Epilogue
PENNY
“Idon’t think you realize just how lucky we are that Mateo and Nikki are so willing to let us use their property as a sort of no-man’s-land,” River mused as she placed a beautiful white cake on the table.
Penny chuckled. “Oh, believe me, I know. I don’t think there is any way Royce’s father would allow his daughters to cross the fence for something as ordinary as a baby shower.”
River scrunched up her face. “He might as well get used to it. The baby is going to be born eventually. And that means he’s going to have to be on his best behavior.”
“According to Royce, his dad is still struggling. Lincoln too.” Penny adjusted a stack of napkins beside the cake. “It’s a hard thing to rewire your brain after going so long without seeing a whole family as real people.”
River’s expression softened.
Penny gave her a pointed look. “Just be grateful you only have your wayward sister to deal with.”
River sighed. “Skye is a different issue all on her own.”
“Has she been taken into custody since that one time?”
Based on the flat look River shot in her direction, Penny took that as a yes. She grimaced as she adjusted the banner draped across the edge of the table.
“How is my brother handling it? He’s always been more of a control freak.”
River shrugged. “It’s different when it’s not your sister, you know?
I think it’s easier for him to separate from things like that.
Honestly, now that you’ve gotten your stuff with Royce figured out, he’s doing really well.
” She flashed a wide smile. “Have you visited your mom lately? She’s been doing really good every time we’ve gone to see her. ”
Penny nodded, a hand absently on her belly. “I’m not sure we’re ready to put her in a memory care facility yet, but I can sense it’s coming. It makes me nervous. Sometimes I go to see her and she doesn’t remember that I’m pregnant. Then I turn around and I can see the confusion on her face.”
“Aiden has been a lifesaver,” River mused. “He’s been taking small shifts when your mother’s nurse needs time off.”
Penny nodded. “I don’t know what we would have done without him.” She chewed on her lower lip. “Have you ever gotten the sense that he’s…”
River glanced at her, pausing in her efforts to put out the plates and cutlery. “What?”
Heaving a sigh, Penny shook her head.
“No, none of that. What is it?”
“I don’t know. I get this feeling he’s hiding something. Every time we bump into each other and I ask him if I can set him up on a date, he changes the subject.”
River’s eyes widened. “You think he’s seeing someone?”
“That’s just it. He’s always been the kind of guy who doesn’t want to settle down. I can’t see anyone convincing him that it’s time.”
They sat in silence for a long moment until footsteps approached.
“Hey, cuz. Rose wanted me to bring the cookies over here. Where do you want them?”
Lily held out a tray of adorable white onesie cookies. Some had pink bows, others had blue ones.
Penny pointed to the end of the table. “Over there is good.”
Lily smiled, then propped her hip against the table. “Mathew said this was a coed baby shower, right?”
River nodded. “Yeah. Royce figured it would be easier that way.”
Lily started to say something, but then the sound died in her throat. Her cheeks burst into color, and she looked away, her fingers fiddling with her red locks. “I’m gonna… I’ll just… I need to see if…”
“Hey, Lils. Fancy seeing you here.”
Penny jumped at Aiden’s voice coming so close behind her. She cut him a dark look. “You really shouldn’t sneak up on a pregnant woman. What if you’re responsible for my water breaking?”
He arched a brow. “Easy, tiger. Besides, who’s the one with the medical background? I’m sure we’d have everything covered.”
His focus drifted away, but only for a second before he shoved a tray of brownies in her direction. “Here. Mathew insisted I bring these.”
She barely had time to get a good hold on the brownies before he darted away.
River laughed.
“What?” Penny demanded, irritation flaring.
“I think we just found the answer to your earlier question.” She jerked her chin toward Aiden, who was now speaking with Mathew, but his eyes were glued to where Lily was speaking to her twin.
Penny gasped. “No.”
“What? You don’t think they’d be good together?” River cocked her head, and a soft smile tugged at her lips.
Penny shook her head and grabbed River’s forearm, turning her away. Some part of her knew that if Mathew was paying attention to his fiancée, then he’d see what River was so interested in, and then Aiden would have it coming.
“Penny! What are you doing?” River laughed, still craning her neck around.
Penny leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Mathew has one rule. He’s normally a very easygoing kind of guy and a supportive brother. But he will not stand for his friends dating his family. That includes sisters and cousins.”
River laughed but soon swallowed it when she realized Penny was being serious. “But Aiden… he’s a decent guy.”
“I know. And honestly, he’s harmless. But Mathew won’t allow it. Weird, but that’s his thing.” Penny glanced over to Aiden, relieved he wasn’t being so obvious now. “I honestly think Mathew wouldn’t care if Aiden wanted to date an ex. But family has always been off-limits.”
She said it more to herself than to River, but she got a response anyway.
“Hmm.”
Penny cut River a look. “What? What are you thinking?”
River shrugged, a twinkle in her eye. “I don’t know. I think I’m in the mood to play matchmaker.”
Penny palmed her forehead. “No. And definitely not Lily with Aiden. They couldn’t be more different. She’s a romantic. And he…” She shook her head. “He’d never settle down.”
“What would you say to making a wager?”
Penny opened her mouth, but before she could shut River down, a pair of arms wrapped around her middle.
“What’s this about a wager?” Royce mused beside her ear, setting off a slew of goosebumps.
She groaned, leaning into his strong frame. “It’s nothing.”
“Yeah,” River nodded. “Just wondering if we can get Aiden to finally settle down.”
Royce glanced in Aiden’s direction, and his smile turned a little too pleased.
Penny turned in his arms and held up both hands. “No. Nope. Neither of you are going to do this. Promise me.”
Her friend and her husband exchanged glances.
Then Royce winked and pulled away.
“Royce!”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I know better than to get on your bad side. I wouldn’t dream of interfering with my brother-in-law’s best friend.”
Sarcasm dripped from his voice, but he was too far from her now.
Penny groaned, her head falling back.
“Sooo…” River drawled.
A sigh burst from Penny’s lips. “Yeah, okay. But you can’t tell Mathew.”
“Deal.”
River hurried off before Penny could change her mind, leaving Penny standing beside the dessert table with one hand on her belly and the other pressed to her forehead.
She was going to regret this.
Probably.
A warm hand settled at the small of her back, and she didn’t have to turn around to know who it belonged to. Her body knew Royce before her mind caught up. It always had.
“You all right, dream girl?” he murmured.
Penny let herself lean back against him. Across the yard, River was already watching Aiden and Lily with far too much interest. Mathew, thankfully, remained oblivious.
“For now,” Penny said. “Though I probably shouldn’t have just agreed to let River meddle in someone else’s love life.”
Royce chuckled and slid his hand around to rest against her belly. “You never know. Look what happened with us.”
“You are not allowed to encourage this.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll leave it be.” His grin softened as he rubbed a gentle circle over her belly. Then his gaze dropped to where their baby rested between them. “Can’t wait to meet this little one.”
Penny covered his hand with hers, her heart full in a way she still wasn’t used to. “Me neither.”
Royce kissed her temple. “Looks like we’re getting our happily-ever-after.”
She smiled and leaned into him. “And I’m not taking a second of it for granted.”