulder as he guided her around the floor like she was the world’s most precious gift. “Are you really still salty about him? He looks out for her. And he makes her happy.”
“I guess he’s okay,” Kye finally admitted.
I lifted my hand up to pat his cheek. “At least Clem still only has eyes for her books.”
Even at this very moment, she was sitting beneath one of the towering aspen trees, devouring a fantasy novel in her whimsical, pale-pink dress that matched Hayden’s for their roles as junior bridesmaids.
“She was my one holdout. But now she’s leaving me for freaking Yale,” Kye bemoaned.
I couldn’t hold in my laugh. “It’s a science summer camp. She’ll be back in a few weeks.”
I could practically feel Kye’s frown as he held me tighter. “I just hope she doesn’t get any ideas about going that far away for college. I’m gonna get Linc to take her on a visit to Stanford and hope she loves it. That’s at least on the same coast.”
Our beautiful Clementine was truly a genius. She’d skipped two grades already and would be starting her freshman year in the fall. Kye was incredibly proud, but he also worried nonstop about the fact that his sister would be starting college at sixteen.
“We’re going to make sure she goes at her own speed. And she can always do a couple of years locally and then transfer,” I suggested. “Or take classes online first.”
“I vote online. Then I can really keep an eye on her.”
My smile widened. Kyler was the very best father anyone could ask for. He was protective but never judgmental, kind but with gentle boundaries, and he was always a safe place for the girls and the many foster children that passed through our home to land.
Even now, I saw Levi and Frannie running around the garden as Mom looked on, making sure they didn’t get into too much trouble.
Levi’s mom was going through treatment for alcohol addiction, and I thought there was a good chance they’d be reunited.
I didn’t have the same hope for Frannie’s parents.
But if they didn’t take the steps needed for reconciliation, we’d be there with a home for her for as long as she needed.
My hands curved over Kye’s that rested across my middle. “You’re such a good dad.”
Kye held me tighter. “You’re the best mom.”
I took a deep breath. “How would you feel about adding another to our brood?”
Kye stilled and then turned me to face him, searching my eyes. “You have someone who needs us?”
That was usually what happened—a particularly tough case would come across my, Rose’s, Mila’s, or another caseworker’s desk.
But no longer Noah’s. He’d moved and transferred to a different county, which was for the best. But if any of the rest of us found a case that needed a gentle touch, I brought it to Kye.
And he always said yes. Always put his all into caring for the child, getting them the best doctors, therapists, and whatever else was needed.
But that wasn’t the case today. I shook my head, my blond waves fluttering with the motion.
Kye frowned. “Not a case?”
I swallowed hard and looked up at him. “I’m pregnant.”
Those amber eyes flared wide. “Sparrow,” he croaked, going stock-still.
“I know we were thinking later, but—”
Kye sank to his knees right there in the grass despite the fact that he was wearing a suit. His tattooed fingers tightened on my hips as he skimmed his lips over my belly. “Now’s better.” My eyes burned as Kye’s gaze lifted to mine. “You’re sure?”
“I, uh, went to Dr. Avery just to make sure everything was okay. I hadn’t realized how many periods I’d missed, so I’m farther along than I thought. How do you feel about being the ultimate girl dad?”
Kye’s amber eyes glittered with unshed tears. “It’s a girl?”
I nodded, my tears falling then.
Kye’s focus came back to my belly, his lips skimming the fabric of my dress once again. “I love you, baby girl. Gonna do everything I can to make your life full of only the good.”
“Kyler,” I whispered.
He pushed to his feet, his fingers sliding along my jaw as the pinky on his other hand hooked with mine. “I love you, Sparrow. My spark in the dark, all that’s good.”
“My everything.” I kissed him, bleeding all the love I felt into the kiss.
“What’s going on?” Hayden asked, a little worry in her voice.
“You were kissing Mama Fal’s tummy,” Gracie said.
“Maybe he just likes her tummy,” Clem argued, but I heard a hint of apprehension in her voice.
Kye searched my eyes, and I nodded. With a huge smile on his face, he turned to the girls who had become ours in every way. “Your mom’s pregnant.”
Clem’s eyes went wide. “You’re having a baby?”
I nodded. “A girl. So I hope you’ll show her the ropes.”
“I’m gonna be a big sister?” Gracie shouted with glee.
“You are,” Kye said with a laugh.
“I never got to be one of those before,” she mumbled, looking up at Hayden. “Will you tell me how to do it good?”
A soft smile tugged at Hayden’s lips as she wrapped an arm around Gracie’s shoulders. “I’ll tell you all the important stuff.” Her focus shifted to Kye and me. “And I’ll always look out for her.”
Kye’s hand landed on her shoulder. “We know you will. Best big sister in the world.”
“Oh, shoot,” I muttered, my tears coming in earnest. “It’s the hormones.”
Clem laughed. “I’m gonna look into that for you.”
Kye engulfed us in a hug, his long arms pulling us all into a huddle. “My girls. Love you to the ends of the Earth.”
And that love was exactly what Kye said I was to him. A spark in the dark. Hope in a sea of sorrow. And his love would carry us through for the rest of our days.