Forever After All

I hold my breath, waiting for her to tell me to kick rocks and disappear, but a slow smile tilts her lips. Her eyes are still wet with tears, and her cheeks are stained, but she’s never looked more beautiful. “I believe you. I freaked a little, and I still need to process what my grandparents told me today about my parents when I always thought that it was me, that I was the reason, but I believe you. I love you.”

I suck in a breath and press my forehead against her. “Oh, Kenna.” I laugh. “I more than love you. You are the air I breathe. You and our baby.” More tears stream down her face. “Come home. Please? Even just for a few hours. I just need to be close to you.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.” I nod. I don’t know what I expected when I headed here other than that I was ready for a fight. I was ready to plead my case, and I guess I did. I didn't expect her to be willing to come home with me, but I’m so damn grateful.

“Take care of them,” Harold says, speaking for the first time since I arrived.

Lifting my head, I keep my arm around McKenna, holding her close. When I look over at Harold, he’s holding Agnes the same way. And I know in my heart that McKenna and I will be them, living out our forever, guiding our children and grandchildren in life.

“Always.” I nod.

McKenna pulls out of my arms to give them both a hug, and because they raised such an amazing woman, and they let me in their home to plead my case, and just because they’re remarkable people, and I’m feeling all kinds of my feelings, I hug them both as well.

With my hand on the small of her back, I lead her to the driver’s side door of my truck. Opening the door, I help her inside, following after her. With my hand resting on her thigh, I drive us to my place. Neither one of us speak a word as we enter the house. I make a point to lock the door once we’re inside and lead us up to my room.

“Are you hungry or thirsty?”

“No.” She shakes her head. “I’m exhausted, though. I guess all the emotions.”

“Sit.” I point to the bed. She sits, and I remove her shoes from her feet and pull back the covers. Kicking my shoes off as well, I crawl in beside her and gather her into my arms.

“I’m sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry for. We had a lot thrown at us today,” I say, sliding my hand under her shirt, resting it against her flat belly.

“Yeah,” she agrees.

“I want a little girl,” I confess. “I want her to look just like her mamma.”

“Really?” She’s choked up, but there’s also surprise in her voice as well.

“I’m really fucking happy, McKenna. I know this isn’t what you would have wanted, and if you want to get married again in front of our family and friends, we can do that too, but I don’t want a divorce. I want you, and I want our baby. This is our time, beautiful.”

She rolls over and rests her hand against my cheek. “I used to fantasize about you being my husband. Laramie and I both thought it would be amazing to be sisters for real.”

“Sisters who are having babies at the same time.”

She smiles. This one reaches her eyes. “I guess we are.”

“So, we’re doing this? We’re married and having a baby.”

“Are you sure—” I cut her off with a kiss.

“I’ve never been more certain about anything in my entire life. This is us, baby. This is our family, and we have a lot of bedrooms to fill.”

She giggles, and the sound wraps around my heart.

“You’re my husband,” she says over a yawn.

“Fuck yes, I am.” I kiss her again. When I pull away, she snuggles close, and I hold her until I know she’s asleep before letting myself drift off as well.

I wake sometime later to McKenna lying on her back and my head resting on her shoulder, my hand lying over where our baby grows inside of her.

Our baby.

My wife.

Careful not to wake her, I move down the bed and place my head on her belly. “Hey, peanut.” I keep my voice low. “It’s daddy.”

Daddy.

I wait for the panic to hit me, but it doesn’t happen—nothing but pure elation that the love of my life is making me a father.

“I love you so much. Your mommy and I both do. You are the best surprise we’ve ever had. Well, that and the fact that Mommy and I are married. I love her, peanut. She’s beautiful, smart as hell— Oops, don’t tell Mommy I cussed. Anyway, she’s an incredible woman, and she’s going to be the best mommy. She has so much love to give. I just found out about you a few hours ago, and already my heart is bursting with love for you and your mom. I promise to be the best daddy that I can be, but I’m sure I’m going to mess up. That’s okay because we both have her.”