Epilogue
Emalyn
Are we really doing this?
I take a shaky breath, as my chest pounds. Glancing around, I don’t see Ronan anywhere. After double checking the address, I open the car door and step to pace.
What if they say no? What if I’m not good en—
“There you are.” Ronan cuts off my spinning thoughts as he reaches for my wrist, drawing soothing circles. “I parked on the other side, Sunshine. Let’s go in, before we’re late.”
I nod quickly.
He stops, turning to me fully and cups my face.
“We are ready for this. We’ve gone to therapy. We’ll continue going and we are gonna be way better than our parents ever were, okay?”
“Okay.” I nod, though I don’t know if I believe it. His eyes soften before he kisses my cheek.
“Think she’ll be happy with us?” He asks as I take him inside to meet the little girl who stole my heart at the Sandy’s breakfast benefit for this group home.
I grin thinking of wild red curls and striking blue eyes, a toothy grin and the worn baseball glove she wouldn’t turn loose of.
She’d asked to help me serve breakfast even though she was a guest and somehow that turned into her coming to help out every week.
“Of course. We’ll make sure of it.” I kiss his cheek as he laces our fingers together and tugs me to him.
“You’re right. I’m pretty awesome. I hope all my fun uncle energy transfers to fun Dad.”
We walk in, eager to find Janet’s office for our appointment.
“It’s through here.” I gesture to Ronan and push the door open.
Ronan keeps his hand on my lower back, keeping a connection.
It’s not always easy for him to step into places like this, despite the years of therapy.
He prefers to support and make a difference from a distance.
I’ve barely stepped in when a weight knocks into me, gripping me around the waist.
“Miss Emalyn! Miss Emalyn! I knew you’d come.” She bounces up and down excited to see me. “Do I get to come help serve breakfast with you again? I love doing that.”
“Quit begging, Brianna,” A dark haired boy sneers from behind his comic. “It doesn’t make them want to keep you.”
“Shut up, you stink face.” She hisses, before side eyeing us and straightening up with a polite smile. “Sorry about him. He’s just mad he came in second place in our spelling bee.” Her hand slips cautiously into mine.
I squeeze it once and making her beam up at me. When I glance over my shoulder, Ronan’s smile is soft as he watches us, his hand never leaving me. Always touching me, my back or my shoulder. Sometimes landing on the back of my neck and just resting there.
Janet comes around the corner, talking with another woman I recognize as the receptionist. She grins when she sees us.
“I’ll get to this in just a minute.” She tells the receptionist before rushing to us.
“Hi, Emalyn.” She hugs me tightly before waving at Ronan and bending down to talk to Brianna.
“It’s an important day. Let’s chat in my office.”
Brianna’s eyes widen and glance up at me.
I give her a nod and am unable to contain my grin when her eyes light up with cautious excitement.
Her lips roll in to hold back her smile.
The boy sits up straighter on the bench, when he notices.
I don’t miss the quick flash of doubt across her face when she glances his way.
Instead of the mean comment I expect, he shoots her a thumbs up.
Her grin finally breaks free when she shoots one back and follows us into the office.
Ronan meets my eyes, giving me a wink and laying an arm across the back of my chair when we sit.
His knee is bouncing anxiously, trying to wait patiently for Janet to get the hell on with it already. I scoot to the edge of my seat.
“So, you’ve met Ronan and Emalyn.” Janet says to Brianna, who remains standing.
She nods eagerly.
“They—“
“We want to adopt you.” Ronan blurts out. He glances at me sheepishly, “Sorry.”
“You do?” Brianna whispers, blinking away tears.
“Yes, we really do.” I tell her. Ronan is out of his seat, kneeling in front of our little girl.
“There is nothing we want more than to be your mom and dad. If that’s what you’d like too.” He places a hand over his heart as he tells her in the most sincere tone how wanted she really is.
She doesn’t answer him, only throws her little arms around his strong neck.
I can’t stay in my seat any longer. Falling to my knees beside them, I wrap my arms around my little family.
Ronan's arm snakes around me, both of us holding our little girl and each other.
~Two years later~
“Go Daddy!” Brianna screams, banging on the glass with Hudson, Matty and James as Ronan blocks shot after shot.
The other team pulled their goalie in favor of having another player on the ice in an effort to get another goal.
They didn’t plan on their winger celebrating a shot too early, or Ronan getting possession of the puck.
I watch in slow motion as he scans quickly, clocking each of his teammates blocked with opponents and the empty net across the ice.
Brianna’s nails claw at my arm.
“He’s gonna do it!” She whispers in awe before standing up and cheering, “Do it, Daddy!”
He sends the puck flying across the length of the ice in a show of skill mixed with pure luck.
“Yes!” The arena erupts; the kids are going wild in the stands, our daughter cheering the loudest of them all.
The Bruisers flood the ice, everyone knocking helmets and patting Ronan on the back. He points to us, then taps his glove over his heart twice. Someone pushes the game winning puck into his hands. Beaming, he shakes his sweaty hair and skates right up to the glass.
“It’s the puck! It’s the puck!” The kids chant excitedly, before Ronan tosses it over the glass to Brianna. They bump their fists together through the glass. Ronan blows me a kiss as Brianna throws her arms around me, skating backwards to rejoin his team.
“I can’t believe it! I’m gonna show Grams and Grammy!” She shouts, already running down the aisle to where Ronan’s mom sits with Sandy, both cheering like crazy. They became quick friends, after meeting years ago.
Sandy sends me a thumbs up. The two grandmas take the kids with them for their own post game sleepover.
I make quick work of hightailing it to the tunnel, waiting outside the locker room for Ronan. As soon as he appears, he scoops me up and kisses me. My arms go around his neck, and my legs wrap around his waist.
“You were amazing.” I say, kissing him again before he can answer. “Take me home, Champion.”
He sets my feet on the ground, arms still wrapped around me.
“I love you, Sunshine.”
“I love you, too.”