Epilogue
Nate
One Month Later
Quinn toddles across the floor of the crowded fellowship hall, and I chuckle as I try to keep up with her.
She still has a wobble in her step, but she has become much more confident.
She stops to jabber to another kid around her age, and I take the opportunity to let my gaze wander around the room.
It doesn’t take long to find Lucy, and my mouth lifts in a crooked smirk as I watch her laugh with our friends.
Her deep blue eyes meet mine across the room, and my heart skips a beat as she smiles.
I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn to find Ruth Carter with a smirk and a mischievous glint in her eyes. “While you were making goo-goo eyes at your wife, your little girl got away.”
My eyes widen as I glance back to where I left Quinn, but she’s not there.
Ruth chuckles and points across the room. “Her new grandpa has her.”
Henry Burke has Quinn propped on his hip as he talks to her, handing her an empty plastic cup to play with. She hits it with one hand, then bangs it against his chest as he laughs.
Ruth shakes her head and sighs, a soft smile spreads on her face. “That’s one lucky little girl.”
I smile and cross my arms. “You think so?”
She nods sagely. “She’s lost a lot, but look at everything she’s gained.
She has so many people who love her.” She raises her brows and turns to me with a stern expression.
“I’m not at all saying she’s better off without Violet and Landon.
” Her features soften, and she sighs. “But I think that despite how things have turned out, she’s doing pretty well. ”
I smirk and set a hand on Ruth’s shoulder. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
She raises a brow, and her eyes dart to Lucy. “Of course, a lot of her good luck is due to you finally using that brain of yours.”
I raise my brows and chuckle incredulously. “Oh, really?”
She nods and sets a hand on her hip. “Yes, really. You and Lucy danced around your real feelings for each other for years. I’m glad you finally did something about it.”
I purse my lips and glance at Lucy. She smirks as she looks between Ruth and me. I nod and meet Ruth’s gaze again. “You’re right, Ms. Ruth.”
She crosses her arms with a self-important grin. “I know I am.”
I laugh and shake my head.
She nudges me with her elbow. “Her ring is beautiful. Quite the token of love if you ask me.”
I raise my brows, but she winks and walks away. I blink and search the room for Quinn again. Henry is following her as she makes a beeline for Lucy.
I smile at my father-in-law and wave, letting him know that I’ve got Quinn. He nods and watches her toddle across the space toward Lucy.
I sneak up behind her and scoop her up into my arms. She squeals and laughs as she realizes it’s me.
“Dada.” She pats my chest and points at Lucy. “Mama.”
My gaze follows her little finger, and I smile at my beautiful wife, feeling like the luckiest man in the world that I get to call her mine. “You need Mama?”
Quinn points again. “Go, Mama.”
“Okay, Quinnifred. We’ll go see her.”
I weave through the crowd that’s separating us from Lucy, as she sits at the table with our friends. As soon as we have a clear path between us, Quinn squirms to get down. I set her on the floor, and she runs toward Lucy with her arms outstretched. “Mama!”
Lucy smiles as she picks Quinn up and hugs her tightly. “Hi, baby. Are you playing with Dada?”
I close the distance between us and set my hands on the back of her chair. I lean over and kiss her cheek. “She’s been running circles around the place.”
Lucy chuckles and offers Quinn a small green bean from her plate. Quinn chews the vegetable slowly and asks for more. I slide into the empty seat beside Lucy, scooting it a little closer to her.
Quinn works her way through several green beans as Skylar tells an animated story about something that happened at the hospital this week.
Reese seems invested, but her eyes dart to Caleb every few minutes.
Emerson’s eyes are glazed, like she’s here physically, but something is keeping her mind occupied.
Caleb frowns as he listens to Skylar’s tale with his arms crossed.
But Lucy is focused on Quinn, and my heart thumps erratically as I watch her.
Marrying Lucy was the best decision I have ever made.
It has become so much more than a practical arrangement. More than a solution to a problem. More than healthcare and childcare. More than convenient. More than I ever dreamed.
Her eyes meet mine over Quinn’s head, and she fights a smile as her cheeks tint pink. “What?”
I smirk and shake my head. “Nothing.”
Her eyes narrow, and I lean closer so I can speak quietly in her ear. “I’m just thinking about how much I love you.”
She bites her lip to hide her smile as she turns to meet my gaze. “I love you, too.”
I smile and set my arm on the back of her chair, savoring the way she leans into me and relaxes. My fingertips bump gently into her insulin pump on the back of her arm, and I shift my hand away from her devices as my chest warms with pride that she’s overcome her fear of them being seen.
Quinn stands in Lucy’s lap and jumps to mine, landing against my chest with a thunk as I wrap my free arm around her. She laughs and pats my face. “Aw, Dada.”
Holding her tightly, I cover her little cheek with kisses, and she giggles. She points to Lucy. “Mama.”
I smirk as I turn to Lucy, and Quinn leans her head against my cheek. “Yeah. We got pretty lucky, didn’t we? Your Mama is incredible.”
Quinn laughs and reaches for Lucy, leaning until she falls into Lucy’s waiting arms. Lucy kisses her head, and I release a long breath, thanking God for bringing beauty from heartbreak and filling my life with more love than I ever dreamed possible.
THE END