Epilogue
Priscilla
Receiving is an act of courage. Trust it. Honor it. Allow the universe the pleasure of giving to you. Accept it.
-Cilla’s Post-it note
"Tiny, stay still." Serene places another sticker in the center of his forehead, then begins to line more over the curve of his eyebrow.
The big dog has his tongue hanging out from a corner of his mouth, and a long-suffering look on his face.
He makes a whining sound of protest deep in his throat but obeys Serene.
We’re at Arthur’s place for the weekly lunch. He’s seated by the fire in his comfortable armchair. It’s warm in the room, but when Imelda places a blanket over his legs, Arthur doesn’t protest. Fighting the Big C has left its mark on him.
Every time I see him, he seems older, frailer, more dependent, and hence, more accommodating of Imelda fussing over him. When we walked in here after lunch, Tiny flopped on the floor between them, but as soon as Serene entered the room, he switched loyalties.
"She has that dog wrapped around her finger." Tyler puts his arm around my shoulders and pulls me close. We’re standing by the window, watching our daughter pull out one of her face paints and begin to paint the Great Dane’s face.
The dog’s expression turns even more agonized, but he, gamely, stays in his place.
Nathan and Skylar are seated on a settee facing the fire, at a right angle to Arthur and Imelda.
They’re talking to Knox and June, both of whom are sprawled against the cushions on the carpet and in front of them.
Knox has an espresso next to him, and June is sipping from an herbal tea.
They look so happy together, and I'm glad we didn't go through with our ill-conceived plan.
Though we had dessert after lunch, trays of fruit have been laid out on the coffee table.
Connor, who normally skips these lunches, as he’s often away on one of his research trips, is the surprising addition. And Brody, too, is present. The two are at the bar close to us, with espresso cups in front of them.
Ryot is traveling with his wife.
Sinclair and Summer were invited, but they skipped the meal to take Matty to football practice and then, to martial arts. Summer tells me her son has so much pent-up energy, it's important to channel it into sports.
I love being here with the Davenports. There’s a feeling of family at these meals which fills me with contentment.
I look around at my husband, my child, my extended family, and allow a small smile to curve my lips.
I didn’t manifest a life. I became someone who could hold it.
It’s amazing how, when your dreams come true, you become more confident in yourself.
In your ability to manifest. In your ability to receive, so your dreams become inseparable from you.
Is this what all those self-help books meant by vibrating on the same wavelength as what you want so you could attract it?
I might never know, although I think so.
But the how seems inconsequential, compared to the reality of today. Now. When I’m happy. At peace.
Toren took the news of his new niece with surprising calm and a lot of excitement. He can’t wait to meet Serene. One thing I know about my brother? Even if Serene wasn’t biologically connected to me or him, he’d have accepted her right away.
"She seems fully recovered." Connor nods in my daughter’s direction.
Behind me, Tyler stiffens, as he often seems to do whenever the topic of Serene’s encounters with the woman who carried her comes up. I pat the arm he has wrapped around me, and some of the tension eases out of him.
"She’s doing well," he concedes. "She didn’t even have any nightmares after…what happened in our garden."
"She’s thriving." I smile without taking my gaze off Serene. "She’s started preschool and made new friends. Her teacher says she’s a happy child who’s inquisitive and loves drawing."
"It’s thanks to you." My husband kisses the top of my head. "You’re wonderful with her. You know when to be gentle with her and when to be firm. More than anything, your continued presence is a source of great comfort to her. She's secure in the knowledge her mom is here to stay."
"And, she has you too." I turn in his arms and wrap my arm about his neck. "You’ve come a long way from the man who didn’t know what to do with the baby who was deposited on your doorstep."
His smile dims a little. I know he’s thinking of the fact that it was also the day he asked me to leave him.
I’m sorry for having reminded him of that.
"What happened in the past doesn’t matter; it’s that we found ourselves again which does.
That we're a family. That’s a miracle I’ll never take for granted. "
"I’ll never take you for granted." He bends and captures my lips with his.
I push the fact that his brothers are watching and that the rest of his family are in the same room out of my mind and respond.
Within seconds, my heartbeat accelerates, and my pulse begins to pound.
That familiar melting sensation curls in my lower belly.
He releases my mouth to whisper, "Perhaps we should—"
"Mama. Papa.” There’s a tug on my dress.
He groans, a frustrated look in his eyes as he releases me.
"Yes, Poppet." He looks down.
"I want to go out and play with Tiny. Can I?"
"Of course." I bend and kiss her forehead.
"I’ll take her." Connor approaches us.
"Are you sure?" I frown.
"Yes, he is." Tyler picks up the little girl and pretends to eat her arm. She giggles. "You be good for Uncle Connor, okay?" He hands her into Connor’s waiting arms. Connor heaves her up to sit on his shoulders.
She squeals, grabs hold of his hair, and tugs. "Horsey. Horsey. Giddy-up, Horsey."
Connor chuckles and walks toward the door on the side of the room that leads out onto the patio.
"I’ll go keep an eye on them." Brody winks at us. "You two, carry on."
I flush. Tyler huffs out a laugh, then kisses me again. "There’s a guest room upstairs which is free. We could—"
"Nope! Absolutely not. You can control yourself until we reach home."
"Can I?" His eyes heat. "I’d rather use the little free time we have to be inside you with your hot, wet pussy milking my cock."
My flush deepens. I slap at his chest. "Keep your voice down; the others will hear us."
"They’re too busy catching up." He bends and kisses my lips again softly. "What do you say? An after-lunch quickie?"
"You’re never quick," I remind him, half amused.
"Only because I want to pleasure you thoroughly before I come inside you."
My cheeks turn to fire, which elicits a delighted laugh from him.
Our gazes meet, hold. That indescribable something flares between us again. His arms around me tighten. "I love you so fucking much."
"I love you," I say without hesitation. The more times I say it, the deeper the emotions I have for him grow. The more time I spend with Serene, the more the both of them become a part of me. What I feel for them is woven through my DNA, coiled in my cells, laced through my bloodstream. I am them, and they are me. We are a unit. It’s us against the world. I’ve found my safe space, and I’m so thankful to the universe for bringing me here.
The door at the far end of the living room opens again. A draft of air blows through before cutting off. There’s a shift in the air behind me. Enough for me to look over my shoulder.
Connor walks over to Arthur, a worried look on his face.
He’s holding his phone in his hand as if he just took a call.
Something in the tense lines of his body tells me he’s upset.
Tyler must feel the same way, for he slides his hand down to mine, then leads me toward where Connor has stopped in front of Arthur.
"I have to leave. Something came up."
"Everything all right?" Tyler asks as we reach them.
I look past him through the glass door and find Serene and Brody tossing a ball, with Tiny lolling on the grass next to her.
"My best buddy called." Connor hesitates. "He’s away on a trip and won’t be home for another month. He wants me to go over and check on his sister."
"Is she in trouble?" I ask.
He slips the phone into his pocket and rubs the back of his neck, seemingly choosing his words carefully.
"She’s been through a lot, and he’s worried about her.
The last time he spoke to her, he got the impression she wasn’t herself.
He wanted to go to her right away, but he can’t leave his mission halfway through.
He called to ask if I could go in his place. Of course, I said yes."
Tyler nods. "Best thing you can do is put his mind at ease. If you need help—"
Connor shakes his head. "I’m good. I’m sure she’s fine.
He admitted he might be overreacting, but it’s best I go check up on her and let him know.
" He turns to Arthur. "Sorry, I need to cut out, Gramps.
" He nods at Arthur, then bends and kisses Imelda on her cheek.
"Thanks for keeping an eye on this one."
"I’m still here," Arthur says in an irritable voice, but his expression indicates he isn’t averse to Imelda watching out for him. In the little time I’ve known him, he’s definitely mellowed.
"You behave for her, you hear me," Connor says in a mild voice.
Arthur scoffs, then a gleam comes into his eyes. "And you’d better not behave, if the opportunity arises."
Connor stares at him. "Do I even want to know what you mean by that?"
Arthur tries to look innocent and fails miserably, "All I’m saying is, with Tyler married, it’s your turn next. And you know the deal."
"Do I?” Connor knits his brows. “And I’m the youngest so shouldn’t it be Brody you should set your sights on?”
"It’s not about age but opportunity.” Arthur looks him up and down. “You’d better be married within the month, if you want me to confirm you as one of my heirs, so you can claim your inheritance. You feel me?”
To find out what happens next read Connor and Phoenix's story here
Read an excerpt
Connor
"Is that a threat?" I ask slowly.