Epilogue
Blake
The pregnancy test sits on the bathroom counter, my phone timer slowly counting down the minutes. I’m staring at the little white stick a few feet away, my heart pounding louder than I’ve ever heard it. The seconds seem to crawl, each one dragging on as I wait for the answer that, deep down, I already know.
I glance out the small bathroom window, the sound of laughter floating in from the backyard. Ethan is out there, playing softball with Macey and Tommy, our foster kids, while Bandit lounges in the shade, his tongue lolling out as Tommy takes a break from the game to hug him.
Ethan’s throwing the ball underhand to Macey, who’s concentrating hard, her bat raised, ready to swing. She hits the ball, and Ethan whoops, running backward to catch it, all the while calling out encouragement. I watch the scene unfold, warmth and love washing over me. Ethan has taken to being a dad like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Tommy, our five-year-old foster son, wraps his little arms around Bandit, resting his head against the dog’s side as they take a break together in the cool shade. Bandit’s tail wags lazily, and Tommy’s giggle reaches me through the window. It’s perfect, all of it. Everything I ever wanted, and more than I ever thought I’d have.
But now, with this test waiting to confirm what I already know, there’s a whole extra layer of emotion. I place a hand over my stomach, the reality of it settling deep inside me. I’m pregnant—I can feel it in my bones, in the way my body has changed, in the small hints and whispers my intuition has been trying to tell me for days.
The timer goes off, pulling me from my thoughts. I slowly pick up the test, my breath catching as I glance down at it.
Two lines.
I let out a shaky breath, a mix of nerves and joy fluttering inside me. It’s real. I’m going to have a baby.
A soft smile spreads across my face, the weight of the moment sinking in. This baby, our baby, is going to have the best home. I make a silent vow, my hand still resting over my stomach. No matter what, I’ll make sure this child is loved and cared for, surrounded by the family Ethan and I have built together.
I step out of the bathroom and head toward the backyard. Ethan is standing with Macey, grinning as she shows him her best swing, his eyes bright with pride. He glances over at me, catching my eye, and something in his gaze shifts.
“Hey, princess,” he calls. “Mace is turning into a pro! You gotta see this.”
“I will. But first, can you come here for a second?”
He gives Macey a high-five, telling her to keep practicing, and jogs over to me, his hair a little tousled from the game. When he reaches me, his arms wrap around my waist, pulling me in for a quick kiss. “What’s up?” He frowns slightly as he takes in my expression.
I take a deep breath, my hand tightening around the test, and then I hand it to him. Ethan’s brow furrows as he takes it. The second he spots the two lines, his eyes go wide, flicking up to meet mine.
“Is this—?” His voice catches.
I can’t hold back the smile spreading across my face. “Yeah,” I whisper. “It’s real.”
Ethan lets out a whoop so loud that Bandit lifts his head. “We’re having a baby?”
“Yes,” I laugh, tears pricking at my eyes as he drops to his knees in front of me. Ethan’s hands land on my stomach, and he presses a soft kiss there, his head resting against me for a second. The tenderness in his touch, the reverence in his actions—it’s everything.
He looks up at me, his eyes shining with love and something deeper, something that tells me this moment means as much to him as it does to me. Then he stands, pulling me into his arms, holding me close like he never wants to let go.
“You’re already an amazing mom,” he whispers into my hair, his voice thick with emotion. “And I’m going to be there for you. For all of us. Forever. This baby, Macey, Tommy—every kid that comes into our lives. We’ll do this together.”
I rest my head against his chest. “I love you,” I whisper, closing my eyes as I hold on to him. “I love this life we’re building. And I can’t wait for what’s next.”
Ethan leans down, kissing me again, slow and tender, like he’s savoring every second. And at this moment, I know we’ve got everything we need. We’re ready for whatever comes next, and I’ve never felt more sure.