Chapter Seventeen – Epilogue
“It’s always so nice to see you, Emily.” Devlin’s grandmother never failed to smile so sweetly at Devlin’s longtime friend. It almost broke his heart every time he had to explain to the older woman that he and Emily were truly just friends. Once, longer ago than he cared to remember, they tried going on a real date. Dinner, dancing, the whole shebang. At her door, he ventured for a goodnight kiss and mid lip-lock the two broke out giggling. Not quite the same as kissing your sister, but pretty darn close.
“And it’s always nice to be here. You have a wonderful family.” Emily shot Devlin a sideways glance. She knew how much his grandparents wanted them to get together and knew as well as he did that it would never happen.
“Isn’t this a lovely party?” Leah stood beside Grams.
“Nothing is more fun than a children’s birthday party. Especially the first one.” Grams’ gaze darted to where Elizabeth, Mitch and Gwyneth’s daughter and the only Baron great-grandchild to date, was sitting on a pony ride with her mom walking at her side.
“Do those two ever let go of each other?” Devlin got a kick out of how smitten all his siblings and cousins were with their spouses, but sometimes he wondered if they hadn’t just all lost their minds.
“Which two?” Eve strolled up beside him.
His cousin had a point. Looking across the lawn, Dev could spot couples circulating through the mini circus his grandmother and Gwyneth had set up for Elizabeth’s first birthday. “Cooper and Tessa.”
All heads bobbed. As the newest couple in the family, they were the ones walking the closest, always holding hands, and if they needed to shift, they’d let go of the other’s hand, move, and re-snatch a different hand. To Devlin it almost looked as if they were afraid if they didn’t touch the other, the love of their life would disappear.
“They are cute.” Eve smiled. “I always liked Tessa in high school. It was sweet the way she bossed Cooper around, and even more fun the way he’d listen.”
Leah chimed in, “Some things never change.”
The group chuckled, but Devlin kept his gaze on his brother. He had never considered Cooper unhappy. As a matter of fact, Cooper was the most easygoing of his siblings, but now he practically glowed from happiness. And the way Emma clung to him, anyone would think he really was her father. Though, if Devlin thought about it, being a good dad had little to do with biology and everything to do with being present. Cooper was definitely present.
“You look awfully serious.” Emily put her hand on Devlin’s arm.
“Just thinking.”
“Still wondering if Emma is really his?”
Devlin glanced down at his friend. “No. At first I thought maybe he was just dodging reality, but considering the way things have worked out, there’s no reason not to believe them. Besides, he’s my brother. He’s capable of many things, but he’d never outright lie to me.”
“So you think,” Emily teased. “You have to admit, the little one does look an awful lot like a Baron.” Like Devlin, Emily kept her gaze on Cooper and Tess and Emma.
“Lots of people with blonde hair and green eyes look like us, but I know what you mean.” He also had a secret. Though he had no idea why Cooper had chosen him to confide in, but Cooper and his lovely new bride had decided they wanted a sibling for Emma before she got much older, and from the tinge of green in Tessa’s cheeks when she got up close and personal with the smelly donkey, Devlin had a suspicion that the mission was accomplished.
“Here they come.” Emily waved at Tessa.
Hand in hand, Cooper and Tessa walked up the lawn to the terrace where Grams and the others were chatting. Halfway up the hillside, Tessa paused and seemed to be catching her breath. Yep. After watching Gwyneth practically fall asleep standing up during her first trimester, Devlin was willing to bet a hefty chunk of the Baron fortune that Emma would have a sibling in less than nine months.
Once again, they were marching up the lawn, only now Cooper had slid his arm around Tessa’s middle. Whether to support her, or comfort her, or merely enjoy her presence at his side, Devlin didn’t have a clue. Most likely it was a combination of all three. And the sappy grin on his brother’s face told Devlin that whatever the reason, it didn’t matter. What mattered was that Cooper was happier than a pig in slop. If the grin on Tessa’s face was any indication, she was pretty darn content herself. Together, those two were giving off enough happy energy to light the western power grid.
“I hear there’s brisket up here somewhere?” Tessa sniffed at the air like a bloodhound on the hunt.
“The Governor didn’t want the grills near all these children so they’re grilling on the other side of the kitchen. I’m sure the barbecue will be coming soon.” Devlin kept an eye on Tessa.
Still holding her husband’s hand, she continued to sniff at the air. “If you don’t mind,” she stepped back, slipping her hand away from Cooper’s, “I think I’ll go check out the food.”
Cooper nodded, kissed the woman very briefly on the lips—nothing more than a peck really—and yet, Devlin could feel the heat curling his toes from five feet away.
His gaze lingering on his wife’s departing back, Cooper let out a low sigh.
“Got any news for us?” Devlin spoke so only Cooper could hear. Heaven knew if his sister and cousin heard the conversation there’d be a squealing frenzy of Baron females planning the next baby shower, birthday party, and college application in one fell swoop.
Staring at his brother a long minute, Cooper sighed. “Maybe.”
“Maybe? Either you do or you don’t.”
“Yes, but,” Cooper shrugged, “she doesn’t want to share the news till we’re sure all is well.”
The pull on Devlin’s cheeks and the corners of his mouth had him grinning like the village fool in no time. “Man,” he slapped his brother on the back, “that’s great news. Really great.”
A twinkle beamed in Coop’s eyes and the corners of his mouth tipped upward. “It is, isn’t it?”
“I’m happy for you both. Truly happy.” And Devlin meant every word of it. Nothing meant more to him than seeing his family happy, not even finding a little happiness of his own. Not that he had any history worth giving a second chance. Nope, the way the family was pairing up as if Noah were building another ark, he had to accept that he may be the lone hold out for bachelorhood. And wasn’t that just a shame?