Epilogue
REAPER
“Lynx? Are you in here?”
“Over here!” she calls out, waving a hand at me.
I step over a pile of books, treading further into Lynx’s office until I see her happily typing away on her computer.
Her hair is pulled up into a messy bun with a pen and a pencil sticking out.
She likes to keep them close by when editing her manuscripts.
It’s fucking adorable, especially when she forgets they’re in her hair.
“Am I interrupting?”
“Not at all! I always love seeing you.” She spins around in her chair and stands, letting me pull her into a hug.
“How’s the editing going?” My wife sighs heavily and slumps into my arms. I chuckle and kiss her forehead. “That good, huh?”
“Ugh, it’s my least favorite part about being an author.”
I grin at her words, even though she’s a bit frustrated.
Hearing Lynx call herself an author fills me with such pride.
She worked her ass off getting her degree while writing her first book.
Lynx was so nervous about sending her query letter to multiple agents, but she had nothing to worry about.
Three of them replied wanting the rest of her book, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Ten years later, Lynx has published eight books. She also leads writers’ workshops at the local community college. That’s all on top of being the best mother to our two little girls.
“Maybe it’s a good time for a break, then? Lana and Tiffany have a surprise for you in the backyard.”
“Really?!” Her green eyes light up at the mention of our daughters.
I take her hand and lead her through the house and out to the back, where our girls have a picnic set up. Lynx gasps and claps her hands, giving me a smile before running to our girls and hugging them.
The four of us sit on the picnic blanket, which I placed in the middle of our dandelion grove. The wind gently sways the yellow flowers back and forth in a mesmerizing pattern, and I’m suddenly overwhelmed by the beauty and joy in my life.
Lynx peers over at me, giving me a sweet smile as if she knows exactly what I’m thinking. My wife leans back against me, and I wrap an arm around her waist before kissing her temple.
Lana, our eight-year-old, has dark hair and green eyes, just like her mother.
She inherited her mother’s sass, and she keeps us on our toes every single day.
Tiffany just turned five, her blue eyes matching mine.
She’s a bit shy, but my little Tiff is the absolute sweetest kid on the face of the planet.
She loves so deeply, much like her mother.
“Love you,” Lynx whispers, nuzzling against my neck. “Thank you for an amazing life.”
“Thank you, my dandelion. None of this is possible without you.”
We stay outside until the sun begins to set, and then I take my girls inside so we can sit by the fire and read bedtime stories.
I never imagined my life would end up like this.
I didn’t think I deserved this kind of happiness, but I’m starting to believe we all create our own happily ever afters. I’m damn thankful this one is mine.
THE END