Rush

I haven’t asked her about it yet, but I know she wants it as much as I do.

“Do they have red velvet cupcakes in there?”

Emma jumps in to answer that. “They do, Cadby. They have cream cheese frosting and small candies sprinkled on top.”

“Be still my heart.” He grabs for the center of his chest. “Did I tell you that you’re prettier than the sun in the sky today?”

It’s the yellow dress she’s wearing. She ducked out of the hotel early to shower and change back at my apartment.

I’m wearing a pair of jeans, a blue button-down shirt, and a navy blue suit jacket. I want my nephew to see the best in me.

I don’t have a road map to follow, so I’m taking a chance that when my grandpa sees Mickey that he’ll put two-and-two together.

I tug on the handle to open the door. Emma steps in first with Cadby on her heel. I take the rear because I need an extra second to catch my breath.

“Emma.” Delaney stretches her arms out in a greeting. “I’m so happy you came.”

Emma steps into her embrace. I watch in awe as the woman I love hugs the woman that loved my brother.

Apollo may have only known Delaney for a brief time but they made a child together. She created a living, breathing human being with the boy I grew up taking care of.

“Delaney, this is Cadby Easton.” Emma steps aside to let my grandpa have his moment.

“Dear?” His voice quivers as he approaches her. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry we weren’t there for you.”

Her arms reach for him too. She cradles his head next to hers. “You’re here now. That’s what matters.”

I search the bakery for any sign of blond curls, but I come up empty.

“Hey, Rush… I mean Case.” Delaney shakes her head. “I’m sorry about last week.”

I move to embrace both her and my grandfather together. “Last week is the past. It’s time we all started living in the present, and you can call me whatever the hell you want.”

She chuckles. “I’ll call you Case.”

When I step back, my grandfather does the same.

Delaney takes a breath. “There’s something I need to tell you, Mr. Easton.”

“Cadby,” My grandpa smiles. “You’ll call me Cadby.”

“Or great-grandpa,” I say quietly.

His head turns slowly. “What are you saying? Emma is knocked up?”

Emma bursts out laughing. “No. There is no way.”

I shake my head as Delaney giggles. “I didn’t think that one through.”

“Think what through?” His eyes narrow as he stares at me. “What’s going on, Rush?”

“Let’s try this again,” I say.

We both catch sight of a little boy with blonde hair as he rounds the counter and heads toward us.

“Rush.” My grandfather reaches for me. “Do you see him?”

“That’s Mickey,” I whisper as I hold tightly to his hand. “That’s our Pol’s little boy.”

Mickey marches right past his mom until he’s standing in front of the two of us. “I’m Mickey Wilts, sirs. My mom told me you’re here to meet me. She said you loved my daddy very much.”

My grandfather brushes his hand on Mickey’s shoulder. “He was my grandson.”

“My daddy was your grandson?”

“Yes.”

“Are you my Papa?” Mickey takes a step closer. “I always wanted a Papa.”

“I’m your Papa.” My grandfather takes Mickey into an embrace. “And this is your uncle Case.”

The smile I get when the kid’s eyes meet mine chases every ounce of pain I’ve felt away. “It’s good to meet you, Mickey.”

His gaze darts back to his mom. “Is this real? I get an uncle and a Papa in the same day?”

“It’s real,” she says through a sob. “This is your family.”

Mickey reaches an arm out to pull me into a hug with my grandpa. “This is the best day of my whole life.”

I look over at Emma. “It’s the best day of mine too.”

Epilogue

Three months later

Emma

“It’s a girl,” I announce to anyone within shouting distance. “Sandy is going to have a girl.”

“That makes two little princesses on the way to add more beauty to this world.” Cadby wanders into the kitchen of our beach house wearing his three-piece tan colored suit.

Sandy is as thrilled to learn that she’s having a girl as Bella was.

I text out a quick reply to Sandy asking if she’s still planning on meeting us in New York two weeks from now to celebrate Case’s thirtieth birthday.

That includes the entire Abbott, Owens, Easton, and Wilts crew.

I moved in with Case after he crossed New York off my contract and wrote in San Francisco. I signed the contract immediately and started working at Cabbott Mobile a few weeks after.

Delaney and Mickey were eager to come to California. Case has been taking Mickey out into the ocean with a life jacket and a tight grip on his hand.

The first day we were all here together, we had a remembrance service for Apollo.