Epilogue 1 Year Later
STELLA
“Whoa there. What do you think you’re doing?” Eli comes flying down the stairs as if the house is on fire, bare feet pounding, hair still damp from the shower. He’d promised himself extra sleep before tonight’s game, which means something must be very wrong.
“Like my text to you said just now, I’m taking Aiden to get a haircut,” I reply calmly, sliding my purse over my shoulder. “School pictures are next week.”
Our son barely looks up from the ham sandwich he’s annihilating at the island.
“No can do, baby mama,” Eli says, planting himself squarely between me and our son, his hands also on my growing belly where our daughter is percolating. “You’d be violating the Law of the Streak.”
I blink. Then sigh. “Oh, right.”
How could I forget this law from college, the year he grew his hair out and refused to shave because the team kept winning? They won the Cup—and I won, too, when he dragged that stubble along my inner thighs like he knew exactly what he was doing.
“But come on,” I say. “Surely those laws don’t apply until he’s at least in juniors.”
“They fully apply to any age group,” Eli replies gravely. “You don’t fu—mess with it. His team is on a winning streak, and tonight they’re taking the big W for the season.”
The two of them fist-bump across the island.
Aiden looks up. “Yeah, Mom. You don’t fu… with it.”
I glare at him. “Two minutes ago, you probably never even heard of that law.”
“And now I have,” he says, crossing his arms. Just like Eli.
The resemblance still hits me sometimes—bone deep. Same mouth. Same stubborn chin. Pretty blue eyes that carry so much love and heart. Both with enough confidence to carry them through anything.
I shake my head, defeated. “Fine. But when he looks like a sheepdog in school photos, this is on you.”
Eli grins. “I accept full responsibility.” He steals a kiss and then dashes away.
“Well, you’re off the hook.” I wink at Aiden. “I’ll be in the office until it’s time to go to the game.”
“Good because the new Mighty Thor comic book came out. I’ll be reading in my room.”
I head down the hall to what is currently the headquarters of the foundation we run. Life looks different now, much better than a year ago, so different than how I expected things to turn out.
Aiden’s last name is now Lewis. We got it legally changed, and it’s proudly worn on his jersey for the Boulder team Eli co-coaches when his schedule allows. The day we signed the paperwork to change the last name, Eli cried harder than he did the night he found out Aiden was his.
I finished my degree, and Eli also teared up the day I walked the stage for it, telling me how proud he was to see me finish something I set out to do so long ago.
Instead of getting a job teaching like I’d planned, I stepped into something more meaningful to us.
Officially, I’m the head of the new Lewis Foundation for Children.
Unofficially, I try to keep Eli from spending every dime of his money frivolously.
Oh, we still give generously, but with planned intent.
Between Renae and me, we let Eli dream and come up with crazy ideas, but now we take all those ideas, figure out the best of them, and plan for them like a proper business might do.
What started as Eli’s passion project has grown into ours. We fund skating programs for kids who can’t afford them. Adaptive equipment. After-school tutoring. Therapy services. Even support for training pound puppies to become emotional support dogs. It’s bigger than hockey now.
Renae still runs accounting like a queen, but I’m the one coordinating families and programming, and sitting cross-legged on the floor with kids who just need someone to see them.
I love it. And I love we get to do good with Eli’s fortune.
Mostly, I love our little family. I sit in my office chair and rub my belly. This little girl is due in about four months or so—and yes, Eli cried buckets of tears the day he found out he would be a father again. I love that when he cries, it’s for the big things.
Later, after Aiden’s Pee-Wee team wins their game, of course there has to be celebratory ice cream. Aiden stocks us up at the store on the way home. I’ve been craving this for a week, so perfect timing with the win.
It doesn’t take long for three empty pints and spoons to litter the coffee table as we lounge comfortably watching a movie together. I enjoyed chocolate fudge swirl, peanut butter cream for Eli, and cotton candy for Aiden.
We’re all in sweats because we’re kind of a casual family like that. Zammie sprawls in his dog bed near the couch, his pup cup devoured as well.
I’m curled into one corner, feet propped in Eli’s lap while he rubs slow, steady circles into my arches.
The kind of touch that says he knows exactly how sore I am without me having to explain the trials of pregnancy in the fifth month.
My belly is rounder now—undeniable and hard to hide—and every so often I rest my hand there, grounding myself in the quiet miracle growing inside me.
This is the life I used to believe only happened to other people—and now it’s mine despite everything that happened last year. I try not to think about how easily it could’ve been stolen from us because of a lie. We’ve chosen to move forward instead.
Eli and Aiden make up for lost time almost every day; now best buddies, practically joined at the hip.
Aiden is a rising star on his team, and Eli proudly coaches him along when he can in-between his own hockey schedule.
But I hope he’ll find another passion too, as he grows older, something to balance his life out with hockey.
When the movie is over, I’m ready for bed. Aiden glances at my stomach, then at Eli, then back to me.
“So, if I have a sister on the way, don’t you think it’s time you’re married to Mom?”
Silence drops into the room. Eli’s hands go still on my feet. My breath gets caught somewhere in my chest. Even Zammie lifts his head, tilting it to the right, tail giving a few lazy thumps like What did he just ask?
I look at Eli. He looks at me.
“That is a fair question,” Eli says gently, eyes never leaving mine. We’d talked about it before, but agreed to wait. To let everything settle into place. To give Aiden and Eli the time they deserved—time that had already been taken once.
Aiden’s gaze bounces between us. “I mean, we all live together and you saved me. So…”
My eyes sting. Eli inhales slowly, then whistles. Zammie’s ears perk instantly.
“Hey, buddy,” Eli says casually. “Bring it here.”
Zammie trots over and jumps up, tail wagging like crazy. Something glints against his collar as he sits obediently in front of Eli.
I notice it before I understand it.
“Oh my God,” I whisper. Eli unties a ring from his collar.
My hands shake as he puts it on my finger. It’s classically elegant, not over-the-top. A perfect three-carat diamond that catches the light. I told him before I would accept nothing over three, and he delivered. I don’t need a huge ring, just this.
“Beautiful.” I admire it at first, then I side-eye. “Be honest. Did Renae help you pick this out?” She’s quite the indispensable assistant now to both of us.
“No, I did,” Aiden chimes in, shocking me. “We went to the jewelry store together, Dad and me. Right after he asked if I’d give my blessing to marry you.”
My hand flies to my heart. “Oh my God, really?”
Eli observes me. “I didn’t want a huge proposal moment. I wanted a real one. Right here in our home, within our little family.”
Tears spill before I can stop them.
“I love you, Stella,” he continues. “I love our son, our daughter in your belly, and Zammie, too. We’ve waited long enough for this. It’s time to make you my wife.”
He shifts off the couch onto his knee. “If you’ll marry me,” he says softly, “I’ll spend my life protecting you, loving you fiercely, and choosing our family every single day. So, Stella, take my last name and let me make you mine forever.”
My chest fills, ready to burst if I don’t say something immediately.
“Yes,” I breathe. “Yes, I want to. I don’t know when or how with the baby coming, but yes.”
“We’ll figure it out.” Relief washes over his face. He exhales like he’s been holding his breath for years.
“Oh!” I gasp. My hand jumps to my belly.
Eli’s eyes snap to mine. “What is it?”
I press my palm on a certain spot. “She just kicked for the first time.”
He shifts between my legs, pressing a warm hand there over mine. “She did?”
“Oh another! It’s kind a ticklish,” I chuckle, forgetting how this felt with Aiden. When I was pregnant with him, my stressful life at the time swallowed so much of it. I didn’t get moments like this. I’m grateful to have another chance with Eli to experience it with me too.
Another flutter. Stronger this time.
Aiden gasps. “I wanna feel!”
He scrambles over, placing his hand next to ours.
There it is again.
We all share a laugh. Our hearts beating together on this couch in one small, perfect moment.
A year ago, our lives changed, bringing us all together.
Tonight, we choose each other—completely, forever, as a family.
I hope you enjoyed Sticking a Second Chance.