Epilogue
EPILOGUE
TWO YEARS LATER
‘Jamie, dude – get a move on, your transport is on the way!’ Kate was walking through the house, picking up a discarded half-chewed sock that Jamie’s dog had eviscerated. She gave the mischievous labrador a stern look as he looked suitably guilty from his basket in her son’s room.
‘Buddy, this is not cool. Socks are not toys!’
Jamie laughed from his chair as he grabbed his backpack and threw his pencil case into a zip pocket. ‘He ate three yesterday too. He loves the smell of your feet!’
Kate kissed her son, rolling her eyes. Jamie was back in school and living in their adapted bungalow made life so much easier. He had his struggles, but he was happy. He even saw his dad once a month, although things were a little strained. Like Cooper said, ‘it’s a work in progress.’
‘Taxi’s here,’ Cooper said, coming into the hallway. ‘I finish work at the centre early today, and your mum has a late surgery, so shall I pick you up, we can go shoot some hoops?’ He pretended to make a basket with his hands.
‘That’s it, old man, get some practice in, I am so not going easy on you!’ Jamie clipped his pack onto his chair, fist-bumping Cooper on his way out of the door.
‘Bye, Mum, Dad, love you!’ The door shut behind him, and Kate and Cooper looked at each other in shock.
‘Did you hear that?’ Cooper said. ‘He called me Dad!’
Kate wrapped her arms around her husband, pulling him as close to her as she could manage.
‘I know,’ she said, peppering his face with kisses. ‘Might as well get used to it.’
He kissed her back, his stubble rubbing her cheek as he knelt down. Putting both hands on her baby bump, he kissed her tummy.
‘I can manage that,’ he said, looking up at her with a grin that made her heart sing and her stomach flip. ‘Best job I ever had.’