“Shit,” he mumbled and then pulled me to him. His mouth pressed against mine. “I love you, Merit. I love you with every ounce of my being. From this moment on, I don’t think I could ever be strong enough to live without you.”
I settled over him and wrapped my arms around him as our eyes locked. “It’s a good thing I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
Epilogue
MERIT
Christmas Day, Five years later
Stella stood with her hands on her hips and gave everyone a look that made us all tremble. “Someone ate the elderberry pies I made for today.”
Brock and Ty both pointed at one another as Tanner took a step back to hide behind Timberlynn.
Timberlynn laughed. “If you think my eight-month-pregnant belly will hide you, you’re mistaken. I think she already saw you. And seriously, do you think that the woman who’s pregnant with your second child would want to be seen as big enough for you to hide behind?”
Tanner kissed his wife. “I love you.”
“Good thinking, Tanner,” Ty said, and he stood behind Kaylee, who was seven-months’ pregnant herself with their second child.
Kaylee sighed. “You’re hiding behind your son, you coward?”
“Hello? Have you met my mother?” Ty stated.
I couldn’t help but smile as I peeked over at Dirk who had evidence of said elderberry pie on the corner of his mouth. Our son Brad sat next to him and tried to hide the fact that he was chewing.
Lincoln walked into the living room with Blayze hot on her trail. “But, Mom! Dad said I could give it a try.”
She stopped and looked at Tanner. He shrank back even farther behind Timberlynn.
“Guess he told you about the horse,” Tanner mumbled.
“The one he said you told him he could help break?”
Ty turned to Blayze. “Ah, we have a bucking bronco in our mix.”
Lincoln whipped her heated gaze over to Ty. He held up his hands and pressed his lips tightly together.
“He’ll be fine, sweetheart,” Brock said as he walked up and pulled Lincoln to him. “I promise.”
She sighed and relaxed into him the moment his blue eyes landed on her and he whispered her name.
“Good Lord, how do you do it, man?” Ty wondered.
Stella cleared her throat. “Don’t think I don’t notice two of my sons taking shelter behind their pregnant wives! I raised you better than that. What you should be doing is running.”
Blayze looked around. “No one saved me a piece of pie?”
Everyone turned and looked at him with panicked expressions. By everyone, I mean Ty, Tanner, Dirk, and Brock.
Blayze turned to Dirk. “You ate the last piece, didn’t you?”
“No!” Dirk said.
“I see it on your face, Uncle Dirk. And Brad is still eating it!”
A wide smile erupted across my son’s face. “I was good, Gwammy!” Brad declared.
Stella melted on the spot as she rushed over to him and scooped him up. “Oh, my sweet, sweet boy. Did you like it?”
Bradly nodded as Stella kissed him.
“Come on, let me clean you up,” she said as they started out of the living room.
“Hey, how come he’s not getting the side eye?” Tanner called out.
Stella turned and shot daggers at her youngest son. “Because he’s four and doesn’t know any better. And he’s adorable.”
“Hey, I’m still adorable!” Blayze stated.
“Once you hit double digits, kid, you’re no longer adorable enough to get away with things,” Dirk informed him.
Blayze rolled his eyes. “That’s stupid.”
“Come quick! Hurry!” Ty Senior yelled.
Everyone quickly turned and headed off toward the sound of Ty Senior’s voice.
“Stop!” Rose declared as she stood at the entrance to the game room that Ty Senior and Stella had added on. With seven grandchildren, and two more on the way, they decided the grandkids needed a place of their own.
“Don’t go crazy, stay calm,” Rose said.
“My goodness, she really is a mini-Kaylee,” Lincoln said with a giggle.
Kaylee beamed. “She really is.”
“What’s going on, sweetheart?” Ty said as he leaned down and put his five-year-old daughter onto his shoulders.
“Avery took a step.”
I gasped, and before I could do anything, Dirk pushed his way through everyone and into the room. I followed.
Ty Senior was across the room, his hands holding Avery’s as she stood there. The moment she saw her daddy, she squealed in delight. Our daughter Avery was madly in love with her father. He was—and had been since the day she was born ten months ago—the only person who could calm her down when she was upset.
“Stop right there, Dirk. She only took a few steps and fell. Most likely because I yelled out for everyone,” Ty Senior said. His eyes were bright with happiness as he looked up at me and grinned like a proud grandfather.
Even though he wasn’t Bradly and Avery’s actual grandfather, he treated them like his grandchildren, nonetheless. He’d also become even more of a father figure to Dirk in the years since Brad had passed.