Epilogue
Five months later…
Sloane
“Sweetness, do you think I should pack my—”
I stopped short when I saw her bent over the sink washing her face wearing her royal blue nightie.
That’s my future wife. And she’s fucking hot.
She reached for a towel and patted her face dry.
“I’m sorry, babe, what did you say?”
“I was just going to ask if you thought I should pack a swimsuit?”
“I’m going to. It might still be a little chilly in South Carolina, but you never know. And I think the bed and breakfast in Cape Cod has a hot tub.”
We were making a whirlwind four-day trip to the East Coast; going to Boston so I could meet with the woman who’d gotten me my job with Armstrong Labs, Grace’s sister—and Travis’s sister-in-law—Hope Ericson. The brains behind the state-of-the-art prosthetic I was currently fitted with,
Hope co-owned a B you’re beautiful just how you are. But I understand feeling self-conscious about how you look, probably better than most, and if having your birthmark permanently removed will make you feel more confident, then I think you should do it.”
She turned to face me, and the thin strap of her nightie fell off her shoulder, giving me a peek of one perfect tit. I couldn’t help but reach out and pull her closer to me.
“Millie’s no longer breastfeeding; there’s no reason you shouldn’t do it, baby.”
“Actually… I’m not a good candidate for”—she counted on her fingers—“at least another year. Probably longer.”
I felt my brows knit together in confusion.
“I don’t understand. Why not?”
“I can’t do laser when I’m pregnant or breastfeeding.”
“But Millie’s been wea—” Then it dawned on me what she was saying, and my hands moved from her back to her stomach as my eyes grew wide.
“ Are you pregnant ?”
She nodded her head with her lips pursed.
“You and your super sperm did it again. I’m getting an implant next time.”
I kissed her belly over the satin fabric, while rubbing my hands in circles at the same time.
“Hey, little one. I can’t wait to meet you.” I knew I was grinning ear-to-ear when I looked up at her. “When did you find out?”
“I took a home test yesterday but did a blood test today at work just to be sure before I told you.”
“Do you know how far along you are?”
“Ten weeks.”
I did the math in my head.
“You’d only been on birth control a month. Maybe we didn’t give it enough time to take effect.”
“Maybe. I’m glad you’re going to be around this time when I go through my really horny phase.”
“There’s a really horny phase? Like more than you already are?”
She playfully shoved my shoulder.
“You’re the one who’s always pawing at me, pal.”
“You can’t blame me. My fiancée is hawt .” I grabbed her ass and squeezed. “When does this really horny phase kick in?”
“Unfortunately, not until the morning sickness subsides,” she said, then made a mad dash to the toilet.
****
Ashley
I solemnly laid the bouquet of red and white flowers on the grave marker for Shawn Patrick O’Brien, First Lieutenant of the United States Marine Corps.
He’d been only twenty-six years old.
“They promoted him,” Sloane said with a wistful smile as he laid a quarter next to the flowers.
I knew leaving the coin on the grave signified that Sloane had been with Shawn when he’d been killed. I blinked back tears, and standing on my tiptoes, I kissed Sloane’s cheek, then whispered, “I’ll give you some time alone.”
****
Sloane
I looked down at the stone bearing Shawn’s name as I started to speak softly.
“Sorry it took me so long.”
I paused, almost like I was waiting for him to reply.
“I’m marrying Ashley. Gave her a ring, just like you said. We have a little girl. Her name is Amelia Sloane Davidson, but we call her Millie. She’s beautiful.”
I tried to think of what else to tell him.
“I retired from the Marines. I see you were promoted. I hope Callahan was able to give Lainey her ring, and your parents honored your wishes about taking care of her financially.”
If I needed any proof that O’Brien was listening, I received it moments later when a pretty young blonde woman appeared with a little boy about Millie’s age.
Accompanied by Callahan himself.
“Cap’?” the young Marine asked with wide eyes.
“Hey, Adam. Good to see you.”
I offered my hand, which he shook with gusto.
“It’s good to see you, Sir. I never got a chance to thank you for saving my life.”
“Semper Fi.”
“I’m sorry for what happened to you.”
“I’m healing.” I lifted my pant leg to show my fake leg. “I’m part cyborg now.”
He smiled, then as if just realizing we weren’t alone, quickly gestured to his companion.
“This is Lainey. And this,” he ruffled the little man’s strawberry-blond hair, “is Conor Shawn O’Brien.”
Oh snap!
I quickly glanced at the woman’s hands. There was a diamond on her right hand, and I wondered if that was the ring.
Had Shawn known he was going to be a dad? I didn’t think so. It seemed like he would have mentioned it.
“Nice to meet you, Lainey.” Ashley was at my side now, so, I gestured to her. “This is my fiancée, Ashley.”
Adam’s eyebrows went to his hairline.
“ The Ashley? Pink-envelopes Ashley?”
That made her giggle what I’d come to learn was her embarrassed giggle, so I leaned over and said, “The men were all just jealous I had the best-smelling mail,” while he explained to Lainey why he’d just called Ashley, “Pink-envelopes Ashley.”
He turned back to Ash. “You made some fantastic desserts if I remember correctly. Thank you for those, ma’am.”
Her smile fell, and she put her hand to her hip.
“Did you just ma’am me?”
“I’m sorry, ma’am. I’m in the presence of a superior officer, my manners are on high alert.”
Smooth.
I nudged her with my shoulder. “You’re about to be a married woman, babe. I hate to break it to you, but you are a ma’am now.”
“I refuse to accept that.”
I shook my head with a smile, then nodded toward the little boy in Lainey’s arms.
“We have a daughter about Conor’s age.”
That was my not-so-subtle, nosy attempt to figure out if Conor was Shawn’s, or if I’d just made a wrong assumption.
“Yesterday was his first birthday,” Adam explained, then Lainey added, “So we thought we should come say hi to his dad.”
Not a wrong assumption.
I asked Adam, “Are you in town visiting?”
“No,” he glanced at his companions. “I, uh, moved here not long after I got out of the hospital. I’m with the Haven Springs Police Department now.”
I was dying to ask what compelled him to move to South Carolina, but I had a sneaky suspicion the answer was right in front of me.