Epilogue
Kate
Two Years Later
The house smells like rosemary chicken as Evie’s reading at the dining table, tongue poking out in fierce concentration, while her little brother, Luke, sits in his highchair, gleefully pounding his spoon against the tray.
“Cam,” I call from the kitchen, “you might want to come rescue these mashed potatoes before Luke turns them into finger paint.”
Cam’s already on his way, sleeves rolled to his elbows, grin easy and bright. “You can’t blame a man for loving his carbs,” he says, scooping up the spoon and wiping Luke’s face while our son giggles, utterly unbothered.
I lean against the counter for a moment just to take it in—our home, our life. The little slice of heaven on earth that we built together.
The doorbell rings, and in seconds, the place is alive with voices.
Brynn and Knox come in first, followed by Kinsey with a bottle of wine and a loaf of Penny’s cinnamon bread that’s still warm in its wrapper. Brynn’s already glowing, her hand linked through Knox’s as they make their way to the table.
“Dinner smells amazing,” she says. “I told Knox we should’ve gotten here earlier.”
Knox smirks. “We could’ve been here earlier if you didn’t insist on curling your hair.”
Kinsey drops the bread on the counter and grins. “You two are disgustingly cute. I need wine just to be around it.”
Cam sets Luke on his hip and hugs Brynn, clapping Knox on the shoulder, then turns to Kinsey. “Glad you made it. You brought the good wine this time, right?”
“Please,” Kinsey says, popping the cork with practiced ease. “You think I’d show up to this house empty-handed?”
The chatter and clinking of glasses carry through dinner—stories, teasing, Evie telling us about what the Borrowers stole in the last chapter she read. Every now and then, Cam reaches under the table to squeeze my hand, like he can’t help reminding me we made it here together.
When dessert’s done and everyone’s lingering in that happy, full lull, I glance at Cam. He gives me that small nod—the one that says ready?
I smile. “We actually have some news.”
The table quiets.
Cam takes my hand and looks around the room, his expression full of that same proud, steady warmth I fell for years ago. “We’re having another baby.”
The words land like a spark.
Brynn gasps, her hands flying to her face. “Oh my god, Kate!”
Kinsey’s already crying, waving her napkin. “I knew it! You were glowing, and I don’t say that lightly.”
Knox laughs, shaking his head. “I swear this town’s population is doubling because of you two.”
Evie practically jumps out of her chair. “I’m gonna have two little brothers!”
“Or maybe a sister,” I say, brushing her hair back.
She grins. “Doesn’t matter, I get to teach them how to throw a ball.”
We’re still laughing when Brynn suddenly bursts into tears.
“Brynn?” I ask, leaning forward. “Are you okay?”
She nods, trying to speak between tears. “I don’t want to steal your moment, I swear I don’t. But…we got a call from the adoption agency.”
Knox takes her hand, his eyes shining. “We’ve been selected. The baby’s due in four months.”
For a heartbeat, no one says a word. Then the room erupts.
Kinsey’s sobbing again, reaching across the table to grab Brynn’s hand. “You’re gonna be a mom, Brynn. Oh my god.”
Cam’s grinning ear to ear, clapping Knox on the back. “I’m calling you daddy from now on.”
Knox rolls his eyes as Brynn laughs through her tears, and I swear I’ve never seen her glow like this.
Kinsey wipes her cheeks with the back of her hand. “Okay, someone needs to open another bottle of wine before I lose it completely.”
Knox smirks. “While you’re at it, Kinsey, there’s something you should know.”
She narrows her eyes. “What now?”
“The high school’s starting a girls’ rugby program,” he says. “They need a coach.”
Kinsey blinks, momentarily stunned. “You’re kidding.”
Cam shakes his head. “He’s not.”
She looks at Knox. “So what does that have to do with me?”
Knox shrugs. “Well, you played in college, Cam and I were thinking you could easily shift into coaching.”
A slow grin spreads across her face. “Well…I guess I could think about it. Only downside would be working with you two.”
The room fills with laughter again—warm, familiar, home.
I look around at the faces that have become my family, at the man who made me believe in love, at the daughter who taught me what strength is, and the son who’s proof of what comes after fear.
This is everything I never thought I’d have—and somehow, everything I always wanted.
Cam
I’m leaning on the porch railing with Knox, two beers between us, crickets filling the pause between words. Inside, the girls are still at the table, voices bouncing in that soft, overlapping way that sounds like family.
Brynn’s glowing—hell, all of them are. And Kate…she’s sitting there with her hair falling loose over her shoulders, smiling at something Kinsey said, one hand resting absentmindedly on her stomach.
My wife. The mother of my children. My entire world, sitting right there at our dining room table.
Knox breaks the quiet first, taking a slow sip. “Crazy how so much has changed over the past couple of years.”
“Feels like I got lucky,” I say. “So fucking lucky.”
He grins. “That’s how it happens. One day, you’re flying solo. Next thing you know, you’re the guy hanging string lights and making dinosaur pancakes.”
“Hey,” I laugh, “Evie might be older, but she still takes her dinosaurs seriously.”
We both watch through the window for a while—Brynn and Kate laughing so hard they’re crying again, Kinsey wiping her face and pretending she’s not emotional.
Knox’s voice drops lower. “It’s a good life, isn’t it?”
“Better than anything I imagined,” I say, meaning every word. “I look at her, and it still hits me—I get to be here. I get to love her. I get to be a dad.”
Knox smiles, quiet pride in his eyes. “You’re a good man, Cam.”
I shrug. “I just try to be the man they deserve.” I push my arm against his. “And now you’re up to bat. So happy for you and Brynn. I know it’s been a long road.”
He nods. “She’s so ready to be a mom. Been ready. I just hope I can be a good dad.”
“I don’t think you have a single thing to worry about, Dalton.”
We fall into a comfortable silence, both watching the glow from the kitchen spill out across the porch.
After a minute, I clear my throat. “Hey…have you talked to Riley lately? Are you still mentoring him while he decides about the draft?”
Knox’s jaw tightens in that subtle way he probably thinks no one notices. “Yeah. We talked last week. Things have changed for him, though.”
My brow furrows. “Changed how?”
Knox lets out a slow breath, eyes drifting toward the window. “His dad left. He packed a bag and walked out, left with no warning. His mom’s on her own with the three younger kids.”
“Jesus,” I mutter, rubbing the back of my neck. “That’s horrible.”
“Yeah, I couldn’t imagine walking out on my family,” Knox agrees quietly.
I shake my head. “So what happens now?”
“He’s coming home for the fall,” Knox says. “Dropped the idea of the draft for now. Said his family needs him more.”
I whistle under my breath. “Twenty-one and carrying the weight of a whole household on his back.”
“Yeah.” Knox’s mouth pulls tight. “And it sucks, because he was finally hitting his stride. He was a good quarterback when I coached him a couple of years ago, but by the game footage and tapes I’ve seen, he’s ready for the draft.”
We both look back out the window where Kinsey’s laughing at something Brynn said, eyes bright.
“He’s gonna need good people around him,” Knox says. “And something that gives him purpose.”
I glance at him. “Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?”
Knox nods once. “I already talked to the principal. We’re launching that rugby program this fall. Kinsey’s taking the head coach role.”
“Correction,” I say, lifting a brow. “She said she’d think about it.”
Knox smirks. “Brynn’s working on that. We don’t have another option.”
I let out a low whistle. “Good luck.”
“Brynn will convince her. She’s tough,” Knox says, grinning wide. “I know she’ll be the perfect fit. And Riley’s agreed to interview to be her assistant.”
I look back toward the kitchen just in time to see Kinsey toss her head back, laughter ringing out.
“That’ll be fun to watch,” I say, shaking my head.
Knox snorts. “Fun’s one word for it.”
We both laugh, clinking our beer bottles together before going quiet again.
Behind the screen door, Kate leans down to pick up Luke, her soft laugh carrying through the glass. She looks at me over her shoulder and smiles.
I think about how this is everything I never knew I wanted. The laughter, the messiness, the little hands reaching for mine. Funny how the biggest win of my life didn’t come from the field. Loving her, building this life together—it’s the best home run I’ve ever hit.
The End