Epilogue One
Grim
Thirteen years later:
“Clover! You better be ready! We are leaving in ten minutes!” I yell as I walk through the door.
“Daddy!”
“Daddy!” My boys come running down the hall straight at me. I turn to the side, missing their noggins hitting me right in the nuts by mere seconds. I bend and pick them up, each in one arm. Grant and Grayson, my twin five-year-olds, are hell on wheels, but I wouldn't have it any other way. They look just like their mama, just a tad bit lighter skin. They are the most handsome men on the planet.
“What's up, my little men? You been protecting mama today?” I ask and smile at the firm, their mouths in a serious straight line, nodding.
“Yup, no one got past us, daddy,” Grant says.
“We made sure Zara was protected, too. We so got this!” Grayson tacks on.
“Well, I’m so proud of you both. Now, where is your mama?” I ask, setting them down.
“In the living room. She’s finishing up Zara’s hair.”
“Alright, you two run upstairs and get ready for bed. Mama and I will come say bye before we leave,” I tell them, watching as they run away, wrestling the entire time.
I roll my eyes but laugh as I head toward the living room to retrieve my old lady. It’s our anniversary this weekend, and I’ve planned out a whole trip for us. We are riding the bike a few hours out east to the smoky mountains. I rented a cabin up there for three days, just her and me with nothing but trees surrounding us. Fuck yes. I walk into the living room just as Jade is finishing. Zara pops up, bending down and hugging Jade. I look at my beautiful baby girl and can't believe she is already thirteen years old.
She’s the light of our lives, her and her brothers. They spot me and smile, matching almost as twins. Although my Clover has a body full of curves that I still drool over to this day, Zara has an athletic build from her gymnastics training. She’s a natural. My baby could go into the damn Olympics, and no one on this planet could tell me different. They could try, but I would cut their tongue out.
“Hey, daddy. Hope you and mom have a good trip. Make sure you bring me back a souvenir,” Zara says, bounding up and kissing me on the cheek. Damn, she's got me so wrapped.
“You know it, baby. Now get up there and get ready for bed. Help your brothers if they need it. Paisley will be here any minute to babysit while we're gone. Make sure your brothers don't act up,” I say. When she’s gone, I turn back to my woman.
“You ready to have a whole three-day weekend to ourselves? Alone in the woods, what kind of trouble do you think we could get into?” I ask, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her to me.
“Oh, I’m definitely looking forward to the ride you are taking me on this weekend. The bike ride and… the other ride.” She winks at me, making me growl.
“What did I do to deserve a woman like you?” I ask, kissing her neck.
“Maybe walking under that ladder didn't give you bad luck after all. Or maybe all my good luck got cashed in. Either way, I’ll keep wishing on every candle, crossing every finger, picking up every penny, and keep knocking on wood,” she teases. I just roll my eyes, but behind my back, I secretly cross my fingers. Eh, what the hell? I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her. Even believing in the impossible.