Epilogue Zane
T he sun is setting, casting a warm, golden glow over our backyard. I sit on the grass, my legs stretched out in front of me, watching our son, Leo, toddle around with a determined look on his face. He’s a little over a year old now, and every day with him feels like an adventure.
“Daddy, look!” Leo calls out, his tiny hands gripping a toy car that he’s just pushed down the small slope we built for him.
“I see, buddy,” I reply, smiling as I watch the car roll down the hill and crash into the grass. “You’re getting really good at that.”
Leo beams with pride and claps his hands, laughing like he’s having the time of his life. Moments like these are a treasure, a stark contrast to the chaos and danger that used to define my life. Now, my world revolves around this little boy and his mother, Monroe.
As I reach out to pull Leo into my lap, I see Monroe stepping out of the house. She’s wearing a floral silk dress that shows off her incredible curves. They’ve only gotten more addicting since she had Leo. Her hair is tied back in a loose ponytail. She’s holding something in her hand, and her expression is a mix of excitement and nervousness. Her cheeks are pink, like they always are when there’s something important on her mind. It’s a dead giveaway.
“Hey,” I call out, waving her over. “Come join us.”
Monroe smiles and walks towards us, her eyes shining a beautiful deep brown in the slanted sunlight. She sits down beside me, and Leo runs into her arms.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, looking closer at her flushed cheeks and furrowed brow.
Monroe takes a deep breath and holds out a small, white stick. It takes me a moment to realize what it is, and when I do, my heart skips a beat. It’s a pregnancy test.
“Zane,” she says softly, her voice trembling slightly. “We’re having another baby.”
For a moment, I’m speechless. Then, a wave of joy and excitement crashes over me. I pull Monroe into my arms, laughing and kissing her. “Are you serious? Another baby?”
She nods, her eyes brimming with happy tears. “Yes, another baby.”
Leo, curious about what’s happening, wriggles out of our hug and looks up at me with wide eyes. “Baby?” he asks, pointing at Monroe’s belly.
“That’s right, buddy,” I say, picking him up giving him a squeeze. “You’re going to be a big brother.”
Leo looks at Monroe’s belly and then at us, as if trying to process the information. He giggles and claps his hands, clearly excited even if he doesn’t fully understand yet.
Monroe and I share a look, and in that moment, I feel nothing but pure happiness and love. This is our family. And it just got a little bigger.
Leo wriggles free again, running around and squealing with excitement. Monroe and I sit together, watching our son and thinking about our new addition. I hope it's a girl. Maybe that will balance out Leo.
“What do you think?” I ask, curious about Monroe’s prediction. “Boy or girl?”
“Boy, of course,” she says with a grin.
I laugh. “Another one? I’m not sure we can handle that.”
“You’re the big strong man. You can handle anything,” she says, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
I take her hand and squeeze it. “You’re right, but I still think we’re having a girl.”
A year ago, I would’ve lost my mind over not being able to know something, but what I’ve learned from being with Monroe is that the mystery is what makes life so amazing. We don’t know what gender our next baby will be, or any of the ones that come after it, but we do know that we will love them with all of our hearts, and that Leo will make an excellent brother.
We also know that nothing will break our bond, and that we’ll be happy just to be together as a family. Nothing else really matter. Not the money, not the power, and not the thrill of a new project at work.
With Monroe by my side in our quiet little garden, I feel complete.
The End.