“Too soon?” he asked.
I shook my head, looking up at this man in wonder. “I thought it would be months, years even, before you’d trust me enough to want to marry me.”
His expression was shocked. “You thought about that?”
“Yes. Of course. I want this. I want a family with you, but I messed that up so badly.”
“I don’t need months or years, Jess. I need you and Tanner. That’s it.”
“Yes. Yes, Carter.”
He slipped the ring on my finger.
I looked up into his eyes. “Dreams do come true.”
He smiled. “Yes, they do.”
Epilogue: Jess - Six Months Later
I've come to terms with the saying about being careful what you wish for because sometimes what you wish for is exactly what you get and even more.
Six months ago, I had nearly ruined everything. I’d totally demolished my chance at a happily ever after. But today I was standing on the back deck of the home that I shared with my husband, Carter, and my son, Tanner, as the rest of the family enjoyed the barbecue we were hosting.
Carter was manning the grill doing his best to keep Hunter away. He once told me that Hunter was an expert when it came to running a restaurant, but he had no clue how to grill.
Alex was in the pool teaching Tanner how to swim, and I was pretty sure by the time they were done Tanner would have gills. He was taking to the water like a fish. Up on the pool deck, Margaret sat with Natalie watching Alex and Tanner in the water. Every now and then when Tanner would come up for air, Margaret would make some sort of comment about Tanner joining the business.
Over on the other side of the pool deck, Noah and Andi were squabbling about something. The way they were always bickering led me to think it was a kind of foreplay between them. But when I asked Carter about it, he shrugged, saying he didn't think there was anything going on. Noah had been a stickler for the rule about not fraternizing with employees. And the brothers notwithstanding, Andi was about the most important employee Margaret had.
Ryan and Kelly were sitting at the table oohing and ahhing over their three month old baby girl, also named Margaret after Gran, but who was affectionately called Maggie.
Yes, life was perfect, I thought as I drew my hand over my own belly.
"Hey beautiful, why don’t you come over here and help me fend off Hunter. The last thing we need is him burning the burgers," Carter called to me.
"He might ban me from his restaurant again," I said.
Hunter's cheeks flushed with red. "I apologized for that, didn’t I?"
"Yes, you did, and I appreciate it." Although he threatened to do it again if I ever hurt Carter.
I carried the bowls of fruit salad and potato chips and put them on the table.
"Chow is on," Carter called.
As soon as Carter and I were married, he'd commissioned a large outdoor table built so that we could all be together like this. We still spent many afternoons over at Alex's beach house, but our home was also a common spot for the family get together.
I watched with full gratitude at the family I now had around me. They all rushed over, taking a seat at the table. We had barely been seated when Margaret was asking Tanner about his math skills.
"Sorry mom. Tanner, is going to be a surfer," Alex said, putting his arm around Tanner and giving him a hug. Tanner endured it although it was a new thing for him to have so many grown-ups always kissing and loving on him.
The last six months had definitely been the happiest of my life. Carter didn't waste any time whisking me away to get married. And the day I produced the brand-new birth certificate that had Tanner's name as Tanner Carter Strong, the tears and love in his eyes told me everything I needed to know. We were going to have a long and happy life together; I just knew it.
As soon as all the food was served, the volume at the table dropped drastically, as our guests focused on eating. I took it as an opportunity and rose from my chair.
"Is everything all right, hon?" Carter said, his hand lifting to settle on my back. I loved the way he would touch me without even knowing it.
I shook my head as I took his hand. “No, I just had something I wanted to share with the family."