Epilogue
Caleb
It’s been a year since Emma’s father tried to take everything from her.
One whole year of Emma accepting that she’s loved and wanted. One year of us being a family without the threat of anyone taking anything away from her.
There are times when she withdraws, but they’re fewer and far between now.
She’s much more confident, and I find myself stepping back to let her take charge more often.
It’s taken time, but she’s coming into her own.
It’s been a big adjustment for her to get used to being an equal partner in our relationship.
We have the rest of our lives to get it right.
Though, I might be in the doghouse after bringing home Jason a puppy.
He’s been wanting one for a long time, and we agreed that we’d think about it. But I went to a job this morning and the customer had puppies to give away.
I couldn’t say no. There was one—smaller and shyer than the rest of them. That’s Jason to a tee. I couldn’t help but think about how perfect they might be for each other.
Emma hasn’t said anything, but she raised an eyebrow at me when I walked into the house carrying the wriggly, caramel bundle.
It was worth it to see the look on Jason’s face.
I study him from the kitchen window.
Jason’s on his back with the puppy running all round him. His face is lit up in a way I’ve never seen before, his smile a mile wide.
He sits up, our gazes meeting, and he beams that bright grin at me and waves before pushing himself to his feet.
The back door flies open, and Jason comes running at me. I freeze as his small body slams into me, his arms wrapping around my waist. “Thanks, Dad. He’s awesome.”
I can’t breathe.
Dad.
This little boy, so withdrawn and broken just said it like it was nothing.
My head swims.
He takes a step back. “Did I do something wrong?”
His eyes are so big, and his arms go slack.
My brain is about five steps behind, and I grasp his arms. It takes a moment to form the words I need so badly.
“No. No, you did nothing wrong.”
“I thought …” he mumbles.
I slip one hand over his head and pull him close.
He laughs against my shirt. “Caleb, I can’t breathe.”
“You called me Dad.”
I let him go and he looks up at me. “I’m sorry.”
Shaking my head, I close my eyes. “Don’t be sorry. It just took me by surprise.”
He’s still staring at me when I drop my gaze to him. “It did?”
“I love you, kiddo. If you want to call me Dad, then we’ll talk to your mother.”
His whole face lights up and my heart swells.
“Mum’s okay with it if Dad is.”
Emma’s croaky voice comes from the doorway, and we both turn to look at her. Her eyes search mine as if looking to me for final confirmation.
“Dad is very happy about it.”
“That’s settled, then.” She smiles and makes her way toward us. “How about you head back outside, Jason? I want to talk to Caleb for a second.”
He gives me a quick hug and runs for the door.
She bites her bottom lip, and tears well in her eyes. “I was going to tell you off for bringing that puppy without talking to me first, but then I saw him with it. Then I thought, maybe it’s just what he needs.”
I reach for her, cupping her cheek and slotting my fingers into her hair. “I think he does.”
“It’s you he needs, Caleb.”
I’m lost for words again. I went into this knowing Emma and her children were a package deal, and I wanted to be there for them just as I am for her. But this goes way beyond that.
“That little boy was so lost,” she whispers. “And now he has you.”
“I love him,” I croak. “I love all of you.”
She nods. “I know you do. And we all love you. That’s his way of telling you.”
“All these years, I never thought I’d be Dad to anyone.”
Emma shrugs. “Life has a way of surprising you.”
I pull her into my arms and kiss away her tears. “You are the greatest gift I could have ever received. My life was so empty, and I had no idea.”
“I feel the same way about you.” She smiles. “All I was hoping for was to unite you and Noah. But you brought me back to life.”
“I love you, Mrs Baxter.”
She chews her lower lip. “About that …”
“What?”
“I just got an email to confirm that the adoption is final. You’re the proud dad of four children. Now all with the surname Baxter.”
My heart.
“Really?” I choke out the words.
“You healed more than just me and Jason. You’re the father they all needed.”
This is perfect. It took six months to get Noah’s birth certificate changed through the courts. Once paternity was established, the process took a while, but we got there.
Now all the paperwork is done, and our little family is complete.
“Have you told them yet?”
Emma shakes her head. “No, I thought we could tell them together.”
She rounds up the troops and sends them to the living room where they sprawl in chairs, waiting for us.
“We need to talk to you. All of you,” Emma says.
Kiera rolls her eyes. “Are we in trouble?”
“Why? What have you done?” I narrow my eyes at her, and she smirks.
“Nothing.”
“It’s good news. I promise.” Emma grips my shoulder and smiles at me.
“Noah’s not here. Shouldn’t we wait for him?” Bailey asks.
Emma takes my hand and together we sit on the couch.
“This is about you three, not Noah.” Emma meets my gaze. “Do you want to tell them?”
My throat tightens. “Yes.”
She gives me another soft smile and squeezes my hand. “Go on.”
“Well …” I cast my gaze over my family. My children. “Your mother was notified today that the adoption is final. All three of you are mine now.”
The screech from Bailey is deafening. Jason punches the air and then throws himself into my lap.
I laugh, wrapping my arms around him and hugging him tight.
“You’re our dad now?” Kiera asks.
Tears well in her eyes, and I nod. “I’m officially your dad.”
“That’s the best news ever.”
Then somehow, and I’m not sure how it happens, all five of us end up on the couch, arms around each other.
“You’re the best dad ever,” Jason says.
“I promise you that I will do my very best to live up to that.”
“That’s not difficult.” I don’t think Bailey’s words are meant to cut me, but they do. The thought of them all growing up in that house with that man are still like a punch to the gut.
Over the past year, we’ve grown closer. All four of them have treated me like their father, but now it’s official.
I wish I’d been the one to wipe their tears and help them with scraped knees when they were younger—the only one I’ve had that with is Jason, but the girls lean on me in other ways. Bailey has her first boyfriend who, to her embarrassment, was thoroughly vetted by me.
But when I agreed he was okay, she’d hugged me like there was no tomorrow.
My approval was important to her.
“I love all of you. Don’t you ever doubt it.”
“We don’t.” Kiera gives Jason a gentle push out of the way and sits beside me while he clambers up onto my lap. I slip an arm around her shoulders as she snuggles into me. “We know you love us. We love you too.”
My heart swells, and Emma grasps my bicep. I turn my head toward her to see that beautiful smile.
A year and a half ago, I’d never have pictured this. Me with my family.
But I’m right here with them, and everything in my world is perfect.
A man couldn’t ask for more.
After dinner, I head out to the back yard with a beer.
I love the evenings out there—Emma chose this house well.
There are times when I wish we’d been reunited sooner so we could have more time together, but I’m content in my life and I love my family.
I take a seat at our picnic table and cast my gaze across the garden. We’ve all worked to make it our little piece of paradise. Emma has her vegetable garden, and the girls planted their favourite flowers.
There aren’t any trees big enough to support a tree house, but I built Jason his own small cabin so he has his own space when things get overwhelming. That happens less and less now, but I’m proud of what I’ve done for him.
My son.
“Dad?” Noah’s voice comes from behind me and I smile at my eldest son making his way toward me—his own beer in his hand.
“Hey.”
He takes a seat beside me. Noah’s living in his own place now—once Emma and I were settled, he found a house to rent. I’ve offered to help him out with a deposit once he finds something he wants to buy, but for now he’s enjoying his freedom.
But he still checks in frequently.
“I met someone today.”
My eyebrows rise.
“She’s …” I’m not even sure he realises that he’s trailed off until I tilt my head and study him closely.
“Oh, it’s like that, is it?” I tease.
“She’s amazing. I went out to lunch at that place you told me about—Malone’s?”
I nod.
“Our orders got mixed up, and next thing we’re sitting at the same table having swapped, and …” He beams. “We’re going out next weekend.”
Reaching out, I give his shoulder a squeeze. My boy took on so much more responsibility than he should ever have needed to over the years. It’s good to see him cut loose and find his feet.
“I’m happy for you. It’s time you found someone who makes your heart sing.”
“Like Mum does for you?”
I crack a smile. “She’s the only one who ever did.”
“I’m so glad I came here with her—found you. I wish we’d had all those years, but better late than never, right?”
“Agreed. I’m so proud of the man you’ve become. I couldn’t ask for a better son.”
His eyes—so much like mine are full of emotion. “Thanks, Dad. I’d like to think I take after you.”
“Only the good bits. The rest of you is your mother.” I smile. “No, most of you is your mother. Apart from being as handsome as I am.”
He laughs. “You’re so modest.”
“As long as your mum loves me, that’s all that really matters.”
We sit in silence for a moment. The sun sinks lower in the sky, and I take another sip of beer.
“Is … Is that offer of a job still open?”
I study him closely. While we’re close now, he’s resisted my attempts at getting him to work for me. I still use an external accountant, but if Noah wants it, I’ve offered him the job of CFO of my company.
I love him and I trust him.
“Always.” I clink my bottle with his. “You ready to work for me?”
He nods. “I think I am.”
“Just let me know when and I’ll be ready.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“I’d do anything for you, Noah. I hope you know that.”
He smiles. “I know. I’m so glad we came here and met you.”
“Me too.”
Sitting in the silence, looking at the night sky, I’m content—more settled than I have been in years.
This is the life.
Making love to my wife is a regular occurrence now.
She’s completely comfortable with my touch, and no longer flinches if I make the wrong move by accident.
It’s not difficult to respect her boundaries, and I could dig that man up and kill him all over again for the way he treated her.
But now she’s mine in a way she could never be his.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
Emma runs a finger down my chest.
“What are you thinking about?” I ask.
“This. Us. How happy I am.” She fixes her gaze on my face. “When I think back to what I was like when I first moved here—how scared and unsure of myself … I’m feeling more like myself now than I have in years.”
“That’s all I ever wanted for you.” I kiss her temple.
She sighs. “I’m sorry I ever doubted you. You’ve been living your life in your way for so long, I wasn’t sure you’d suddenly want to take us all on.”
“I couldn’t be anywhere else. You and our family are the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.”
She places a kiss on my chest. “Even if we ended up doing things back to front?”
“If I had to do it all over again, I’d make the same choice every time.”
Emma gazes at me. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
And as I settle into sleep, my girl in my arms, I know I’ll never want to be anywhere else.
This is home.
Thank you for reading Caleb’s Choice.