Epilogue
JUDE
My three-year-old son Tucker flies forward. Fortunately, my wife is paying attention and she grabs him around the middle before he plunges into the ice-cold water.
“Steady there, pal.” She sets him back down casually like he didn’t just come close to disaster. “We should put a harness on you and tie you to something heavy like we did with Bertha.”
Our beagle wags her tail furiously at her name.
I tap my chin. “Actually, that’s not a bad idea.”
Lucy rolls her eyes. “We’re not tying our son to the back of the truck.”
“But—”
“He’s fine. Don’t worry.” She arches an eyebrow as she studies me curiously. “For a guy who once told me ice fishing was easy, you sure are tense.”
“That was different.” My jaw sets. “You didn’t seem to have a death wish.”
She gives me the look. It’s one I’ve gotten to know well in the years we’ve been married. And one that’s grown more frequent since Tucker came around.
She thinks I’m over-reacting. Hell, five years ago, I would’ve said I was over-reacting too. But five years ago, I wasn’t married to the woman of my dreams and I didn’t have a family to think about.
Now, keeping them safe and well is my reason for being.
“He’s fine.” The words are barely out of her mouth when Tucker throws back his head and wails. Lucy kneels to wrap him in a hug. “Aw, what’s wrong, baby?”
He jabs a chubby finger at the dog. “Bertha.”
“What did she do?”
“She won’t look at me.”
“Aww.” She pats his back and meets my gaze over his shoulder. I can tell she’s barely holding it together. But she’d never laugh in our son’s face. “Bertha is just too excited by everything going on. She’ll look at you later.”
“I think someone might need a N-A-P,” I say as I help Lucy to her feet.
“I think you’re right.”
With our son still cuddled up against her, and her belly swollen with our daughter—due in two months—she’s never looked more beautiful.
And now, I’ve never been more nervous about all of us.
“I’m going to cover up the hole and then we can head home,” I say as I turn to do just that.
“That sounds like a great idea.” She rubs Tucker’s back. “This one can take a N-A-P, and then maybe mom and dad can play doctor.”
My hands freeze as I finish placing the cover and I spin on my heels.
“Are you okay? Is it the baby? Is it?—”
“I’m fine. Sheesh.” She rolls her eyes again. “I think you didn’t quite hear me. I said I wanted to play doctor.”
It takes me a moment to realize what she’s saying. My dick reacts before the rest of me does.
“Does mom have an ouchie?” I ask, my voice is husky.
She nods. “I’d show you where, but we’re on duty.” Then she lowers her voice. “But as soon as he’s asleep, there’s definitely something I need you to check out.”
“It just so happens I have a prescription that might help.”
“What’s that?”
“A fresh container of”—I pause to make sure Tucker isn’t listening—“whipped cream.”
Her eyes dance. “I think that’s just the cure. It’ll be good for both of us.”
“Yeah, it will.”
“You worry too much.”
“I worry just enough.” I wrap my arm around Lucy’s shoulder and place my hand on Tucker’s back. “You’re my family. I love you all more than anything. Even if it makes me a little nutty at times.”
Her eyes soften. “You’re our family. And we love you more than anything. Even if you get a little nutty sometimes.”
We’re both laughing when I press my mouth to hers in a quick kiss. It’s all we can manage before Tucker makes a gagging face.
This right here is everything important to me. We’ve made a life in a place we both love. We’ve built a family on the strength of our love.
We may have gotten together because Lucy took a little fall. But we’ve stuck together and found this slice of paradise because we both fell for each other.
* * *
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