Restored

Epilogue

Bronx

Seventeen years later…

“He’s not driving it.”

“Bronx, we talked about this.” Gemma grabs her camera off the kitchen counter and stands there waiting.

“I’ll drive it and drop them off.”

She rolls her eyes at me like I’m being ridiculous, but I’m worried about our son Mac taking the Mustang to prom.

“It was his grandfather’s car—the man he’s named after. He’s driving it, and everything is going to be okay.”

I let out a breath and cross my arms over my chest. There’s no way I’m talking her out of this and what Gemma says goes. Mostly because she’s right and not that I’m a pushover. I’d give my woman every damn thing she wanted but that won’t stop me from worrying.

“You had a talk with him about…you know?”

Gemma rolls her eyes and comes over to stand in front of me. “Yes, we talked about safe sex. But I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to talk to him about that too.”

“I did,” I mumble, but all I really did was give him some condoms. She’s better at the rest of it than me.

She looks at me like she can read my mind and she probably can. “Brenna will be here any second. Let’s get ready for pictures.”

“I just hope Roxy had a talk with her about being safe. I’m worried they’re going to show up nine months from now with something to tell us.”

“Bronx.” Gemma turns around and puts her hands on her hips. “I wasn’t much older than the two of them when you knocked me up. They’ve been in love since the day they were born. We’ve told them all we can, but a love like theirs can’t be stopped.” She walks over and places a hand on my chest. “I know because I’ve got that same kind of love.”

“Yeah, I know,” I say as I place my hand over hers. “They’re just growing up so fast.”

“Aren’t I supposed to be the one that’s emotional today?”

I shrug and she laughs. I pull her close and then I hear the honking outside, letting us know they’re here.

“Move your booty,” she says as she smacks me on the ass but slips out of my arms before I can return the favor.

“I’ll get you back.” I smile at her and she winks as she jets out the back door.

When I get outside I see our oldest son Mac right by the Mustang. We still take it to shows and it still looks brand new. I know Gemma’s dad would be beaming with pride to see him taking his girl to prom tonight.

Mitch and Roxy get out of the car and then Brenna gets out of the back. Gemma went over to their house early this morning to do her hair and makeup and she looks so grown up. Where is the knobby-kneed little girl that used to make Mac play with dolls?

Brenna and Mac look at one another and then he goes right to her. He kisses her on the top of the head so he doesn’t mess up her makeup, but also because she’s tiny. She looks just like her mom, thank goodness, but she’s laid-back like her dad.

Our other son and daughter are playing with Mitch and Roxy’s kids in the backyard while Gemma and Roxy take pictures. Mac has grown a lot this last year of high school and he fills out his tux. He’s gentle as he puts the corsage on her wrist, and the way he looks at her reminds me an awful lot of how I look at Gemma.

I just hope my boy is smart enough to realize what he’s got with Brenna and holds on to it. I wouldn’t change a thing about my and Gemma’s love story, but I would have told her sooner that I wasn’t going anywhere. If I have any regrets it’s that I made her think for one moment that she wasn’t the one for me.

“You’re going to be careful tonight, right?” I say to Mac before he opens the door for Brenna.

“Yeah, Dad.” He’s almost eye level with me and he’s got eyes just like his mother. “I promise.”

Mac is a good kid and I know he’ll be safe. He’ll always be our first baby and this is a big night for him.

“I trust you, son.” I pull him in for a hug and after a second of hesitation I feel his arms come around me.

When I step away I feel Gemma’s arms come around my waist and her head rest on my chest. I look around and see all the kids playing and our oldest ones going to prom. We’ve made our family and a beautiful life and I don’t know why I’m so emotional right now.

“Hey,” Gemma says, and I look down at her. “We’ve got an empty house tonight.”

“We do?” I say, and thoughts of sadness are pushed away.