Epilogue
EPILOGUE
TWO YEARS LATER…
R ex pushed back the garage door to the home he and Tilly had bought not far from the marina. He’d made the decision to stay with the Aegis Network, and he fulfilled his dream to be an arson investigator with the local fire department. His assignments with the Aegis Network kept him closer to home, especially now that they had little Annabelle Louisa. His heart physically hurt just thinking about leaving her for any length of time.
Being at work during the day was hard enough.
“I hear Daddy,” Tilly cooed.
“Da Da,” Annabelle screamed as she wobbled down the hallway, her hands flapping in the air. At fifteen months, she was an inquisitive ball of energy. Just like her mother.
Being the father of a daughter was going to be the death of him, especially since she already showed signs of being boy crazy. All she talked about was little Tommy who lived next door.
“How’s my baby girl?” He bent over and scooped her into his arms, brushing away her long blond locks, just like her mother.
“Good.” She cupped his face with her pudgy little hands and pursed her lips. “Mommy had bad day.”
“Oh no, what’s happened?” Tilly had made the decision to create her own foundation to help create safe environments for women and children who suffered abuse. This had been a huge undertaking, but the millions of dollars they had between both families wasn’t doing anyone any good sitting in some stock or bond.
“Mommy sick! She been on sofa and can’t play with me.”
“Then we best get inside and help her out tonight.” He set Annabelle down, who went running off into the family room, bouncing twice off the walls, giggling all the way. She jumped on the couch where Tilly had stretched out her legs.
“Hey, babe, what’s going on?”
“Not dinner,” she said with a weak smile. “I feel like death.”
“I think I can handle cooking tonight. Did you have something in mind?”
“I took out chicken, but when I was preparing it, I barfed.” She cocked a brow.
“Stay away from me, then. Last thing I need is the stomach bug.”
“You can’t get this kind of ailment,” she said, shifting to a sitting position. “Annabelle, will you go get Mommy the crackers?”
“All sicknesses are contagious.” He sat down next to the woman who would forever rock his world, pressing the back of his hand on her cheek, but she didn’t feel warm. “A few people have been out sick at the station. Something is going around.”
“Morning sickness is not contagious.”
“Ha ha. It’s evening and… no.” He dropped his hand to his thigh. “Seriously. We weren’t even trying and you’re pregnant?”
She nodded. “I took the test this morning when the smell of coffee made me want to puke my guts out. What is it with you? We go without birth control once or twice and I’m knocked up.”
“We’re going to have another kid?” He pointed to Annabelle, who handed Tilly a sleeve of saltines. “Two of those little things bouncing around like basketballs?”
Annabelle jumped up on his lap. “What little things, Da Da? I’m not a ball. I’m a girl!”
“Mommy’s going to have a baby.” Tears stung the corners of his eyes. “What do you think about that, Annabelle?”
“Yay!” She kissed his lips before jumping down and running off toward her toys in the middle of the room. The kid couldn’t sit still for a second.
He looped his arm around Tilly, pulling her close. “I’m sorry our babies make you sick.”
“It’s only for a few months,” she said, smiling. “I’m more concerned about how you’re going to be when she starts dating.”
“I’ll be fine, because she won’t be allowed to date. Ever. No boy is going to try to kiss my little girl.”
“Because she’s going to take after her mother and kiss them first.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he muttered. “This one better be a boy so he can help me scare the crap out of her suitors, starting with little Tommy next door.”
“Speaking of which, they have a playdate tomorrow afternoon. Since you’re off work and I’ll be sick, you get to play chaperone.” Tilly poked his arm. “And they’re babies, so don’t start with talk about how he can’t date your daughter. It freaks people out.”
“Yeah, well, they were playing doctor the other day. That freaked me out.” He eased back onto the sofa, resting Tilly’s head in his lap, stroking her long blond hair, while he watched his precious daughter play with her new favorite dolly. “They were running around in their diapers with?—”
“That’s normal, Rex. And someday she’s going to grow up, fall in love with some amazing fellow like you?—”
“Who broke her mother’s heart like an asshole.” He leaned over and kissed Tilly’s forehead.
“Anyone ever tell you that you say the dumbest things sometimes?”
“Yeah, my wife. Every day.”
Tilly laughed. “Are you ready to do this all over again?”
“About as ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Da Da!” Annabelle came rushing over. “Wanna play wedding? We can get married.”
“Absolutely.” Gently, he slipped from the sofa and scooped up his baby girl, twirling her around. “Remember, someday when you’re much older and some guy tries to take you away, I loved you first.”
Thank you for taking the time to read REX’S HONOR. Please feel free to leave an honest review. Next up in the series is KENT’S HONOR.
Grab a glass of vino, kick back, relax, and let the romance roll in…