Epilogue
Eli
There are moments in our lives we know we will never forget—moments that change us, shape us.
Moments like the day I married Lara, or when the doctor put Tucker on her chest. Every single first milestone of his.
The phone call when police asked me to come identify Lara’s body.
Turning around to see my best friend’s sister at a stranger photo session.
Moments like this: waking up to the warmth of the sun shining on my face, my two perfect people asleep in the bed next to me, tucked safe and sound into the room customized just for us.
Tucker with his unruly curls, Sibyl with her swollen belly—our baby due to arrive in just a few weeks. I’m already thinking about when we’ll have another. Seeing her pregnant, in the house we renovated together? It’s unleashed a whole other fantasy life I didn’t know I’d been craving.
She stretches like a cat, the rock on her finger reflecting the light from the window.
We were planning to be married this fall, but with the baby coming, we pushed it back to next spring.
Sibyl wanted to skip it altogether and get married at the courthouse.
But marrying Lara is one of my favorite memories with her.
I want that with Sibyl.
I want her in the white dress, with Chuck walking her down the aisle. I want Tucker as the ring bearer, and Kellan holding our baby next to me. I even talked Karen into the mother-son dance with me. I skipped it last time, opting for a cheesy, choreographed dance with Taylor and Kellan.
My parents haven’t been in my life since I moved out at sixteen. They weren’t at my first wedding, and they won’t be at this one, but it doesn’t make a difference to me. Everyone I love will be there. Sibyl even has a photo of Lara picked out to put at the end of the aisle.
It’s going to be everything.
Warm brown eyes peer over Tucker’s head, the corners softening when they meet mine. “Hey,” she whispers.
“Morning, Baby, how’d you sleep?”
“Good.” She covers a yawn. “What time did we fall asleep?”
“You wracked out within the first three minutes of the movie. Tucker made it about halfway. I turned it off when I realized you both passed out.”
“He’s going to be pissed.” Sibyl rubs a hand down her stomach, smirking when the little one inside kicks it. “This kid is an asshole.”
“I’m gonna let you get away with that, for now, considering you’re the one with a baby kicking the shit out of you. But there’s no way that baby is an asshole, not with you as their mom.”
“And this is why I’m ninety-eight percent certain this is a girl. She’s already got you wrapped around her little fingers.”
“Nah.” I chuckle. “It’s a boy, has to be. I won’t survive being a girl dad.”
“Iffa gurl,” Tucker mutters, his face still turned into his pillow.
“Not you too!” I tickle him, relishing the giggles that start our mornings off.
Tucker has his own room down the hall, but Fridays have become movie nights.
We make popcorn, pick out our favorite candies, and the three of us snuggle up in the primary bedroom for a family night.
It’s become my favorite part of the week.
Mostly because waking up with these two on Saturday mornings feels like heaven.
“What’s for breakfast?” Tucker asks, rolling into Sibyl, kissing her belly. “Good morning, baby. It’s your brother.”
Sibyl’s eyes dart to mine, growing misty.
“Pancakes?” I ask, stretching my arms above my head.
“Ew. Not pancakes again.”
“I thought you liked pancakes?” I stare at him.
“I’m a man now, Dad. I need meat.”
Sibyl snorts, trying to hold back her laughter. Tucker’s head bounces on her stomach as it shakes.
“Fine,” I relent. “I’ll make pancakes for Mom, and you can have bacon.”
“Yes!” Tucker shoots up in the bed, fist pumping the air. “Bacon!” He launches off the mattress, tearing out of the room.
“My God,” Sibyl groans, rolling herself to the edge of the mattress. “If I had half his energy, I’d be doing a hell of a lot better.”
“Baby,” I croon, walking around the bed to take her hands and help her up. “You’re growing a baby from scratch, that takes a lot of work. And you’re doing it so well.”
Her cheeks flush, the same way they always pink when I praise her. God, I love this woman.
“I’m barely doing anything. I only have enough energy to eat and sleep most days.”
“And you look gorgeous doing it.”
“Stop trying to get in my pants. I’m a sure thing.” She swats my chest, but doesn’t push me away.
“Yeah, I’ll never stop doing that.” I brush my nose along her jaw, breathing her in. “You are stunning, my love. I mean that.”
“Thank you.” Her hands reach around my neck, pulling my face down to hers, parting my lips with a scorching kiss. She pulls away, leaving me panting, wanting more. “Now I want pancakes.”
“Dad!” Tucker yells from the kitchen. “Mom, did you forget about the bacon?”
“We’re coming, Bud.” Sibyl shoots me a grin, hands absentmindedly rubbing her stomach.
“Sibby…” I drop my voice low, breathing into her ear. “I can’t wait to get you alone tonight.”
Heat flashes in her eyes. “Have any specific plans for me?”
“I do.” I grin. “But you’ll just have to wait to find out.”
She snorts, giving a pointed look at her stomach. “You realize you’re terrible at waiting, right?”
A laugh bursts from me. “Fair point.”
“Come on, guys!” Tucker rounds the banister, crashing into my legs.
“Bro!” I scoop him off his feet, dangling him by his knees. “Slow down, man. That could have been Mom.”
“Sorry!” Tucker giggles.
I carry him like that, all the way to the kitchen. Pulling out the ingredients for breakfast, I watch him and Sibyl set up for their morning craft.
She’s started to crochet. We have tiny little booties and hats all over the house. Tucker has been really into painting lately. Sibyl got him a watercolor set for his birthday. Aside from family night and waking up next to them, watching them bond like this has to be in my top five favorite things.
I love everything about this life.
Pressing two fingers to my lips, I tap them to the photo of Lara on the fridge. “Love you,” I whisper. “Alright.” I clap my hands together. “Who’s ready for breakfast?”