Epilogue
Aiden
G illi’s thirtieth birthday.
Hard to fathom how the years have flown by, but what a ride.
I want things to be perfect on this special occasion. She deserves it.
My girl deserves the world. Our girl deserves the world.
Tase is on the way with the birthday cake, and I’ve got the food catered by Giovanni’s in town, Gilli’s favorite.
Soren left all the preparations to me, but I don’t think he expected much more than an understated party with just the three of us and the birthday girl. To be fair, he probably would have been happy with a weekend getaway to a resort where we could swim and tan and fuck all day long.
As intriguing and sexy as that sounds, our Gilli only turns thirty once. We can do the resort next year. Every year.
“I figure we’ll set up the open bar here on the deck.” I lean against the railing. “Centrally located and a fabulous view.”
The property is an absolute gem, a great find. Then again, Soren doesn’t do anything half-assed, and real estate is his life. If he’d found something that didn’t tick all the boxes, he’d have kept looking until he did. End of story.
Gilli shifts to my side and casually wraps an arm around my waist. She fits so perfectly into the crook beneath my arm, her scent twining invisible fingers through my nostrils.
She’s wearing a beautiful floral print dress that leaves her arms and shoulders bare and flows over her curves to her bare feet. The tension leaves me the longer we touch, my blood heating and warmth spreading from the way her body presses to mine.
“Thank you,” she says. “This is the kind of thing I was hoping for.”
I lean down and breathe in her hair and the familiar scents of strawberry and vanilla. “Oh yeah? You were hoping for a seven-layer cake and a mountain of presents? Because that’s what you got.”
Gilli giggles. “Okay, maybe not the mountain of presents, but the cake? Absolutely. You know me too well.”
“Tase arranged for the cake,” I say.
“And I deserve a thank you for getting it here in one piece,” Tase adds as he steps over to join us. “I have to give you credit, Aiden. You’ve done an amazing job with this party.”
A DJ drives the music selections, set up near the house and protected from the elements by a massive canvas tent. Friends and colleagues mingle on the deck and down the set of steps toward the stone patio below.
Our new house by the lake has come along well over the last couple of years. It’s still in the late stages of construction, but most of it is complete, with only finishing touches remaining. We are official Holly Brookers now.
This life isn’t for everyone but it works for us. Gilli is the only one we need. There’s no going back now, and ten years later…I’ve never once looked in the rearview mirror and wanted to change a thing.
The three of us know we’d do anything and everything to protect her and make her happy. No threat of harm will ever worry her again, because we will keep her safe.
This birthday party is a reminder to all of us to celebrate life to the fullest. The glowing smile of happiness on Gilli’s face makes it all worthwhile.
Soren joins us, offering Gilli heartfelt birthday wishes.
“Dude, you went a little overboard with this party,” Soren mutters to me.
“Yep,” I acknowledge.
“Isn’t it all a bit…much?”
“Absolutely. But wait, there’s more.”
Soren and Tase groan in unison.
“Guess who!”
The call comes from the driveway and we all look over in time to watch her sisters arrive. Suzanne waves her arms in the air and gives a shout of greeting.
With a loud gasp of surprise, Gilli pulls from my arms to race to her sisters, swooping in for a hug. Lorie, the youngest of the Kerrigan daughters, gives a whoop of excitement. “Now the party can start!”
“They remembered to bring the gift with them, right?” Tase whispers to me. “And Gilli has no idea, does she?”
My smile grows. “Nope. And you did a great job picking that out, too.”
Tase huffs. “It’s literally my job.”
The three of us watch Gilli and her two sisters as they catch up. “It was a nice touch, bringing in the family,” Soren mutters.
“Everything I do is a nice touch, man. You’re going to have to go over there and say hi to them too. They’re technically your sisters as well.”
“Dude, don’t even go there.” His beard hides the corners of his mouth and the smile I know he wants to bury, but I catch sight of it anyway.
“What?” I blink innocently. “Legally, I mean. You’re legally related. ”
He hates being reminded of the fact.
Not much has changed in the way of how they relate to Alistair and Honey, but at the end of the day, as long as we get along, it doesn’t matter what those two are doing. They can fuck off and rot for all I care.
I certainly didn’t extend the invitation their way. Sorry, not sorry .
“When you say it that way, it sounds fucking bad, Aiden.” Soren shoots me a serious look before he stalks forward.
Not willing to let him outdo me, I follow and grab up Lorie in a hug. “Look at the two of you! Have you grown a foot since the last time I saw you?”
“The only way I’m growing is outwardly.” She steps back and rests her hands on the swell of her stomach, her second kid well on the way toward being fully baked.
After a round of catching up, we launch into the dreaded “Happy Birthday” chorus and Soren sings off key louder than any of us. Gilli laughs and slides the knife home to cut the cake. I can’t resist swiping some icing and dabbing it on the tip of her nose.
She gives me the biggest piece. I like to think it’s because she loves me the best, but I know her. She loves us all. We each occupy a place in her heart, and sure, there are some days where it feels like we’re competing.
But at the end of the day, only happiness matters. Love matters. We’ve carved out a future that works for us.
People are going to gossip no matter what. They’re going to judge your lifestyle choices whether you choose the route we have chosen or the traditional one.
Fuck ’em. Fuck ’em all. I’ve got my woman and my brothers. That’s enough for me.
Gilli attacks her pile of presents with gusto.
Suzanne brought her a gift card for the local theater, to help get her out of the house.
Maybe Gilli will make some friends besides Kayla and Belle from the clinic, Suz tells her.
But it’s said with a laugh. Lorie brought a painting she painted herself, and I know exactly where we’re going to hang the sucker.
The scene is a woodland view done in autumn colors.
The golds and robin’s-egg blue of the sky, the watery reflections in the lake, it’s incredibly well done and will be perfect above our stone fireplace in the great room.
We’ve got a couple more finishes to go in that room and then it will be ready for more parties like this one.
Because why shouldn’t we celebrate?
After Gilli’s pile of birthday gifts has been thoroughly admired, it’s time to bring out the main surprise. I cup my hands around my mouth and call for attention until the conversation dies down.
“We’ve got one more gift for the birthday girl.”
Gilli groans. “Come on, Aiden, no more. It’s too much!”
I wink at her. “This is one you’re going to love.” I gesture to Suzanne, and the oldest Kerrigan girl moves out of the room. “It’s something you’ve been wanting for a long time and now the timing is right. Here’s to you, Gillian. Happy birthday, baby.”
Suz comes back around the corner with a wriggling ball of fur in her arms. The puppy gives a yip at the sight of so many people, its tail wagging excitedly.
“Oh my god!” Gillian can hardly contain her surprise and delight.
“Tase picked him out,” I explain. “Made sure it was a breed that would fit in with us, or something like that.”
“He’s just a little mixed mutt,” Tase adds. “He needs a good home. I think we can provide one for him, if you want.”
Gilli’s mouth is still open in surprise. “You got me a dog!”
Actually, I got us a dog, but yes, mostly for her.
Suz hands the pup off to Gilli, and his tail starts to beat out a crazy tempo. His tongue is exploring his new territory, licking all over her face and knocking her glasses off. She’s giggling and trying to hold the squirming little ball of happiness.
“Happy birthday to Gilli!” Soren makes the final toast and a cheer erupts. He kisses her temple and gets himself a doggy kiss right on the nose.
If I’ve timed it right?—
The fireworks begin over the lake, exploding in rich blues and purples, glowing golds and reds and greens. Fuck. Yes.
Later when we’re alone, just the two of us, the puppy snoozes on Gilli’s lap and her head rests against my shoulder.
We’re in for some sleepless nights with the puppy. He’ll have us up every few hours needing to potty, and we’ll have to let him out, otherwise he’ll learn to do his business in the house.
But I’m too content right now to even worry about it.
Our girl wanted a companion, and with all the walks she takes around the property, she’s needed one. A good guard dog, Tase assured us when we were looking at potential breeds.
And they’ve already bonded.
Her sisters are both asleep on the floor below, which we’ve set up as a sort of guest quarters. They’ve got their own personal fireplace, two bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchenette.
For some reason, Gilli had insisted on that part of the house being finished before any of the rest. It took me way too long to understand why.
Family.
The one we’ve brought, the one we’ve found, the one we’ve made .
“You really went above and beyond today, honey,” she murmurs. “Thank you.”
Sleep colors her voice and it’s only going to be a few more minutes before she’ll be ready for bed.
“Thank you. I take all the credit,” I joke. “Did you like your party?”
“Like it? I loved it. You made me feel special. All of you.”
I place a gentle kiss on her forehead. “You are special.”
It’s only the two of us here in our own little world, with our legs entwined and the fire crackling cheerfully in the grate. The puppy snuffles and stretches out, perfectly content.
I hesitate for a second before asking, “Are you mad I didn’t invite your parents?”
The guys and I made the executive decision to leave them off the guest list. For our sanity and for Gilli, although we’ve been too chicken-shit to ask her what she thought about it until now.
“Why would I be mad?” she asks. “They have no part in our lives.”
“I wasn't sure if you were ready to extend an olive branch or not and I didn’t want to make any assumptions. We’ve been carrying a grudge for a long time.”
Gilli snuggles closer. “You did the right thing, Aiden. They might be our blood, but family is what you make of it. The people who stick by us no matter what, the people who have our backs when the chips are down, they are family. It doesn’t matter who gave birth to us or who married who.
Although you could have invited your parents. I like them.”
“And they love you.” I press another kiss to her forehead.
Surprisingly, my parents have no problem with our lifestyle. I’d told them the deal from the start and they amazed me with their open-mindedness.
There were a few questions of how is one woman going to be everything three men need ?
Those quickly faded once Mom and Dad saw the four of us together, as a unit. It’s the only thing that matters.
“Maybe we’ll have them over for dinner one of these nights. We can extend your birthday celebrations for the entire week rather than just one day,” I tell Gilli. “Or we can go out to eat at Ruth’s. Or that place you like with the sushi.”
“You’re too much.”
I glance over at her to see her eyes flutter shut. She and the pup are both about to be deep in sleep.
Soren and Tase have been upstairs in the half-finished office, going over some plans for expanding the veterinary practice. Soren had scoped out a building for sale on the main road, and with a few renovations, the two of them are going to make it work.
Things are coming along.
Things are better than they’ve ever been.
A small creak sounds and Soren is standing in the doorway, staring at us. I put my finger to my lips and glance at Gilli, a clear signal not to disturb her.
“You want to help me bring her up to bed?” I whisper. “I’ll walk the puppy.”
Soren shakes his head. “Have Tase walk the puppy. You’ve done enough today.”
“My knee thanks you, good sir.”
Just like that, another day is in the books. And I can’t wait to see where the rest of life is going to take us.