54. Epilogue
Chapter fifty-four
Epilogue
D eclan
"Look! There's mommy," I say, gripping Little Cammy's hand and waving at her mother, who walks across the large stage in her black cap and gown to receive her degree.
She pauses to shake hands with the deans and take a picture before she steps off the stage, finds us in the stands and waves. Pride and gratitude make my chest swell.
Cas takes Cammy from me. Daniel and Harrison flank us, happy to celebrate someone they consider a sister now.
Ser did end up getting pregnant that day in my office but she refused to quit school or even take her classes online throughout her pregnancy like I begged her.
The other students whispered about her at first, but once she was safely into her second trimester, we worked with a PR team to launch our relationship officially. Once the other students realized she was older than she looked, and in a stable relationship with a wealthy man, they changed from judging her, to trying to get close to her.
From being helpless to help Ser with her morning sickness the first trimester, her sex drive during the second trimester, and her Braxton Hick's contractions the third trimester. Then she labored for thirty-six hours and I lost my shit.
Not my proudest moment, but the doctors at the George Washington University Hospital must be used to expectant fathers to threaten them, because once our Cammy was here, all was forgiven.
I'd never felt more useless and out of control. But my girl's strong and she's used to putting up with me. Then The Universe decided to make me a girl-dad and I haven't had a day of control since. I thought I loved Ser with my entire heart, and then Cammy was born and my heart was ripped from my chest and now lives outside of my body.
Every cry, every whimper, every time she moved the first six months I was at her side. I never knew a love like this was even possible.
I offered to hire a nanny or full time au pair but she insisted we raise our daughter ourselves. So while she's in class, I'm home with Cammy, and if there's a meeting I need to go to, she's shuffled between her "aunts and uncles" or Cas and Daniel and Harrison.
She loves Harrison the most, and while he pretends to be annoyed at having to "babysit" I catch the warm smiles she pulls out of him.
I'm eager to get to my woman and celebrate her. I know how hard she worked for her degree. I saw the hours of sleep she lost, and the struggle on the days her ADHD flared up. I saw how much she sacrificed time with Cammy when she would have much rather cuddled with us than study, but she toughed it out and I've never been more proud of a person in my entire life. She even finished her degree in only two-and-a-half years.
We've added a few more themed nights at The Envelope, and haven't heard from Adrian anymore. We've seen him a few times at events where our social circles mix, but he stays a respectful distance away and simply nods in greeting.
I know Rico and his boys don't need the money, but a quick property search later and the farm he co-owns with this brother suddenly had the mortgage paid off. I couldn't think of another 'thank you' gift big enough.
Detective Johnson also told us six months after Ser's parents were sentenced, one of their friends was caught trying to smuggle them heroin and they got another ten years added to their sentence. Which made Ser sad, because she was still holding on to some hope that her mom would get clean, but she's learned to accept that you can't help people who don't want to help themselves.
After the ceremony concludes, I'm on my feet, pressing through the crowd to get to my woman. Several heads turn in surprise when I'm recognized, but when she's back in my arms, the rest of the crowded room disappears.
I kiss her, long and hard, and hold her against me. "I'm so fucking proud of you, Ser." I press a kiss against her hair and tuck her under my arm to find our family again.
She wraps her arm around my waist, under my suit jacket, and all is right in the world.
I told her she could work for The Envelope, or not work at all if she wants to focus on Cammy, but the last we talked about it, she hadn't decided what she wanted to do yet.
She never thought she'd be able to afford a college degree, so she was concentrating on that simple, unbelievable accomplishment.
I have a month-long trip to St. John's in the Virgin Islands for the three of us planned to celebrate her that she doesn't know about yet.
I love the woman next to me. I love the little girl she gave me. I love our life together and I know I get the honor of building the perfect life with the people I love.