Epilogue Baker
Baker
Sloane and I are still sleeping in the bedroom upstairs, but last night, since both of our parents stayed over to watch Camden open presents from Santa, we slept in the primary bedroom on the first floor.
I was able to make love to her for most of the night, and I’m pretty sure our parents didn’t hear us.
Hell, even if they did, I wouldn’t care.
I mean, sure, that would be awkward, but that’s how we all came to walk on this earth, and Sloane, she’s the love of my life.
I have to say the words every day, multiple times a day, now that I’ve set them free, and I have to show her.
We both enjoy that part very much.
“Wow!” Camden says as he opens a massive dinosaur from Sloane’s parents. Wow has been the word of the day. I’m pretty sure in every single video any of us has taken of him opening his presents, wow has come out of his mouth.
“What is it?” Nancy asks.
“Dino,” he says, climbing to his feet, lifting the massive box, and carrying it to Carl to open for him.
“That’s right,” my mom praises. “That’s a big one.”
“Dis big.” He holds his little arms out to show us.
“That’s really big,” my dad says.
“Here you go, champ,” Carl says, handing the dinosaur to Camden. He immediately drops to the floor and starts playing with it.
“We might need a bigger house,” Sloane jokes.
“When Baker was little, I always did a clean out of toys before his birthday and Christmas.”
“Why didn’t I think of that?” Sloane’s eyes find mine. “Remind me next year.”
I nod and smile because I love it when my girl plans for our future. I didn’t know life could be like this. I used to think football was all I needed, and an occasional night to hang with the guys, but this—being a dad, being hers—it’s everything I never knew I needed.
“That’s the last of them, little man,” Mom tells Camden.
“All gone,” he says.
“Yep, you opened them all.” Nancy grins at him.
My dad catches my eye, and I nod before looking at Carl and doing the same thing.
“Did we get pictures?” Carl asks.
“Oh! Pictures. I got a ton of him opening presents, but none of all of us.” Sloane climbs to her feet and hands her dad her phone. “Do you mind taking a few? We can all take turns, and then I’ll set the timer on my phone so we can all get a few shots together.”
“Sure, sweetheart.”
“Cam,” I call quietly to my son. He comes rushing over.
“It’s time to change your shirt,” I tell him.
He nods and lifts his arms; we pull off his Christmas sweater, leave on his undershirt, and pick him up.
“Us first,” I tell Sloane, and she comes to stand next to me.
I wrap my arm around her and move Camden to my hip as we smile for the camera.
“How about one of Cam standing in front of the two of you?” Nancy suggests.
“Sure.” I shrug, like this hasn’t been planned for weeks. I place Camden on his feet, and he faces the camera.
“Say cheese,” Carl calls out.
“Cheese!” We all smile.
“Perfect,” he says. “One more.”
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the ring that I’ve been holding on to for weeks and drop to one knee. Camden turns to me and wraps his arm around my neck. I don’t take my eyes off Sloane as she turns to look down at us.
“What?” she breathes, as her hand covers her mouth.
“I gots a shirt,” Camden says, pointing at his chest.
It’s a miracle he didn’t spill the beans sooner. “I see that,” Sloane says, her eyes misting with tears.
“Read it for us, baby.”
“Mommy, will you marry my daddy?” she reads, her voice cracking.
“Sloane Peterson, you are our entire world. We love you more than words can say. Will you do us the incredible honor of being ours? Baby, will you marry me?”
She nods, tears racing down her cheeks.
“Mommy, no cwy,” Camden says, moving to her.
Sloane falls to her knees and wraps him in a hug. Her eyes find mine. “Yes,” she whispers. “A thousand times, yes,” she says, pulling out of the hug and smacking a loud kiss on Camden’s cheek. He giggles and takes off, racing away from us.
Standing, I offer her my hand, helping her do the same.
Keeping her hand in mine, I slide the ring onto her finger.
She gasps, and I don’t give her time to tell me if she loves it.
I know my girl. I know she will. Right now, I need to kiss her more than I need her to tell me how much she loves the ring.
Slipping one arm around her waist, and the other behind her neck, I turn us so that my back is to our family and kiss her like it’s the last time I’ll ever be able to.
I take my time, tasting her, hoping she can feel my love for her.
A love so big, it will be wrapped around her, around us, for an eternity.
When we finally break the kiss, I press my forehead to hers and hear laughing and clapping. Our family is cheering us on.
“This moment. This day. This life we’re building, it doesn’t get better than this.”
I lean in for another kiss, but strong arms wrap around me. It’s my mom and Sloane’s, as our dads get to her first, and all the while, Camden is running around us in a circle saying, “Mommy, kiss Daddy.”
Best. Fucking. Day. Ever.