“Where’s Neal?”
“He’s getting me something from the vending machine. I wanted to make sure you were okay and they were going to let you go home before I left.”
She leans down and kisses my cheek one more time just as the door opens and her husband walks in.
Barrett stirs and then opens his eyes. They’re still heavy with sleep, and I run my hand down his face and jaw as he wakes up. I say goodbye to Gabi and Neal as Barrett sits up and smiles at me.
“Lady, you scared the hell out of me,” he says, his voice hoarse.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, and he moves closer, pressing his forehead to mine.
“Don’t be sorry. Just tell me that everything is going to be okay.”
“Everything is going to be okay,” I promise. We kiss softly. “We’re going to have a baby.”
“I know,” he says, rubbing my belly with his big hand. “I heard your sister catching you up on everything.”
“You were listening?”
“Of course,” he says. He doesn’t even apologize.
“I’m just ready to go home. I want to be in my own bed.”
“Me too,” he says, kissing my hand and looking up at me. “There’s just one thing she didn’t tell you.”
“What?” I ask, worry building inside me.
“Our parents are on the way.”
“Which ones?” I groan, knowing if it’s my mom she’s going to be so worried.
“Both. Yours and mine. Get ready, Genevieve. They’re going to smother us with love and worry.”
“I guess there could be worse things.” The wedding is still a couple of weeks away, but I’m sure that won’t matter to anyone. Heck, I can even see Barrett wanting to move it up now that everyone will be home.
“I’m so glad you’re safe. And I promise to never let anything like that happen to you again. Steph told me you stepped in front of her and…” He gets a little choked up and clears his throat. “You’ll never know what it means to me that you protected my family when I couldn’t be there.” He caresses my belly again. “You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met, and I love you so damn much.”
“I love you, too,” I say as I pull his face close and kiss him. I can feel his need for me just below the surface and I know the second we’re home he’s going to strip me bare and possess my body in every way possible.
I ache for him to connect us. All this stress about Mark has weighed so heavily on us. Now that we are free of everything all I want to do is spend the rest of my life loving him.
He wraps his arms around me, and just as I deepen the kiss the door flies open and both sets of parents come crowding in. I laugh as all four of them start talking over each other, asking if we’re okay and what happened, and then someone shouts about babies.
I can’t help but giggle at the commotion, and I pull Barrett against me and close my eyes. I say a little prayer of thanks to whoever it is that watched over me and my baby. I won’t take a second of my life for granted.
Epilogue
Barrett
Two weeks later…
The backyard is lit with fairy lights in the trees, and candles in mason jars light the path that Genevieve will walk down to meet me. It’s all simple but beautiful, and everyone pitched in to make it a perfect day for us.
Hay bales make up the seats and everyone is getting into place because it’s almost time. Soft music comes from a guitar being played close by, and I can see movement in the house. Genevieve’s father is walking her down the aisle and I can see him holding the door open to wait on her.
She hid in our bedroom and I had to get ready in the nursery so I wouldn’t see her. It was the only thing she asked for, so of course I had to reluctantly give in. I love her so much that I can’t deny her anything. Even if it’s been driving me crazy.
My sisters are standing in the front with Gabi as we all wait for her to walk out. Steph’s husband John and their two kids are sitting close and he can’t keep his eyes off of Steph. She told me today that they’re moving back home, and I nearly gave my mother a heart attack when I yelled with excitement and picked her up and spun her around. After all that’s happened she said she’s finally at peace and just wants to be closer to all of us. Especially since Genevieve and I are expecting.
My mom and dad haven’t stopped smiling since they came into the hospital and found out everyone was okay. They love Genevieve and her parents and they’ve all loved fussing over us and helping plan the wedding.