Epilogue
NOVA
Five years later…
There really is no place like home. It wasn’t long after Kellan and I got married that he bought a home for us in Cheerful.
It was a surprise wedding gift from him after we spent a lot of time here planning the wedding.
The man spoils the hell out of me. He can be bossy, but he’s a marshmallow in the center.
Since I’m the only girl among my brothers, I knew my mom wouldn’t let me get married without all the bells and whistles.
The town wanted in on it too. Plus, my mom and Aurora were having a blast planning it.
Both she and Kellan have easily slipped into being a part of my family, and now it’s as much theirs as it is mine.
Cheerful has even taken them in as one of their own, and it’s one of our favorite places on earth.
Over the past five years, we’ve gone back and forth between homes. But after spending holidays and weekends in Cheerful, this year we are moving to Cheerful permanently after Aurora’s semester ends at school.
I didn’t think moving back to my hometown would be an option for a long time, and I was good with going back and forth. If that’s what our family needed, that's what we’d do. It was Aurora who tipped the scale of us making this decision as a family.
One of the primary reasons I never pushed the idea was for her sake.
After everything she’s been through, I didn’t want to uproot her life again.
She’s in high school now, but she misses Cheerful and the family we have there.
Entering the high school in Cheerful won’t be a big shock for her. Not when she already knows everyone.
“We’ve got a problem,” Kellan says as he comes up behind me.
I’m almost finished getting ready for the New Year’s Eve party, and when I see his reflection in the mirror, I see he’s got our youngest son cradled in his arms. Kellan got him ready and dressed him in an adorable bear onesie.
“What’s wrong?”
I check the time and see that my parents will be here any second to take our two boys for the night. They are also dropping Aurora off at a friend's house. I’m excited for a night without kids before my husband tries to get me pregnant again.
"There’s a boy." The way he says it has me biting back a laugh. You’d think the world might be ending.
"Yes, there are lots of them everywhere," I joke, but I know where this is going.
It’s not my secret to tell. I'm happy that Aurora feels that I'm a safe person for her to talk to about these things, and a first crush is a big one. Though this is Cheerful, which means it could be her one and only crush.
"Did you know this party is going to have them?" Kellan is talking as though boys are the plague all while holding one cuddled close in his arms.
"They're in high school. Of course there are going to be boys there." Aurora and I might have omitted that detail, but he must have overheard a conversation.
"She's got her eye on one in particular. Do you think this is why she wanted to move here so badly?"
"Aurora has a lot of friends here,” I say as I smile at him sweetly. I’m sure it didn’t hurt her decision-making, but I’m not going to tell Kellan that.
"He's a senior." He says it like an accusation.
"They are two years apart,” I say, trying to calm him down.
"You know!"
Crap, I walked into that one. Kellan's eyes narrow on me in the mirror, and I watch his whole demeanor change. I'm in trouble, and it’s the best kind. One that I will thoroughly enjoy once I get these kids out of the house.
There have been a lot of changes over the years, but our sexual appetite is not one of them. I can never get enough of my man, and I love that I’m the only woman who will ever have him in that way.
I turn to face him as I try to gently talk him through this. "He's a good kid, Kellan. This is a small town, and if he wasn't a good kid, we'd know. Everyone would."
He's more than a good kid. He’s graduating top of his class and already has a future planned out.
He’s taking over his dad’s snowplowing business that keeps growing by the day.
They don't only do Cheerful but they plow all the towns around here and the highways.
I won't be shocked if they have to open more locations soon.
"This explains so much," Kellan mutters. "He's always nice to me and makes small talk before plowing the road up to our house. He’s making sure he can get to Aurora."
"Kellan," I laugh. "It's going to be okay. We’ve done a good job of raising Aurora. If anything, you should feel sorry for the boy. You've set the bar incredibly high."
"You're right,” he says and nods to himself. “I should buy her a Porsche and a pony."
"You better not," I say through laughter.
"You're right. She's too old for a pony. A horse."
I steal our son out of his arms and shake my head. It snows almost year-round here. Neither of those things are practical in Cheerful.
"Hey, I need him. He's my emotional support baby right now."
"Kiss me," I order before tilting my head back.
His whole face softens, and he leans down, pressing his mouth to mine. The kiss starts to grow more heated before he quickly pulls back.
"We need to get these kids out of here," he says before smiling at our son.
I love that a kiss from me can fix so much for Kellan.
As if on cue, the chime for the front door opening rings, letting us know my parents are here. We head downstairs, where my dad already has our other son in his arms. My mom kisses Kellan on the cheek and then me before stealing the baby out of my hands in the process.
"You look beautiful," Mom tells me.
"I'm in a robe." I haven't put on my dress yet. I didn't want Kellan to rip it.
"You're glowing."
"Mom, I'm not pregnant."
"But you could be," she says, her tone hopeful.
"Mom, two of my brothers are married, and the other is engaged. You're going to have enough grandbabies."
"Speaking of, there's my favorite granddaughter," Mom says when she spots Aurora coming down the stairs.
I watch Kellan's lips press into a firm line when he sees the dress she has on. It's gold and sparkly.
"I'm your only granddaughter," Aurora says before she kisses both of them on the cheek.
"You look beautiful, sweetheart," Kellan tells her while trying to get his shit together.
"You think?" She does a small spin, showing off the dress.
"I know," he says and pulls her in for a hug before they head out. "Have fun tonight."
"Love you, Mom and Dad!" Aurora calls as she closes the front door behind her. Hearing her call us that never gets old.
"You did well," I say, running my hands up Kellan’s chest.
"You're still in trouble." His expression turns serious, and it makes my nipples harden.
"Fine," I huff.
“Go to our bedroom and remove the robe. I want you to lie down on the bed for an inspection," he orders.
"But—"
"Now," he barks, cutting off my feigned protest.
I spin around and stomp up the stairs but let my robe fall off in the process. I don't make it to the bedroom before Kellan is on me.
"I said in the bedroom," he nearly growls, and I pretend to be confused.
"Oops." He carries me the rest of the way and tosses me onto the bed. I watch as he starts to remove his clothing, and I can feel my pulse quicken. "We have plans."
"I don't give a shit." His hand wraps around my ankle, pulling me to the edge of the bed. "I'm going to eat my wife's cunt and then take her out for the night before I come back here and ring in the new year with my cock deep inside of you."
"You're naughty," I tease.
"Only for you,” he says before burying his face between my legs. His inspections are always very thorough.
I love this man more than anything. Kellan understands parts of me that I never did. He’s my missing piece that fits exactly right, and every day he makes me feel complete.
Kellan can buy almost anything, so it means the world to me that I can give him something money can’t buy. Love and family. What we have is priceless.
THE END!