The Edge of Forever

After the tears of happiness, cries of joy, and hugs and kisses, Poppy and Blake were once again alone. “I didn’t know if you’d ever wake up, Blake.” Poppy pushed herself up and wiped the tears away. A small smile touched his lips, and when he trailed his finger over her arm, she returned the sentiment.

“Sweetheart, there isn’t anything that would have kept me from you.” With that, he cupped the back of her head and brought her to him for a gentle yet love-filled kiss. “Everything’s going to be okay now. I promise.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. Here he was, lying in a hospital bed after a massive car accident and promising her that everything would be okay. “I should be the one telling you that.” She kissed him again. “How about we just take care of each other?”

“Sounds good to me.” Her hair fell around them, concealing them like a curtain. Only time would tell if there was permanent damage to him, but Poppy would be there every step of the way.

“You’re my life, sweetheart.”

“And you’re mine, Blake.”EpilogueThree years later“Shit.” Poppy snatched her hand to her face and checked the diamond on her ring. This was the fourth time in the last week she had banged her wedding ring on something.

“What? What’s wrong?” Blake all but skidded into the kitchen, his eyes wide as he looked her up and down. He was in front of her a second later, the limp in his left leg slightly noticeable. His hands shot out to grip her waist, and he hauled her to his chest. “I heard you shout.”

Poppy couldn’t help but smile at the concern on his face. “I just banged the ring on the sink.”

“Again?” He cocked a brow at her as his lips twitched in amusement.

“You won’t think it’s so funny when I break the damn thing. Why did you have to get such a big rock anyway?” She was all talk. She loved that big diamond, especially when it sparkled in the sunlight.

“I can always take it and put a smaller diamond in it if it makes you feel better.” He made a move to take the ring off her finger, and she snatched her hand away. The chuckle that came from him ignited her own. “I thought you were going into labor or something.”

“Blake, I have like a month left, and besides, we already went through this two years ago. You act like this is our first baby all over again.” He dropped to his haunches, and she was struck by how vulnerable such a big, strong man like Blake could look staring up at her. His hands landed on either side of her rounded belly, and she speared her hands in his hair.

“Every time you carry my child, I’m going to be like this, sweetheart.” He kissed her protruding belly button. “People deliver babies early all the time. I sit up at night worrying that I won’t get you to the hospital in time.”

“You worry too much, Blake.”

“Yeah, well, when it comes to you and the baby, it’s all I seem to do.” The sound of little pattering feet running down the hall had them both looking in that direction. “Carson Jonathan Ellis. What is all over your face?” She went over to their little boy and scooped him up. His little hands rose and started patting his face at the same time his grin widened.

“Mama, we was coloring pwetty pitchews for you.”

“Oh, my sweet little boy.” Poppy laughed as she took in Carson’s marker-colored cheeks. Blake came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her belly. He kissed the side of her neck before leaning forward and kissing Carson’s headful of dark hair.

Since Blake woke up in the hospital, his rehabilitation had been slow but progressing well. He had a limp in his left leg, and the doctors still didn’t know if it would ever be completely functional. Aside from that, he made a total recovery. The rehabilitation had been hard on him, but Blake was one of the strongest men she knew.

Now, three years later, they were married, had a healthy and rambunctious little boy, and were expecting their second child, a little girl. Their family was supportive of their relationship, and their wedding had been held in front of them all back in Ohio.

Maggie had been sent to a maximum-security prison for attempted murder, and they were told she would be there for a long time. Apparently, she had a longstanding record under a different name and had gotten into trouble in three other states before she settled in Blithe.