Epilogue
Seven Years Later
“Daddy, read me story,” three-year-old Michael pleaded.
Chase’s son would use any excuse to delay naptime.
Indulging him was easy, as little Michael needed lots of attention these days.
Maisy had given birth to twin daughters a month earlier.
Juniper Sophie and Rose Michelle were sound asleep, and Maisy was resting herself after nursing them.
It came as no surprise to discover Maisy was an incredible mother.
“Daddy, this book.” Michael handed him one of his favorites from Dr. Seuss: Green Eggs and Ham. Chase had read it countless times, to the point he could nearly recite it from memory.
Not waiting for a response, Michael climbed onto Chase’s lap and squirmed around until he was comfortable, leaning his head against Chase’s arm.
Love for his son tightened Chase’s chest. Maisy wasn’t only a wonderful mother; she was an amazing wife.
He thanked God for her every single day.
She could be stubborn, as Patrick had claimed all those years ago, but not to the point where she was unable to listen to reason. Their disagreements never lasted long.
Chase opened the picture book.
Chase doubted he’d get past the third page before his son fell asleep.
“Mommy made me green eggs and ham for breakfast, remember?”
“I do.” Knowing how fond of the story Michael was, Maisy had added green food coloring to the toddler’s scrambled eggs and added diced ham.
“It was really good.”
“It was.”
“Close your eyes,” Chase told his son.
“Do I have to?”
“It will help you fall asleep.”
“I don’t want to sleep.”
“But you need to sleep.”
Like his mother, Michael could be stubborn. Chase closed the book.
“My eyes are closed,” Michael cried.
Chase grinned, and his son rested his head against Chase’s chest.
Chase started reading, and sure enough, Michael was snoring softly before he reached the fourth page. Setting aside the book, Chase carefully carried him into his bedroom and gently laid him on the bed. Leaving the room, he left the door slightly ajar.
When he returned, he was surprised to find Maisy up.
“Did you sleep?” he asked. She’d been up half the night nursing the twins.
Her mother had spent two weeks with them after the twins arrived, helping Maisy set a feeding schedule, which, thank heaven, seemed to be working.
Chase had gotten up with her, but she’d sent him back to bed.
At least one of them needed to rest, and Maisy insisted it should be Chase, since she was nursing.
He didn’t know that he’d ever seen anything more beautiful than watching his wife nurse their babies.
“You are going to need to return to the office at some point, Chase.”
“I will. All in good time.” Not that he was in any rush.
The one detriment when Maisy discovered she was pregnant with twins was that she’d decided to take a leave of absence as a nurse.
With three children three and under, she felt it was more important to stay at home with the babies until they reached school age.
It had been a hard decision, and one Chase had left to his wife.
She was a wonderful healthcare professional and was deeply loved by the hospital staff and her patients.
The doorbell rang, and Maisy looked at Chase. “Are you expecting anyone?”
“I am,” he said, as he answered the door.
Guy stood on the other side with two pink packages in his arms. Chase had learned Guy’s given name was John.
It had taken nearly two full years for Chase to convince John to agree to counseling.
He’d resisted, and had accepted only so Chase would stop pestering him, he claimed.
To his surprise, he met other veterans who shared his own struggles.
It wasn’t long after that John moved into an apartment.
Chase had been able to aid the transition by employing him at the bank as a janitor.
John seemed determined to prove himself worthy of Chase’s faith.
He stayed with the job for a year, took several tech classes, and was hired in IT support.
He excelled in that position and was currently looking into what he would need to become a data scientist, which was no small goal.
In the last seven years, John had come a long way from his life on the street.
Chase couldn’t be prouder of the transformation in his friend.
“More gifts?” Maisy said, taking the two parcels in John’s hands. “You’re going to spoil the twins.”
“Isn’t that the godfather’s prerogative?”
“It is.” Chase led his friend into the house. The condo was long gone. Chase and Maisy had gone house hunting when Maisy discovered she was pregnant with Michael. They found one in a good neighborhood that was an easy commute for Chase and an even easier one for Maisy.
“I can’t stay,” John said, with some regret. “I wouldn’t mind checking in on the girls, though. Just a peek. I don’t want to wake them.”
“This way,” Chase said, leading him into the twins’ bedroom.
John stood at the crib, where the two slept side by side. They seemed most comfortable when they were close to each other. No surprise, since they had been tucked so tightly inside Maisy’s womb.
Chase placed his hand on John’s shoulder.
Over time he’d learned that John had been married and had a daughter.
After he came back from the first Gulf War, he’d spiraled downward.
His wife had divorced him and quickly remarried.
He’d been drunk when he signed over parental rights so his daughter could be adopted by his wife’s new husband.
Chase had encouraged him to connect with his daughter, but John had refused.
He hoped that in time John would change his mind.
For now, he was happy to include John in the family he and Maisy had created.
“Never seen more beautiful babies,” he whispered. “Clearly they take after their mother.”
Chase chuckled.
After a couple more minutes, John was ready to leave.
Maisy and Chase saw him out the door. They stood together at the front door as John drove away. Chase had his arm around Maisy’s waist. He pressed his chin on top of her head.
“I love you, Maisy.”
“I know. You prove it every single day.”
And Chase had no intention of ever stopping.