Epilogue
Daisy
One year later…
I put the picnic basket on the blanket and groan as I kneel to sit.
“Let me help you,” Rhett says, grabbing my elbow and helping me down.
“Thank you,” I say, putting my hand on my big, round belly.
A baby had not been in my future, like… at all. But things happen, and I’m not mad about it. In fact, I’m very happy about it.
It was chaos at first, trying to figure everything out, but when the four of us sat down and talked about it, we realized we’d do this together.
School was put on the back burner, which is fine with me. It was my priority, but I think it was for the wrong reasons. I think part of me was trying to run away from here, be independent, and prove that I could get by on my own. I wasn’t doing so great, but I did figure things out for a while.
But why go back to struggling when I don’t have to? I have plenty of time to go to school, so I can go back at any time. Right now, I want to focus on my family. On this baby.
This baby boy that we are eagerly awaiting.
This baby— that could potentially be born a chicken shifter, the same way they were.
They’d said they didn’t change until they were thirteen, so we have some time before we will know if the curse was truly put to an end, or if it’ll continue on forever.
The good thing is, if he does change into a chicken, he has three fathers who will help him figure out the mess.
They won’t be like their fathers and grandfathers.
They’re going to be good and treat their child with respect.
But… hopefully our baby boy won’t have to worry about that at all. Only time will tell.
Rhett sits beside me, pulling the basket closer to him to open and pull things out of. He piles the sandwiches and puts the basket aside. I glance back toward the house.
“What is taking them so long?” I ask.
“Who knows?” Rhett says. “But I’m hungry, so I’m eating. You should too. You hardly ate breakfast.”
I pat my belly. “There isn’t much room left in here for food.”
Rhett chuckles, handing me a sandwich. “Eat.”
I unwrap the sandwich and take a bite.
Gus and Wade arrive a few minutes later. Gus has the lemonade and cups. Wade has the pecan pie.
The pie that tastes exactly like Grannie’s did. Don’t know how I managed it, but ever since I made it the first time, it was just perfect. And now I make it all the time.
“You okay?” Wade asks. “You comfortable?” I can get you some pillows.”
He takes a step back toward the house.
“Wade, I am just fine. Sit down and eat.”
He hesitates before taking his spot on the blanket.
Wade is by far the most protective man I have ever encountered.
He basically babies me, not allowing me to do anything for myself.
I’ve snapped at him more than once about it, especially now that we’re in the dead of summer and I have only a couple more weeks until this little baby makes his way into the world.
“Okay, so… names,” Gus says, pouring lemonade into cups and passing them around.
“I still vote for Jace,” Rhett says.
“And I still like Anthony,” Gus says.
“That’s so plain,” Rhett argues.
I laugh, shaking my head.
“Wade?” Gus says.
“You know what I think about it.”
“Same as me,” I add. “We just want him to be healthy and happy.”
“So, we could name him Nugget, and you’d be okay with that?” Gus says smartly.
I laugh harder, almost falling over. Rhett puts a hand on my back, keeping me upright.
“Oh, I can’t wait for this little boy to show his face,” I say.
We don’t know who is the dad is, and they’ve all agreed that they don’t care. It doesn’t matter. He will be our baby, and that’s that.
“Maybe we should wait until we see him,” I suggest. “See what feels right.”
“And worst case,” Wade adds. “We go with Anthony Jace, so we can call him AJ.”
“But why does Anthony have to be first?” Rhett asks.
“Because what kind of nickname is JA?” Gus says, biting into his sandwich.
“We shouldn’t name the baby based off a nickname,” Rhett argues.
“Shouldn’t we?” Wade adds. “We need to make sure his name won’t be something these little heathen kids can make fun of when he starts school.”
“Wade’s right,” I say, putting down half of my sandwich.
“You’re not eating that?” Gus says.
“I’m full.”
“You hardly ate breakfast,” Wade says.
I roll my eyes.
“That’s what I told her,” Rhett says.
I sigh, rubbing my belly and hoping that once this little baby comes out, he’ll be on my side all the time.
The truck coming around the bend has us all looking that way. Charlie stops on the road, not too far from us.
“You want some food?” Gus calls, holding up a sandwich.
“No thanks. Going out to lunch with Gertie.”
“Oh, Gertie,” Gus says in that cute but annoying way that says we all know they’re dating.
Charlie waves us off. “You all better behave. And Miss Daisy, you best be drinking enough water.”
“As much as’ll fit, Charlie.”
He takes off. We finish eating, and then we lay out for a bit—me on my side because I can’t lie on my back or I can’t breathe. We talk about the baby and the things we need to do to finish his room. There isn’t much, but we need sheets for his crib and some more small things, like clothes and bibs.
“Oh, he’s kicking,” I say. “Here, put your hands here.”
The three of them move forward at once, putting their hands somewhere on my belly.
They share looks of love and wonder as they feel our baby kick. I can’t help but smile either.
Who would have thought I’d fall in love with three men who can turn into chickens?
Surely not me. Yet here I am, living my best life.