Epilogue
Five years later
It has healed very well and even put out new shoots where the old limb used to be.” Tina pointed up into the branches of the live oak tree. “I hope it lives to be another hundred years old.”
“And another generation of kids are running around like we did.” Gracie nodded toward the little boy and girl chasing each other around the tree.
“Yes, and Cleo and Mae have two more kids to rock on the front porch,” Tina said and then raised her voice. “Macee Rose Cosay, don’t you dare go near that road.”
Sure enough, her little redhaired girl put one foot on the road and looked over her shoulder. Before she could take another step, Walker jogged toward her, scooped her up like a football, and ran all the way to the tree. “Touchdown!” he shouted. “Shall I spike her on the ground and do my dance?”
Macee’s brown eyes twinkled. “Daddy saved me.”
“That’s right. He kept you from having to stand in the naughty corner for five minutes,” Tina said. “Go play with Lucas and stay away from the road.”
Macee stuck her thumb in her mouth and pouted. “I want Granny Mae to rock me.”
“Then who would rock your sister?” Tina asked.
Macee removed her thumb with a pop and grinned. “Daddy can.”
“You are paying for your raising. Other than having brown eyes, she’s the image of you,” Gracie laughed.
Walker sat down on the ground under the tree. “Yes, she is. It must be the red hair. Our second daughter has my mother’s name and dark hair. She’s quiet like Mother, so we named her right.”
Tina nudged him and then leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. “I hope that number three takes more after Natalie than Macee.”
Walker raised both eyebrows. “Are you trying to tell me something?”
“No, but you said you wanted a houseful of kids, so I’m just forewarning you.”
Dakota gave the two kids a push on the swings and then plopped down under the tree. “Five more minutes, then an hour of pouting on the way home before Lucas falls asleep.”
“He’ll be fine when we reach your folks’ house. They’ll spoil him rotten for a couple of days,” Gracie said. “I’ll go gather up all of Katy’s things and get her ready to go.”
“Leaving me to deal with Lucas?”
Gracie stood up and bent forward to brush a kiss across his lips. “You do that so much better than I do.” She wrapped one arm around Tina and the other one around Walker, making it a three-way hug. “Y’all don’t forget that you are coming up to us on the reservation next month.”
“We’ll have to bring Cleo and Mae,” Walker told her. “If they had to spend three days away from these kids, they would wither up and die.”
Dakota checked his watch. “Five minutes is up. Now you’ll have to help me with Lucas.”
Gracie went over to the swings, unbuckled the strap holding him in, and carried him across the street. “I’ll put him in the car. You get Katy.”
“She’s just as fierce a mother as she is a teacher.” Dakota grinned.
“She learned that from Tina,” Walker told him. “Be safe and come back every time you get a chance.”
“Right back at you,” Dakota said.
“Can you believe it’s been five years since I came home?” Tina waved at her friends as they drove away a few minutes later.
Macee plopped down between them, crossed her arms over her chest, and sighed. “I’m fwustated,” she said, using a big word but not being able to pronounce it.
“Why are you frustrated?” Walker asked.
“Wucus went home.” She sighed again.
“Lucas had to go with his mama and daddy,” Tina told her. “You wouldn’t want us to leave you behind when we go see them, would you?”
“No!” Macee declared.
“How about I walk you across the street and Cleo can rock you to sleep for your nap?” Walker asked.
She crawled over into his lap and locked her arms around his neck. “Mama can rock me.”
Tina glanced over at Walker, and he winked. Everything had been right with the world since she came home to Benson.
She and Walker stood up at the same time and crossed the road together.
She glanced over her shoulder and saw living-color flashes of her life playing through her mind.
Running around in the park with Gracie and Walker while Cleo and Mae watched from the front porch.
The picture of the three of them in front of the tree the day they all left for college.
Cleo telling her to come down from the tree and get herself across the street five years ago, when she had first returned.
Trading secrets with Walker and Gracie under the tree.
She looked down at her wedding rings and remembered the words Walker had said when he proposed—that he had always loved her, but he had now realized that he was in love with her.
Then there was the day she married him under the tree in the middle of winter, with snowflakes falling on her hair.
Taking each of her babies to introduce them to the Tomorrow Tree the day she and Walker brought them home from the hospital.
“I’m in love with you, Walker Cosay,” she whispered.
“I’m in love with you, Tina Cosay,” he told her. “Always and forever.”