Epilogue
Ten Years Later
“I don’t like him,” Axel said.
“You don’t like anyone I date!” Adeline folded her arms across her chest and glared at him.
Did she not remember a time she actually liked him? Adeline was not too fond of her father, especially as she had brought a boy home, and Axel knew that kid’s type.
“You’re not going out with him again. I don’t care what you say.”
“Mom!” Adeline screamed. “Dad’s being a dick again.”
“Watch your language.” Axel frowned and lightly bounced his two-year-old in his arms. “You’re not going to speak to me like that, are you? You’re going to become a nun and not even look at boys or girls.” He looked down at little Erica’s face, and he felt so much love for his youngest.
As if right on cue, his two boys, Steven and Seely, came rushing in. Steven was the oldest at ten, Seely was eight. Both of which were little terrors.
They were constantly pulling pranks, and he and Joey seemed to always be at the school for mischief that had been reported. They were good kids but were easily distracted, and the truth was, the school wasn’t challenging them enough.
The principal was able to keep them occupied with the additional work. This was all great, only it was summer vacation, and between the coffee shop and his own work, it was hard to keep them active.
Adeline often helped as she took them to the park most days. Only, he heard through town gossip that her boyfriend kept stopping by, and they spent it making out. She always had an eye on the kids.
Steven and Seely had told the truth about that, as they tried to leave the park, and Adeline stopped them.
He stepped out into the backyard and watched as Marshall and Alice were enjoying some iced coffee. Joey was at the barbeque pit, with Lilah at her hip.
Four kids and counting.
He and Joey had just gotten the news this morning that her morning sickness was in fact another pregnancy.
Adeline, Steven, Seely, Lilah, and Erica, with another on the way. After he had proposed, he asked Joey if she would move in with him.
She agreed and put her home on the market.
It had been a good time to sell, and she made a good profit.
That money had been invested into their home, as he put her name on the deed, and they had extended his home.
Now they had a six-bedroom house. All he had done was build an extension for bedrooms.
Ten years of marriage. It had been a tough marriage, but an amazing one at the same time. They were in love.
He went to Joey and kissed her on the neck.
“Hello, beautiful,” he said.
Going back to his Uncle Rick’s bar that night was the best decision he had made. He knew he had shocked the town by falling in love and marrying Joey. Some of the women had tried to cause trouble, but he and Joey were solid.
He had a family. His Uncle Rick had told him his father would be proud. Speaking of his Uncle Rick, he joined them, as did Ashley and her family.
They were one big, happy family, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. He didn’t even realize what he was missing, but now he was glad he had taken that step.
The End
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