Epilogue
HARPER
Never before had a red velvet cupcake tasted so good.
I closed my eyes, savoring the sweetness and texture. It felt like I hadn’t eaten in days and my reward was a decadent feast of deliciousness.
With a contented sigh, I finished my treat. Mila had brought a dozen to the hospital for us to share, and with the craziness of the last twenty-four hours, I hadn’t eaten mine yet. Garrett’s sat in the box, the lone cupcake left, and I was more than a little bit tempted to devour his, too.
He slept in what we’d named the daddy chair—a wide, pink recliner that leaned almost all the way back. Why someone had chosen pink, I had no idea. But the color didn’t really matter. His eyes were closed, his bare chest rising and falling with the slow rhythm of his breathing. And on his chest, dressed in nothing but a diaper with a blanket over her, was our daughter, Isla.
She’d come into the world after what had felt like an eternity of labor, but had only been about twelve hours from the time we’d arrived at the hospital. I’d never forget the experience of seeing the tiny one for the first time. Her round face, her eyes blinking in what was probably confusion, her sweet little mouth.
That perfect little face had bunched up and she’d started screaming. It had been a sight to behold.
I couldn’t stop staring at her little elbows and knees, her fingers and toes. The wispy blond babyfuzz on her head. She’d cried a lot at first, only calming down when the nurse finished with her and put her in my arms.
My heart had just about burst. And looking at her, sound asleep on her daddy’s bare chest, my love for her welled up, filling me with warmth and gratitude.
I loved them so much.
How could you love someone you’d only laid eyes on a few hours before? How could my entire body be so attuned to her, so intent on her well-being? If I’d been worried I didn’t have enough love to give, those fears melted in the fire of mother’s love that consumed me.
Her arrival in our lives had been a surprise, but she was the best gift I’d ever been given.
So was Garrett.
After our engagement day, we’d decided to get married right away. It had been a small ceremony without a lot of fanciness or fuss. Marigold had helped put it all together, and even on our shoestring budget and tight timeline, she’d made it beautiful. My mom and sister had been there, along with Garrett’s entire big family. It had been simple, but incredibly meaningful, joining us together as a family.
Garrett stirred, taking a deep breath, and opened his eyes.
“Hi, sleepyhead.”
He gave Isla a soft kiss on the head. “Hi. Sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“That’s okay. She’s not crying, so that’s a win. ”
“She has a set of lungs on her, doesn’t she?”
I smiled. She certainly did. “Did Owen cry a lot when he was born?”
His brow furrowed and he paused. “Actually, I don’t think he did. He was a pretty easy newborn. It wasn’t until he started walking that things got rough.”
“I wonder what she has in store for us.”
“She’s a new adventure,” he said.
There was a soft knock on the door and Owen peeked his head inside. “Is it safe to come in?”
My face lit up with a smile. “Yes, come in.”
Owen was dressed in a black hoodie and jeans. His hair was getting a little long—the front was almost in his eyes. I made a mental note to make sure he got a haircut soon. If he wanted one. Maybe the hair in the eyes thing was what he was going for.
“Oh,” he breathed as he approached his dad and new baby sister. “She’s so small.”
“Do you want to hold her?” Garrett asked.
Although I was usually struck by how grown-up Owen looked, in that moment, his face had all the wonder and innocence of a child.
“Yeah.”
Garrett sat up and laid Isla on his lap to swaddle her in the blanket. Then he stood and placed her gently in Owen’s arms.
“Wow,” Owen whispered, gazing at her sleeping face. “Oh my gosh, I love her so much.”
It was such a beautiful moment, deep emotion welled up inside me, bringing tears to my eyes. “Isn’t she perfect?”
“Oh look, her eyes are opening a little.” He shifted his weight back and forth, gently rocking her. “Hi, baby sister. I’m your big brother, Owen.”
Garrett sat on the edge of the bed and put his arm around me. How had I gotten so—yes, I was going to say it—lucky? I was married to the man of my dreams, Owen had become the son of my heart, and now we had our sweet baby girl.
I was ready to burst with happiness.
Garrett kissed my temple. “I’m going to go find some food. I just realized I’m starving. Do you want anything?”
“I just had a cupcake, but I could still eat. Maybe something with protein to balance it out a little.”
“Got it. Owen, are you hungry?”
“No, Grandma has been stuffing me with food pretty much constantly. Actually, yes, I could eat.”
Garrett gave me another kiss, then left in search of… I couldn’t remember what time it was. Lunch? Dinner? Who knew at that point.
“Is she awake?” I asked.
“No, she closed her eyes again.” Owen lowered himself onto the edge of the bed. “Can I talk to you about something?”
“Of course.”
“I was thinking.” He paused for a moment. “My cousin Thomas has a stepdad.”
“Yeah, I know Levi is his stepdad.”
“But he just calls him Dad. And Grandma is Dad’s stepmom, but he just calls her Mom. And you’re Isla’s mom, so she needs to learn to call you Mom, and I was thinking maybe I could…”
I held my breath, a lump forming in my throat.
He raised his eyes to meet mine. “Maybe I could call you Mom? I know I’m not a little kid like Thomas was when he met Levi, or like Dad when Grandma and Grandpa got married. But I keep thinking about it, and if it’s okay with you…”
A single tear broke free from the corner of my eye. “I would love it if you called me Mom.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.” I swiped the tear from my cheek. “I didn’t carry you as a baby and I wasn’t there when you were born, but you’re the son of my heart. You always will be.”
I could see the tears forming in his eyes and I just about lost it. Sniffling a little, he glanced away. “Thanks. Mom.”
For some reason, that made me laugh. Not because it was funny, but because I was so happy, I couldn’t help myself.
Owen laughed too, and a few tears did sneak out of the corners of his eyes. I pretended not to notice as he wiped them away.
“I love you, kiddo,” I said. “And look at you. You’re already the best big brother.”
He gazed at Isla. “She’s pretty awesome. And I love you too.”
As if she knew we needed a little dose of reality in the midst of our moment, Isla squirmed in Owen’s arms and let out a cry.
“Uh-oh.” Owen handed her to me. “I think she needs you.”
“She’s probably hungry. Being born is hard work.”
“Do you need me to leave?”
“They’re just boobs, Owen. It’s not that big of a deal.”
His face flushed and he turned his back to me. Isla got an arm free of her swaddle and stretched.
“There you go, sweet girl.” I worked on situating her so I could get her to latch while Owen hilariously refused to look. Not that I blamed him. I wouldn’t have wanted to see my mom’s—or stepmom’s, if I’d had one—boobs either. Even in the context of nursing a baby.
Garrett came back in and the smell of burgers wafted in with him. My stomach growled. The hospital’s food wasn’t half bad—or maybe I was just that hungry. The room had a small table where he set up our meal, but before he started on his, he brought mine over and fed me bites while I nursed our daughter.
He was such an amazing man .
And the best part? He was mine.
We belonged to each other, all four of us. We’d been through a lot to get to that moment. But we’d never given up. Garrett had risked everything for the people he loved—for his family.
He was, and always would be, my real-life hero.