Epilogue
My husband is the best. He hates all the people I hate.
—Hollis to Germaine
HOLLIS
A few years later
“Hey, babe!” Quincy called from the back bedroom area. “Can you help me find my gun?”
Hisgun.
His gun?
“How do you misplace your gun?” I called out, my book dropping onto my stomach as I stared in annoyance at the hallway in which I’d just heard him from.
“Very, very carefully,” Quincy replied back. “Please?”
Sighing, I rocked my way out of the couch that I’d just collapsed on, then stood up.
Myknees, ankles, and shins ached.
Iwalked through the house I’d helped design with Quincy after he told me he loved me.
Afew months after that day at the police station where I laid it all out, he’d asked me to help him design the rest of his house with him. And, once that house was finished, he asked me to marry him in the kitchen I’d painstakingly helped him decorate.
Idropped my lease the next day and Zilla and I moved in with him the following one.
Wegot married at his parents’ place, right under the tree that apparently he’d broken his arm falling out of.
Whichled to me here, now.
“Wedding vows should include ‘do you promise to help him find his stuff that’s right in front of him,’” I grumbled to no one in particular. “Because lord knows you’ll be doing that forever.”
“What was that, baby?” Quincy called from the other room.
Garrett, who’d dropped by this morning on his way in to work, snickered from his spot at my counter. I shot him a quelling look.
“You,” I pointed at him. “Shut it.”
Garrettheld up his hands and said, “I’m not saying a word.”
Inarrowed my eyes. “Sure, you’re not.”
Hissmile was small, but there.
Jesus, these Carter men knew the way to my heart.
Walkingpast him, I pushed on his hand, forcing it into the syrup on his plate, causing him to curse.
“Hey, what was that for?” he whined.
Itossed him a look over my shoulder as I headed in the direction of my husband.
“You know what that was for,” I tossed back.
Helaughed, and I found Quincy in our bedroom, on his knees, looking under the bed.
“Why would it be there?” I asked him curiously.
“BecauseI slept with it under my pillow… I thought,” he hesitated.
Igroaned, then started looking in all the obvious places, starting with the kitchen counter that was littered with food from our breakfast—a breakfast in which Garrett was still enjoying despite it being cold.
Quincyhad known he was coming, and asked me to cook extra.
“Hey,” I called to Garrett. “IsQuincy’s gun in there?”
“Yeah!” he called out.
Iwalked into the kitchen, picked it up, and was just about to head toward Quincy when Garrett’s syrup covered fingers went to my forehead and pressed.
“Hey!” I cried out.
Myshout had Quincy exiting the bedroom to see what all the fuss was about.
Whichhappened to be me smacking Garrett on the shoulder.
“Hey, be nice to my ex-girlfriend,” Quincy ordered.
Ipunched him in the kidney when he stopped next to me to grab his gun from my hand. “Stop referring to me as that!”
Heholstered his gun and winked.
“Well, technically, you are his ex-girlfriend. I mean, you’re no longer his girlfriend, you’re his wife,” Garrett pointed out.
Ipointed at him, getting right up in his face. “You’re not helping.”
Hetook a bite of toast and stared at me with a grin on his face.
“Gotta go, baby,” he said as he leaned down.
Butinstead of the kiss I thought I was getting, he licked the syrup off my forehead.
“Gross,” I grumbled as I couldn’t help but smile.
Hewinked, dropped a kiss to my lips, and was out the door.
“I gotta go, too.” Garrett sighed. “You got a ride to HomeDepot, right?”
Irolled my eyes. “Yes, Father.”
Allthe Carter men treated me like I was their little sister, which, I guess, I kind of sort of loved.
Butthey’d gotten worse over the last few months when I’d started to get huge and unwieldy with Quincy and my first child.
“Tay’s got me… he’s here,” I said as I saw the flash of my old Corolla pull into the driveway.
Ayear ago, Quincy had gone out to buy me a new Tahoe. The old Corolla had gone to Tay, who had done a lot of work to get back into my good graces again.
Taygot out, and he was smiling as he saw Garrett and I exit my house.
“You ready?” Tay asked.
“AsI’ll ever be.” I patted my belly, hefted my purse, and then rolled my eyes as Garrett caught my arm and helped me down the porch steps.
“Thanks, G,” I said with a smile.
Hewinked and headed to his own place, which was just down the road from ours.
Idropped into the car, which took a little more effort than it used to and waited for my brother to be my chauffeur.
Heobliged me and took me to the hardware store where my tree was waiting for me.
“There’s no way that’s gonna fit in the car,” he said as he saw how huge the box was.
“The roof,” I suggested. “We have a luggage rack.”
Hegrimaced just as the man who’d brought the tree out for me interrupted.
“Will you be putting that up yourself?” the worried looking man asked.
Iwas just about to answer when a grumble from beside me sounded. “No, you sick fuck. It’s going in her living room. Not her ass!”
Therewas a long, silent pause and then I said, between an explosion of laughter, “Tay, darling. I think he was worried I’d try to put the tree up by myself while being eleven and a third months’ pregnant.”
“You’re not eleven months pregnant,” Tay muttered. “You’re nine months pregnant.”
Whydid he always have to take things so literally?
“Yes, Tay. That was a joke. Which obviously went right over your head,” I said to my younger brother. “Are you ready to go?”
Tayshrugged.
Ourrelationship was… questionable.
Somedays I felt like we were making it, others, not so much.
Buthe didn’t leave.
Hestayed around, and he was the only one of my family who didn’t come and ask me for money.
Didhe bum dinner off of me sometimes? Yes. But that was a young adult for you.
Humfridhad called last week to say that she’d gotten her fourth speeding ticket, and they’d taken her to jail.
Howshe’d gotten a speeding ticket on a moped, I didn’t know.
ButI didn’t bail her out.
Asfor my mom and dad? They were at different prisons, serving their twenty-two years a piece.
Momdivorced Dad in the middle of the trials, and Dad didn’t fight it.
Whybother?
Theywould both likely be too old when they got out to do much more than find a minimum-wage job or live off their government assistance.
Icouldn’t wait to see if they tried to ask for a place to stay.
Ihoped they would ask Tay.
* * *
“Hello?”
Ismiled as Garnett answered the phone, sounding excited.
“It’s time,” I said. “I’m driving to the hospital now.”
Garnettsquealed. “I’m with Ande. We’ll be there about the same time as you. TellQuincy to meet us…”
“Quincy isn’t with me,” I interjected.
Therewas a long moment of silence and then, “Okay. I’ll call him.”
Ihad a small smile light on my face as I thought about how Quincy would be getting that call from his mom when he hadn’t even realized I’d left.
Okay, so I was a little emotional. Sue me.
Thephone tree went fast, and three Carter men were waiting for me at the front door when I arrived.
“I’ll park it,” Gable said.
Iwaved at him, then waddled my way through the front door.
Ascreech of tires, and then there was Quinn, dropping Quincy off with a glaring look on his face.
Iignored him and walked inside, checking my own self in.
Gable, Garrett, and Atlas, who were the first to make it since they were closest to the hospital, were trying really hard not to laugh.
Mynarrow-eyed look had them studiously keeping their mouths shut and their comments to themselves.
Quincycame up behind me and wrapped his hand around my belly, pulling me back into his chest as he bent down and said, “We’ll be talking about this later.”
Iignored the way his voice made me shiver.
Thenurse at the triage desk walked us up to labor and delivery, and within ten minutes I was naked but for a gown, and my room was full of Carters.
“She… what?” Germaine looked from me to Quincy and back. “You drove yourself?”
LikeI said, I was a little bit emotional.
“I just wanted him to put the freakin’ crib together!” I cried out, throwing my hands in the air. “Is that so bad?”
“It’s bad when your water broke in my living room, and you wanted to drive all the way back home for him to do that,” Germaine said, the voice of reason, like always.
God, the man drove me nuts sometimes.
Whydid he have to be so logical?
Icouldn’t fight logical.
“Why did you let her leave if her water broke?” Germaine asked Quincy.
Quincynarrowed his eyes. “I didn’t let her leave. I was cleaning up the mess. WhenI was done, she was gone.”
“And she said Quincy didn’t show her enough attention,” Kinny offered up.
WhyKinny was there, I didn’t know.
He’darrived shortly after Quincy.
Ihad a distinct feeling that Kinny was there to get directions on what needed to be done at our house.
Inthe last month alone, not a single thing had gotten done.
Why?
Becausesometimes QuincyDeclanCarter was married to his job.
“He didn’t,” I defended myself.
Quincy, who was standing with his arms locked in front of him, rolled his eyes heavenward and looked to be praying for patience.
“He had me stop by and bring you food yesterday,” Quaid offered.
“AndI brought by that dry cleaning last week you asked him to pick up,” Atlas offered.
Audentapped his chin. “I’m pretty sure I went to that bakery you love and brought you the cheese Danish you say is the best thing ever.”
Iraised my brow at him, then held up a finger as a contraction stole over my body.
“Fuck, that hurts,” I said through gritted teeth.
“You dummies,” Ande said as she pushed through the curtained off area that led to the hallway. “She’s not saying y’all don’t help her. She’s saying that she would like to spend some time with the man she’s married to.”
Iwaved out a hand, practically slapping Quincy in the chest, because my eyes were still shut from the pain. “Thank you.”
Quincycaught my hand and placed it over his heart.
Itwas racing.
Iblinked open one eye and saw him staring at me.
“Does it hurt really bad?” he asked.
Imean, I’d just said ‘fuck, that hurts.’ How much more clear could I be?
YetI didn’t snap at him.
Iburst out crying. “I’m sorry for leaving you.”
Hebent down and pressed his lips to my forehead, then started to kiss away my tears. “I know you are. ButI deserved it. I haven’t been here this month, and I’m sorry.”
Hehadn’t.
Thoughhe’d made it to every doctor appointment, he’d gone out of his way to close as many of his cases as he could, and then brief those who would be taking over some of them while he was off for six weeks.
He’dbeen making the transition for them smooth, and that was awfully nice of him.
ButI’d missed him this month, and it’d showed.
“At least he’s off for six weeks,” Quinn grumbled. “As for the rest of us…”
Shayneflipped him off, then pushed off of the wall and clapped her hands. “How about we all go get lunch, and leave them to their baby birthing?”
Thatbirthing happened within fifteen minutes of them leaving, meaning I didn’t have to flash my vagina to the entire Carter clan.
Inwhat felt like a whirlwind, I had a baby on my chest screaming her lungs out, and Quincy down on his knees beside the bed, cupping my face.
“We did it, baby,” I said to him.
Hepressed his forehead to mine for a long second before saying, “That was terrifying.”
Isnickered. “We only have to do it three more times, since you said you wanted four.”
Hepulled away, his eyes huge, and said, “I only want one.”
Laughterfell from my throat for long seconds before I said, “We’re having more, Quincy. You can’t keep your hands off me.”
Hesighed, then looked down at the little life we’d brought into this world.
“I can’t believe she’s finally here.”
“I fuckin’ missed it?” Tay called out as he came into the room.
Ismiled, looked down at my baby girl, and said, “Tay, I’d like you to meet your niece, DaliaKedaCarter.”
Taycame up, took one look at her, and cringed. “She’s covered in gross.”
“She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Quincy breathed.
Andjust like that, my heart got even fuller.
AndQuincyDeclanCarter was responsible for almost every ounce of that fullness.