Epilogue
FORD
“Sunny, Jade, Indy, Uncle Sampson is here!”
All three of our little ones ran to the door. They loved Sampson, and he loved them.
“I’m going to take the kids outside,” I called to my mate, who was hiding out in our room wrapping their birthday presents. I’d peeked my head in there a minute ago, and it looked like the tape was winning. No one was going to hire Zack for package wrapping.
It was hard to believe the triplets were already two. It felt like only yesterday they hatched. People said we shouldn’t blink or we’d miss them growing up. It wasn’t quite that bad, but it was close.
I opened the door and they ran out, stopping at the edge of the stoop, knowing they weren’t allowed down until the cars were stopped.
All three were bouncing with excitement.
They knew it was their birthday and people were coming over, but they didn’t realize how many.
When I sent the invitations, I’d expected to have about half say they were busy.
Instead, everyone agreed and most offered to help by bringing something.
As soon as Sampson came around his truck, down all three went, running over to him and hugging his legs and ignoring the huge gifts he had in his arms. They would enjoy the presents later, but for now, all they cared about was seeing one of their favorite people.
When I’d originally told Sampson I wanted to stay, he made it happen.
I’d have been fine without working. Zack and I had run the numbers.
But I liked my job and was grateful he kept me on.
I hadn’t expected him to offer to have me run the place when he retired.
The trust he put in me meant more than the actual position.
“You spoil them,” I scolded.
“That’s as it should be.”
We'd had the discussion a lot their first year, and I used to try and change his mind. Since then, I'd given up. If the day came they acted entitled, we’d look at it again. But for now, Zack and I didn’t see the harm.
I led him to the back where we had the party set up. He put his gifts down and offered to help with any last-minute items. We were pretty much good to go, but I always appreciated the offer.
“You could help by entertaining these three little ones while people arrive?”
All four of them liked that idea.
When we first talked about how to celebrate their birthday, the den suggested we have one there, like we did for their first. That had been wonderful, but I wanted to invite the human side of their family as well—not that they were technically family, but in all real ways, they were.
My kids were growing up with more than just their den.
They had a bunch of people from town as well making up their community.
One by one, people arrived and came with enough food for a town festival.
Within half an hour, the place was packed, and thankfully, many of them thought to bring their own chairs. We had extra in case people forgot theirs, but hardly enough for this crowd.
The weather was cooperating, which was good because there was no way we were fitting this many people in the house.
We’d have had to cancel, and while the kids were small enough to not really care, the cake Zack and I made wouldn’t last that long.
Neither of us were cake decorators, and we’d had the great idea of making a cake for each of them in the shape of their favorite monsters from a book they loved.
It took two days before we got them right, and I was not wanting to do that again.
The den and my co-workers were pretty good about being close to on time for the meal. My dart buddies? Not so much. It was predominantly pot luck, but I was glad they arrived when they could enjoy it.
Darts wasn’t something I expected to love as much as I did. Part of it was the friendships, but a lot of it was the adrenaline I got when scoring well. I still was not nearly as good as most of them, but my mate made sure that once a month on dart night, I went out and got together with them.
“Wow, you know a lot more people than I do,” said Liam.
“I don’t know about that. Everybody seems to know you.” Maybe not the entire den, but he was well loved around here.
“I’m glad that the kids have so many people around them.” His words surprised me.
“Are you getting all sentimental on me?” I shoulder bumped him.
“Yeah. Just reminded me of my grandparents being so far away.” They had moved not too long before I arrived. They were loving their new life, and he was happy for them, but I didn’t blame him for missing them. If anyone here moved, I’d feel their loss, and these were his close family.
The kids found some playmates and somehow the lot of them convinced Sampson that it was bubble time. We had a bubble blower, but that wasn’t what they wanted. They wanted Sampson blowing huge bubbles with random bubble wands he’d made out of everything from old hangers to a broken butterfly net.
I rested back, leaning against my mate’s chest, his arms around me, watching them chase after the bubbles. It wasn’t just the little kids either, the big kids loved it too.
“I never thought this would be my life.” I tilted my head up and kissed his chin. “Thank you for being patient with me.”
“I could say the same exact thing to you.” He kissed the top of my head. “I love you, Ford.”
“I love you, Zack.”
Indy called for his father, and after giving me a quick kiss, Zack ran to join them in the bubble fest.
I looked around seeing this huge flight I’d found for myself. They weren’t dragons. They weren’t officially one group. But they were my flight. My family. My home.
What more could a dragon ask for?
The alpha upstairs is tall, dark, and handsome. He’s also a widowed single father. I should stay away. I can’t.
Moving to a new city is expensive. I know that, but when places started asking for first month’s rent, last month’s rent, a deposit, and a pet fee, my hopes of an apartment of my own vanish.
I’m about to sign a sublease with fice strangers when I get a call from my real estate agent.
They found the perfect place and well within budget. I sign sight unseen.
I arrive expecting it to be falling apart or in a sketchy neighborhood. It’s neither, but the residents are rude.
Some sniff me and turn up their noses.
Others refuse to say hi.
A few even go out of their way to avoid me.
The only person nice to me is an eight year old girl who absolutely adores my cat Rosey. When her father comes looking for her, it’s love at first sight except that only exists in fairy tales, but the sexy alpha checks off every box. Too bad he can’t get away from me fast enough.
The Single Father Upstairs is the first book in Colbie Dunbar and Lorelei’s sweet with knotty heat MM mpreg shifter romance series, Omegas of Moonridge Place where each couple’s HEA begins with a lease.
The Single Father Upstairs features a widowed alpha bear who thinks his days of true love and happiness are behind him, his adorable cat-loving daughter, the human omega who is accidentally given a lease in a shifter only apartment building, neighbors-to-lovers, found family, healing and moving forward after loss, new beginnings, a landlord that is really bad at their job, true love, fated mates, an adorable baby, and a guaranteed happy ever after.