Epilogue
TONY
Six years later…
Caroline clutches the phone to her ear, the tense look on her face giving nothing away. The sound of children playing in the garden sweeps in from the open French doors, but all adult eyes are on my wife.
“This is tenser than that black ops mission in Helmand,” Leo quips. Some of the guys chuckle, breaking the tension, but I keep my eyes firmly on Caroline.
“Aha…” she says into the phone.
Then her mouth drops open, and she turns to face her waiting fans. Her eyes find mine as they light up with joy.
“You won!”
I jump up from the couch and punch the air. The room explodes in cheers and clapping, and Caroline does a little happy jig.
She waves her hand at us to be quiet as she stalks into the kitchen, trying to listen to the person on the other end of the phone.
When she comes out a few moments later, I’ve got the champagne bottle ready to go.
“I won,” she says simply to more cheers.
My arm goes around my wife, and I couldn’t feel prouder. She’s just won the Californian Small Business Award.
After all those years of hard work, it’s finally paying off. The prize money will mean her plans for expansion to other states can go ahead.
She’s already picked out warehouses in Oregon and two new store fronts. But it’s not just the prize money. It’s validation.
Finally, it’s official. My wife is as amazing as I’ve always known she is.
Seth pops the champagne cork, and the kids come running inside to see what all the noise is.
There’s lots of hugging and back slapping, and with all the commotion going on, Charlie starts crying.
“Okay, everybody out.”
The red scrunched-up face of our grandson causes Caroline to hustle everyone out of the room and into the garden.
She picks up our grandson, who immediately settles in the familiar arms of his nanna.
“I’m so proud of you, Mom.”
Amy gives Caroline a hug and goes to take Charlie off her, but Caroline pulls the baby closer to her chest.
“I’ll take him for a bit, love. You relax.”
Amy gives her a grateful look. With a three-year-old and a one-year-old, our daughter has her hands full.
Mia comes running in on her unsteady legs, and my granddaughter squeals as I scoop her up into my arms.
I used to regret not having more children with Caroline, but now that we’re grandparents, I don’t regret it at all. We get all the cuddles and all the fun, and we get to hand them back at the end of the day.
I make my way to the backyard where Kieren’s got the BBQ going.
The yard is overrun by kids chasing each other barefoot, playing some game that us adults aren’t privy too.
There’s a slap on my shoulder, and I turn to find Bronn.
“She done good.”
Bronn stands rigid, always the military man, as solid and uncompromising as ever. His military demeanor contrasts with the sleeping baby in a frilly pink hat he’s wearing in a baby carrier around his chest.
“Thanks, man.”
They all came to support Caroline today, my ex-military family. If she won, it would be a celebration. If she lost, we’d celebrate anyway. Because there’s a lot to be thankful for in this life.
“Can I have some cake, Daddy?”
Marissa, Bronn’s oldest, pulls at his hand, and he gives her a stern look.
“The cake is for dessert, baby.”
Her bottom lip wobbles, and she looks up at him with wide, pitiful eyes.
“Okay, just a little bit,” he relents.
I shake my head as she leads him off to the food table. That girl has her daddy wrapped tightly around her little finger.
I find a place on the low wall to lean against, and Caroline comes to join me with Charlie asleep in her arms.
I love my wife so much I married her twice. The second ceremony was as quiet as the first but with a better party afterwards.
My arm goes around her, and I take a sip of beer as I survey the chaos in my backyard.
My ex-military brothers all had their families later in life. Caroline and I have become the grandparents for all, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
We love having everyone over, and since we moved into a house on the beachfront with a bigger garden, there’s room for everyone.
I built a treehouse for the kids and installed a slide set and jungle gym. My brothers know they’re welcome here any time.
I love the chaos, but what I love most of all is the end of the day when everyone goes home. Caroline and I will sit on the porch with drinks in hand, looking out at the ocean and enjoying the peace and quiet.
There were a lot of years we missed out on, but we’ve made up for it over the last six since we got back together.
I love my extended family, and most of all, I love my wife.
Want more books set on the Sunset Coast? If you love bad boys and curvy girls then you’ll love the Underground Crows MC series.
She's my enemy's daughter and my new obsession…
After three years inside, there's only one thing I want: revenge.
But when a retaliation goes wrong, I find myself with a fire cat captive—Scarlett, my enemy’s daughter.
She’s half my age and dripping with innocence. Scarlett becomes my revenge, and it’s never been sweeter. But when her father comes for her, there’s no way I’m giving her up.