Epilogue
PIPER
Eight Years Later
“ I think you should make a coloring app for kids,” Joy says enthusiastically, with a big smile.
I write it on the whiteboard, smiling when Logan walks into the bedroom, cradling Carter, the newest addition to our family, to his chest.
“And, and, a comic book one,” Sebastian says, grinning with his cute, gapped smile. “That’s good, yeah, Daddy?”
“Did you see my coloring idea, Daddy?” Joy says.
I adore how the children look up to their father, the love on their faces, and the eagerness for approval. I adore even more how Logan is always there to give that approval.
“Both sound amazing,” he says, sitting on the floor next to them.
And I adore how the older children lean over to kiss their new brother on his little sleeping head.
“Do you have any ideas, Daddy?” Joy asks.
“Yay, Daddy ideas!” Seb says, clapping his hands together in excitement.
“Sure, how about a special app that lets Daddies spend all their time with their children, never go to work, get to finish all the ice cream, oh, and get all the time he wants with Mommy? Sound good?”
The kids giggle, their eyes alight with pure happiness.
“I’m not sure all that will fit on the whiteboard,” I say.
“That’s because Daddy’s idea is silly ,” Seb teases, poking him playfully.
“Daddy likes being silly.”
We all laugh as Logan makes faces, sticking his tongue out, rolling his eyes, and looking like the biggest doofus in the world. I almost cry from the sheer happiness we have forged together.
After the idea session, Logan puts Carter down. We each give him a kiss, and then I prepare dinner.
“What are you thinking?” Logan asks me, leaning against the counter as Seb and Joy play in the yard.
I look at my husband, wearing workout shorts and a T-shirt, still as muscular and powerful as the first time we kissed, his eyes still alight with that glint of excitement and possession.
“I’m thinking about how lucky we are.”
“How lucky we are?” he says, looping his arm around my waist. “I think you’ll find, my sweet wife, I’m the lucky one around here.”
“I love you,” I say, leaning up to kiss him.
Almost a decade of marriage, but when he kisses me, it’s like I’m back at my going away party. The years drain away. The business. The texting. The heartache of not knowing if it was going to work out. All of it vanishes, and suddenly, I’m ready to start our adventure fresh again.
That’s what every day with my man is—a new adventure.
“What do you say I wear that secretary outfit you like tonight, Mr. Boss?” I whisper in his ear.
He groans as his hand slides down to my hip.
THE END