Epilogue | Aiden | Two and a Half Years Later
Holiday lights twinkle along the storefronts lining the streets of downtown Charleston, casting a festive glow on the historic buildings. Tonight is the National Storm Tracking Institute’s annual holiday party and my wife is glowing nearly as bright as the thirty foot Christmas tree in the square up ahead.
“It’s not always this busy, is it?” I murmur, pumping the brakes as I navigate the bustling streets and curse the stop and go traffic.
A quick glance at the passenger seat confirms Kate’s fighting a smile at my frustration. “During the summer, it’s worse.”
“How you’ve managed this drive in this traffic twice a week for two years, I’ll never know.”
Kate’s dedication, hard work, and determination landed her here after Hurricane Aiden reunited us and she put in for a transfer, only taking the job after negotiating a partially remote schedule so she could live in Love Beach with me.
“Not for much longer, though.” Kate’s hand slides up to rest on her protruding belly and her wide smile fades. The mixed emotions she’s been wrestling with for months dance across her face in the shadows.
I thought once she decided to transition from senior field agent to data analyst in anticipation of our little one’s arrival, she’d feel a sense of peace. But ever since the day last week Kate came home and told me she’d officially accepted the transfer, my lovely wife has been out of sorts. And nothing I can do or say seems to help.
I reach over and rest my hand on her thigh, giving it a warm squeeze. “I’m looking forward to the party tonight. You look as beautiful as ever.”
A hint of a smile returns as her fingers weave between mine. “It will be fun. And likely our last night out. For a while, at least.”
“Which is why,” I say, unable to conceal the surprise I’ve kept under wraps for days any longer, “I booked us a room at Hotel Bennett for the evening.”
Kate spins toward me, her mouth agape. “You did?”
I lift a shoulder. “I want you to enjoy yourself and not feel rushed to cut the evening short because of the long drive home.”
“But I don’t have a change of clothes or pajamas or—”
“You had nothing the night we spent in the lifeguard tower during Hurricane Aiden either, but—”
“That was different,” she says, swatting my arm as she laughs. “I wasn’t wearing a dress then and definitely wasn’t eight months pregnant.”
“Good thing I planned ahead, then.” I tilt my chin toward the back. “The bag I packed for you with anything and everything you might need is in the trunk.”
“Thank you.” She slides a hand over to my thigh and up, over the smooth fabric of my pants, heading toward my crotch. “But maybe there are some highlights of that night we can replay.”
Her sultry voice makes my cock twitch, but I snatch up her hand and brush my lips against her knuckles before she can reach her destination. I’m already hard as a rock and with the NSTI field office coming into sight, it’s going to be a few hours, at least, until I have my wife alone.
“I can think of nothing I’d like more. As long as you don’t disappear tomorrow morning without a trace.”
It’s her turn to lift a shoulder and shoot me a saucy smile. “I have no doubt you’d track me down. Even across state lines if necessary.”
She knows me well. “Damn straight.”
We pull up to the Charleston field office, its entrance adorned with an oversized wreath and lush green garland. This NSTI building is nothing like the gleaming glass and steel fa?ade of the multi-story Miami headquarters. And the lobby is nothing like where I confessed my love for Kate, but it’s buzzing with activity, the party already in full swing.
Laughter and music spill out into the cool night air as we head inside. Kate’s step quickens, her eagerness warming my heart as I rest my palm on the small of her back.
Once inside, Elaine, Kate’s boss and good friend, spots us from across the room and makes her way over with a broad smile. “Kate, there you are. And Aiden, great to see you again.”
“You as well,” I reply with a hug for this woman who’s been a generous and thoughtful mentor to Kate ever since she started here in Charleston. “Is Greg here?” I ask, glancing around for Elaine’s husband.
“Yes,” she answers. “And he’s looking for you. I believe he has some advice for the soon to be new dad.”
“I could use that.” Especially from a man who’s a father of six. I spot Greg over by the bar, but before I can excuse myself, Elaine detains me with a hand on my arm.
“Before you go, I have some news to share with Kate, and I want you to hear it, too.”
“What’s that?” My lovely wife’s brows come together, but the smile Elaine’s biting back tells me it’s good news.
Elaine’s eyes twinkle as she leans in conspiratorially. “You know that improvement you’ve been tinkering with to extend the radiosondes’s range?”
“Yes…” Kate replies, a hopeful look filling her features.
“We’ve gotten the green light from the national office to fund a pilot and test a dozen next season.”
Kate’s jaw drops, and my heart swells with pride and love.
“Really?” Kate stammers, her voice thick with emotion.
Elaine nods and turns to me. “Kate’s design shows a lot of potential for keeping our field agents further out of harm’s way.”
“Anything that keeps folks out of danger and coming home to their loved ones after tracking a storm is worth exploring.”
Elaine nods. “I couldn’t agree more.” She pulls Kate in for a side hug. “The NSTI is lucky to have you, Kate. Your work has been invaluable and I’m sure it will continue to be for many more years, no matter what your role is.”
Kate’s green eyes are moist as she presses her lips together. I open my arms and she slips into my embrace. I drop a kiss on her hair. “The NSTI is lucky, no doubt, but not nearly as fortunate as I am to have Kate in my life.”
A faint pink tinge heats my wife’s cheeks as she looks up at me. “I couldn’t do any of this without your support, Aiden.”
“If you’ll excuse me,” Elaine says with a smile, slipping away to leave the two of us alone for a moment.
The party continues around us, but fades into the background as I think back to everything Kate and I have been through, the challenges and triumphs that have brought us to this point. She leans her head on my shoulder, and a sense of contentment I can’t put into words fills me.
“Aiden,” Kate whispers, her arms tightening around my waist.
“Hmm?” I murmur.
“What do you say we cut this party short tonight?”
I draw back, studying her face as concern shoots through my chest. “Are you not feeling well?”
“Quite the opposite, actually,” she replies, pressing up for a lingering kiss. “I’m just in the mood for a different kind of party. One between you and me.”
I sweep a hand around the nape of her neck and press a kiss full of promise against her full lips as my suddenly stiff erection nudges her belly. “You don’t have to ask me twice.”