Epilogue
Malcolm
“I said don’t put your hand in the honey jar,” I tell Wren, Makenna’s and my now one-year-old. We’re hosting her first birthday party at The Hive. Makenna jokingly calls it Inverness’s hottest new event venue.
Two years ago, when Mam and Da moved, instead of moving into their house, we cleaned and revitalized the barn, made a few small upgrades to the house, and turned the place into The Hive.
We’ll move here one day, but for now Makenna has her dream job, planning and running events.
Often weddings with very fancy invitations.
She’s also under contract with the hospital to help plan their larger events. She’s been working on their next gala, and I can’t wait to see what she’s done next month. I already know it will be better than the last one.
I love watching her thrive.
“Come to Grammy Pammy.” Makenna’s Mam approaches, then notices her honey-covered hand. “Let’s get you cleaned up. Finlay, could you grab one of those wet wipes?” She points to the diaper bag next to her husband.
Pam moved to town six months after Makenna, met Finlay a month later, and they were married before she’d been here a year. They are perfect together.
Makenna and I were married two months after we met. We held the small event at my parents', which is what led to the idea of The Hive.
Pam cleans Wren’s hand and picks her up.
“Gammy Pammy!” Wren kisses her cheek, which is more like she’s blowing a raspberry, but she tries.
I pat Wren’s dark curls and place a kiss on top of her head, then go in search of my wife.
I pass Rory and Isla, who were sitting in the corner of the barn, walking the line of what’s appropriate at a child’s birthday party. Newlyweds.
But I’m not sure Makenna and I are much better.
I find her behind the gift table staring at a gift bag, deep in thought.
“Your parents got her one of those dogs that never stops talking. I saw a video of a woman saying the one their kid has randomly talks and scares them to death.”
“We could suggest they keep that at their house for when Wren’s there?”
Makenna meets my mischievous smile with one of her own. “I love it. And since she’s at their house two mornings a week, she needs to keep a few things there so we aren’t bringing stuff every time.”
“Yep,” I say and slide my arms around the stunning mother of my bonnie daughter.
“When did you get so smart?”
I nuzzle into her neck, wishing for this party to end. “I’ve been taking my vitamins, and doing those Sudoku puzzles you love to leave lying around the house.”
Makenna had picked up a book to entertain herself on the plane when she came back to me, and she’s been doing the puzzles since. I tried to convince her to do them on her phone, but she won’t hear of it. She likes the feel of pen and paper. I should have known better.
“So … do you think anyone would miss us if we slipped off?”
“Malcolm. Wren hasn’t even had any cake yet.”
“She got into the honey you had sitting on the food table,” I argue. “She’s all set for sweets. What she really wants is a sibling.”
She slides her hands along my jaw, pulling my lips to hers. I pull her closer, and oh if the feeling of her isna heaven on earth.
Makenna pulls back so her lips are a breath away from mine. “I want to see Wren eat her first cake.” She pops a quick kiss to my lips and grins.
We head back toward everyone, and I extend my arms to Wren. “Come on, wee lamb, let’s get you some cake.”
“Da. Da. Da. Da.” Wren excitedly babbles my name as she pats my cheek. Then she rubs her face in my beard, drawing quite a few awws from her adoring fans.
Mam walks over carrying the cake to where I’m putting Wren in her highchair. “Nanny made chocolate cake because I know how much you love chocolate.” She hands it to Makenna and tickles Wren’s bare feet.
“Mam … when did she have chocolate?”
“Just a wee nibble recently. Don’t get your knickers in a bunch.”
Wren has some of the most indulgent grandparents on Earth. Even Da who, while he always loved us well, never came even close to spoiling us. He built her a playset in their back garden, and has promised her a dog at their house simply because it’s one of the words she can say.
The ole softie.
We sing Happy Birthday. Makenna blows out Wren’s candle for her, then Wren stares at the cake.
She considers it for several moments before looking at us for guidance.
I take her hand and drag her finger through the icing, only to have her look at her finger like it’s dirty.
So I guide her finger to her mouth and her eyes go wide.
Five minutes later, she’s decimated the small cake, and her wee outfit.
Looks like it’s time to wrap up this party.
An hour later, everyone's gone and Wren’s asleep. I collapse onto the couch with Makenna.
“So … about that sibling for Wren.”
She kisses my cheek. “No need. It’s already been taken care of.”
My eyes go wide. Are ya jokin’?
She shakes her head and grins, then I tackle my wife into the cushions and show her exactly how happy I am.
THE END
Remember the woman Malcolm met in the restaurant? You can read about Ivy's vacation romance in Let's Pretend.
Continue reading for a peak into Promise You the Moon. It's the first novel in a series I'm co-writing with Tiffany Noelle Chacon. Enjoy!