Epilogue
Isla
Well, I know why I was dizzy when Walker proposed.
With every sweep of my palm over the curve of my belly, I feel the fluttering kicks, each one a tiny assurance of life thriving within me. Walker's gaze is heavy and constant, as he watches from where he and Vice are talking, his expression taut with a silent warning for me to step away from the suds and the sink.
“Easy there,” Liam's voice meets my ears, his laughter mingling with the clatter of dishes. “Walker's gonna have my head if he sees you working.”
I glance up just in time to catch the edges of Walker's dark stare before it softens, betraying his concern. “I think he’s forgotten I work here,” I say, setting a cup on the drying rack.
“Or he's worried about you,” Liam says, his eyes moving down to where my belly cradles our future—a clear sign that even he thinks I should be somewhere other than the bar.
I sink into the leather seat of the car as we drive into the night, the city lights blurring beyond the windows. Walker's profile is set in stone, all hard angles and moonlit shadows, but when he speaks, his voice is smooth, a sound that always seems to find its way under my skin.
“You don't have to work, you know.” His words are not a command or demand. I know he carries the weight of his empire—one hard-won and fiercely protected—and respects my need to keep going even when I should probably stop. “You’re ready to pop, love.”
My teeth tear at my lower lip, because I feel like he’s missing the point. “I want to work,” I say.
Memories of textbooks and late-night study sessions and worries about passing grades flood my mind; so much hard work that led me here—to a degree that no longer feels like my calling.
Running the bar is an unexpected detour, one that I love. It keeps me busy, it feels like home, it makes me happy. But Walker, ever the protective man, fears all the bad that might happen while I enjoy the good that does happen.
“I get it,” I say, leaning into the warmth that radiates from his side. “You're worried, and you love me.”
“You’re right,” he says, his hand finding my thigh as he drives.
“Charles, I've got this,” Walker says, waving away the hovering cook while prepping my favorite snack – chicken and avocado with seasonings, onions, and garbanzo beans with some chopped tomato. Charles nods, retreating into the shadows.
Walker’s shoulders flex beneath the soft fabric of his shirt, making my mouth water for a different kind of meal.
“Thank you for taking care of me,” I whisper, watching the muscles of his forearms tense with each precise movement. He glances up, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that sends a warm shiver down my spine.
“There's nothing I'd rather do,” he says as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
Later, I step into the warm, steamy bathroom. He guides me into the bath he's drawn, the water warm, but not too warm. I let out a contented sigh as I sink deeper, the tension of the day melting away.
“I should have done this earlier,” I say, tilting my head back to rest against the cool rim of the tub.
“Your feet must be killing you,” Walker says, concern lacing his words as he kneels beside the tub. My response is cut off by a moan of relief as he lifts one of my swollen feet from the water, his thumbs working magic into the sore flesh.
“The bar is no place for a pregnant woman,” he says, his tone playful, but not hiding his worry.
“Besides, what will people think?” he asks, raising an eyebrow in mock seriousness.
I shrug. “I don't care what people think.” My hand drifts to my belly, feeling the flutter of life within. This little miracle we created together is all that matters. “Right now, I'm focused on the way the baby moves.” Each kick is a tiny confirmation of the future we're about to step into—a future where our love is extended to the life we’ve created together.
And I sit, thinking about how much our lives are about to change, and enjoying every moment we have before this baby comes. And when the baby gets here, we'll enjoy every moment then, too. The baby dances and Walker's expression softens.
This man captured my heart and now he’s the tender-hearted man ready to become a father. Of course, he’s still formidable outside our home. But within these walls… he’s softer. His hand joins mine on my belly.
Toweling off the lingering wet from my skin, I slip into a cozy nightgown that stretches softly over my rounded belly. My reflection in the mirror is rounder than I remember, thanks to this baby weight. But it’s worth it. As I brush my teeth, humming a tune that's been stuck in my head all day, I pause, the bristles frozen against my teeth.
A strange sensation, like a rush of warmth down my legs makes my heart hammer.
“Walker!” The urgency in my voice bounces off the tiled walls, echoing through the peaceful silence of our home.
Seconds later, he's there, his eyes calm as he takes in the scene.
“It's time,” I say, my breath catching with the realization that our lives are about to change forever.
He scoops me up effortlessly, carrying me to the car like I weigh nothing at all.
The drive is a blur. Walker's hand finds mine, gripping it with a strength that promises everything will be alright.
By two thirty in the morning, after what feels both like an eternity and a fleeting moment, Walker Jr. makes his grand entrance.
He's perfect – a round-faced bundle with his father's striking blue eyes glaring up at me from a perpetually grumpy face. Love overwhelms me, fierce and protective, as I cradle him close. “I love you,” I whisper, drinking in every detail of his tiny face.
“Hey, let me hold my son, too,” Walker teases.
“You already did,” I say, feeling playfully territorial even though the memory of his large hands cradling our son with a gentleness I've seen him reserve only for the most precious things in his life tells me a secret—we are those precious things.
I trace the soft curve of Walker Jr.'s lips, memorizing this moment. “Welcome to the world, little one,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “I'll never let anything bad happen to you, and you can always count on your father and me, forever.”
Walker looks up, his eyes meeting mine, and in that silent exchange, we know that this is just the beginning. Together, we have created something beautiful—a family. And no matter what comes our way, we will face it as one.
THE END