Bonus Epilogue #2
Ariana giggled from her hiding spot in the shower. She was just beginning to talk, but Daddy’s voice always pulled a reaction from her.
Travis gasped. “Did you hear that?”
Bella played along. “I didn’t hear anything. No cute little girls here.”
Travis stepped into the room and pulled her into his arms. “But I see a gorgeous woman.”
“And I see a handsome man.” She put the compact on the counter to kiss her husband.
Ariana flung the curtain back with all of her usual dramatic flair. “Me too! Kiss!”
Travis feigned surprise. “There’s that cute little girl.”
Ariana held out her hands to her daddy. “Hold you.”
He picked her up and pressed a kiss to her cheek without correcting her. “You can hold me anytime.”
“One of us is going to be holding her during the reception. It’ll be her nap time.”
Travis patted his shoulder, and Ariana laid her head against him. “Daddy’s always got a spot right here.”
Bella fanned her face as heat crept up her neck. “You have got to stop being so attractive. We’re going to outgrow this house if you keep it up.”
Travis tilted his head to look down at Ariana. “I think Mommy said she wants a bigger house. You want to be my building buddy?”
Ariana nodded without lifting her head from Travis’s chest.
“I’ve got to go set up the chairs at the church. I’ll take Ariana with me so you can finish getting ready.”
Bella gave Ariana and Travis a quick kiss before reaching for her dress hanging from the hook on the back of the door. “Zach is lucky. He picked the best man to be his best man.”
“I think he was afraid Dawson would prank him, Gage is working two jobs, and Anthony is in school.”
“All that is true, but I think you’re secretly his favorite.”
Travis shrugged one shoulder. “I was wrong about him.”
Bella rubbed her husband’s shoulder. “I’m glad you were wrong.
Look at him now. He’s the first one out in the fields every morning, and he’s the first person we call when we need a hand.
He never misses Bible study or Sunday morning services.
He’s a good man, and I think he picked up a lot of that from you. ”
Travis rubbed his hand over Ariana’s soft curls. “I can’t take credit for his turn around, but I’m glad he came to his senses.”
Bella patted makeup over her nose. “Tell Lauren I’ll be there in a few minutes. I’m almost ready.”
“Can we tell them today?” Travis asked.
“It’s Lauren and Zach’s day. Let’s wait until next week when they get back from their honeymoon.”
Travis sighed. “Fine. I just can’t hold it in much longer.”
“I know what you mean. If I vomit during the reception, I think everyone will get the hint. I’d rather announce we’re having another baby in a nicer way.”
“Me too.” He rested his cheek against Ariana’s head. “Let’s put some of Mommy’s ginger candies in Daddy’s pocket.”
Travis and Ariana slipped out of the room as Bella remembered every blessing in her life. She’d showed up here with nothing, but now, she had everything—with the promise of more to come.
Anna
Anna slipped Callie’s chubby arm into the ruffled sleeve of the dress. “Oh, you are just adorable.”
Callie tried to roll away as Anna grabbed her other arm.
“Beau! Come here!” Anna shouted over her shoulder.
He lumbered through the house and into the bedroom. “You need some help?”
Anna picked Callie up from the bed. “Look how cute she is!”
Beau’s smile widened as he reached for their daughter. “She’s always cute.”
“Josie Grace Boutique sent this dress for the wedding. Isn’t it perfect?”
Beau took in the soft pink dress with delicate lace on the hem. “It’s pretty, but my girl is gorgeous.” He turned his attention to Anna. “And my woman is too.”
Anna twirled in her dress that matched Callie’s. “You like it?”
“I wasn’t talking about the dress,” Beau said, reaching for her and pulling her in to hold her with their daughter.
She’d spent so much time chasing love when it had been right beside her all along. Building a life with Beau had been easy. He was a good dad, a loving husband, and a devoted provider. He put God first in their lives and never allowed anything to come between them.
She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I need to get over to the chapel.”
Beau’s brows lifted as he glanced at Callie. “Does that mean I have to finish getting her ready?”
Anna chuckled. “It won’t be tough.” She turned around to point at the things laid out on the bed. “Those are her socks and headband. Don’t forget the diaper bag by the door, and her shoes are right beside it. Tammy said she’ll watch her.”
“I can handle her.” He dotted kisses over Callie’s baby cheeks.
“I know you can.” Beau was way more hands-on than Anna had ever expected. He’d been by her side every step of the way, through midnight feedings, messy diapers, and sleepless nights. He knew every parenting tip and trick in the book.
“Actually, Tammy asked if she could spend some time with her today. She hasn’t seen her in over two weeks.”
Beau pulled Callie in to whisper, “She’s trying to split us up.”
Anna propped her hands on her hips. “Beau, you spend every day with her. You have to share.”
His brows lowered. “But I don’t want to.”
Anna chuckled and kissed him. “Then you can tell Tammy.” She turned and kissed Callie’s forehead, breathing in her baby smell. “I’ll see you both at the ranch.”
Lauren
Lauren turned her head to one side, then the other as she examined herself in the mirror. “It looks amazing.”
Anna really knew what she was doing when it came to hair and makeup. Even though the wedding wasn’t anything fancy, Lauren still wanted to look nice on her big day.
Anna closed a compact and stuffed it into a zipper bag filled with makeup. “You look amazing. Zach’s jaw is going to hit the floor when he sees you.”
Lauren’s stomach did a flip like an acrobat. She didn’t have cold feet, and she had no doubts about marrying Zach. There wasn’t any reason to be nervous.
Bright midday sun shone through the windows into Matt and Tammy’s bedroom. The beautiful miles of Silver Falls Ranch stretched over gently rolling hills outside, and the bustle of the day hadn’t yet reached this quiet room.
“I can’t believe I’m getting married. A year ago, being married seemed like a dream I might not get to experience.”
Anna laughed. “Why would you think that?”
Lauren had spent her childhood hiding from parents who hurt her. Then she buried her nose in books to escape real life. After burning away her youth in class after class, earning degrees that didn’t give her happiness, settling down with a family was the scary unknown she’d secretly feared.
For years, she hadn’t known how husbands and wives were supposed to treat each other. Now, she had friends who showed her and a church who led her to godly examples in scripture.
There was a knock at the door just before it opened. Zach stepped in and closed it behind him.
Anna propped her hands on her hips. “You’re not supposed to see the bride before the wedding.”
Zach’s brows lowered. “Says who? You told me I couldn’t see her last night because she was hanging out with the girls. Then I couldn’t see her this morning because you were taking her to breakfast. I’ve been without her for too long.”
Lauren rushed toward him, and he caught her in his arms. The nerves that had been simmering in her middle eased as she breathed him in. “I missed you too.”
His strong hands spread over her back, covering her in the safety of his arms. “I couldn’t stay away. It was torture.”
Anna huffed as she strode past them. “Call me when you’re ready to get in your dress.”
When the door clicked shut, Zach pressed his mouth to her stainproof lipstick with an urgency she felt in her bones. The next time they kissed would be as husband and wife—two halves of a whole.
Zach wiped his finger against his lips and inspected it. “Wow, it’s magic paint. That’s amazing.” He leaned back to look at her. “You’re gorgeous, angel. How is this my life?”
Lauren blinked back the beginnings of tears. She hoped this waterproof mascara could hold up because she couldn’t make a mess of her makeup before the ceremony started. “I’m wondering the same about my life.”
He brushed his fingers over a small strand of her hair.
“From the moment I saw you, I knew you were worth all the pain. I knew I’d have to lose everything to protect you, and it was like I didn’t have a choice.
You were it for me, but I didn’t deserve you.
I don’t now, and I don’t think I ever will.
You put an end to my nightmares, and I woke up to a life that was better than my wildest dreams.”
Less than an hour later, she walked toward Zach in the small church he’d helped build, surrounded by their family and friends.
She understood how Zach felt. She didn’t deserve this either, but gifts weren’t supposed to be earned.
The true answer to Zach’s question was clear: God gives his children more than they deserve.
Thank you for reading Love Undercover.