Epilogue
Sadie
Six Months Later
Grammy may not have known this would be my life, but she had set the wheels spinning that brought me here.
I glanced around our little apartment—Hattie’s toys scattered like tiny landmines across the floor, a sunbeam catching her hair as she crawled straight toward Diesel, and one grumpy biker looking at our daughter like she was the center of his universe.
I sent a quiet “thank you” up to Grammy as I pulled her famous carrot cake from the oven.
Today would have been her ninetieth birthday.
I lit the candles, and we blew them out together, making Hattie giggle until she nearly toppled over, straight into Diesel’s boot.
He yelped, hopping back, and made her squeal with delight. “You okay, Dad?” I teased.
Diesel shot me a mock glare, wiping the heel of his boot like it had betrayed him. “She’s vicious,” he growled, but his eyes softened the second he lifted her into his arms. “Our little savage.”
Hattie squirmed in Diesel’s arms, reaching toward the cake. She squealed, pointing with a chubby finger.
Diesel held her just out of reach, grinning despite himself. “Not so fast, sunshine. That’s still Mommy’s masterpiece.”
She squealed again, reaching for the cake, her face turning red with the effort. Stubborn as a tiny storm cloud.
I laughed, shaking my head. “Looks like someone’s taking after her dad.”
Diesel groaned dramatically, resting his forehead against hers. “Great. She’s already a bossy little biker.”
Hattie giggled, tapping his nose with a tiny hand, and he made a mock growl that had all of us in stitches.
Then he pulled me close, kissing me like it was the first time all over again. Hattie clapped her tiny hands, squealing with joy.
“I love you, Daniel Callahan,” I murmured as we parted, brushing my fingers over his jaw.
“I love you, too, Sunshine,” he replied, eyes soft, holding me just a little tighter than necessary.
The apartment was full of warmth, laughter, and the quiet kind of chaos you fight for, but now, finally, get to keep. Hattie yawned against Diesel’s chest, tiny hands clutching his shirt, and I couldn’t stop smiling. Our little world was exactly as it should be.