Epilogue
OWEN
Iwalk into our bedroom and look at the goddess in our bed shift, reaching for me even in her sleep, and I smile.
I do that a lot now. Hell of a lot more than I did before we found our way together.
To think of all those wasted years kills me, but like my princess likes to say, everything happens for a reason.
Her eyes open, and just like that moment she stepped foot into my mom’s kitchen all those decades ago, my heart stops and feels like it physically grows to fit everything I feel for her into it. She looks at my spot on the bed, empty and cold, and frowns before looking up to see me standing there.
“Happy anniversary,” I whisper because I know if I talk any louder, one of our four boys will wake up and any plans for a quiet moment with their saint of a mother and my queen will disappear as quickly as they will make a mess.
“Pancakes!” She grins as she sits up in bed.
I set the tray of food on her lap before I join her in bed.
“This looks so good,” she whispers, her eyes warm with love and affection.
“Thank you.” She leans over, and her lips touch mine for only a second because if she kisses me any longer, the pancakes will get cold and end up on the floor.
“It’s snowing,” I point out. She looks out the window and smiles.
“Snow it is.” Her lips twitch, and I shake my head at her punny sense of humor. One I find endearingly adorable even after all these years. There is never a dull moment when I’m with her.
“Punny.” I chuckle and shake my head as I kiss her forehead, and I watch her enjoy her breakfast for a moment. “How are you feeling?” I ask, worried about my wife but happy she finally woke up without running to the bathroom.
“Tired,” she mutters as she starts to dig into the stack of pancakes. I watch as she eats.
Not only feeding herself but our babies in her belly. After four boys, we were positive the idea of a daughter was not in the cards for us. But the ultrasound last week told us a different story.
“How are they?” I ask, rubbing her belly. She is only five months along, but carrying twins, she is getting bigger and more beautiful.
“Happy. They’re letting me eat, so they must be in a good mood.”
“Daddy’s pancakes do that.” I wink, puffing my chest out proudly. She laughs, leaning into me and holding my face with her two hands, her nose bumping mine.
“Snow this is what happily ever after’s are made of, huh?” she says softly, and and I kiss her. Letting my lips linger for a moment longer than I should before I nod against her.
“This is definitely a happily ever after kind of love,” I confirm.
“Thank you,” she sighs happily. I look at her for a moment for her to explain. “Thank you for this. Us. Our life and family. I love you and—”
“Shh,” I cut her off, because I know we only have a couple of minutes before one of the boys gets up, and there is no way we have enough time for me to show her how much I love when she’s sweet like this.
“Eli and Stella got the kids tonight,” I announce my surprise. Her dark eyes light up with joy.
“They do?”
“Oh yeah. Mommy and Daddy get a sleepover.”
“We do?” Her smile grows so bright her eyes are tiny.
“Yup.” I pull away and steal a piece of fruit from her tray. “So, take it easy today at the bakery,” I urge. Yup. She still works at the bakery. Though now that they have three locations, she is no longer Eli’s employee but his business partner.
“Owen—"
“I’m gonna tire you out tonight and show you just how fucking thankful I am for you. For every day since you said ‘I do’ and every minute since you came into this house when your car broke down.”
And that isn’t just a fucking promise; it’s a vow. I would spend every hour of every day showing her just how uch I love and appreciate her until the day I die.
“Can we pretend there is a blizzard outside like the one that brought us together?”
“Hell ya,” I growl, and she giggles. “But without needing to get a flat tire this time.”Just as our lips touch again, our bedroom door bursts open and rushing in come two of our four boys, jumping on our bed as the room fills with love and giggles.
And fuck if that isn’t the best sound ever.