Epilogue
GABE DROVE his pickup into the double garage of his three-bedroom home, nodding in satisfaction when he saw the new maroon minivan parked in its usual space. After all this time, he still occasionally felt a mixture of pleasure and relief when he came home to find it there.
He climbed out of the truck, then reached in for the long white box that had been lying on the seat beside him. A faint scent of roses tickled his nose when he tucked the box under his arm. He’d bought a dozen long-stemmed blooms in strawberry red.
It was his fifth wedding anniversary, though he and his wife had actually lived together only a little more than two years, all told. And, while they’d had their share of problems to work out—as all married couples did—Gabe still considered himself a very lucky man.
He was greeted just inside the door by a gray cat, which meowed a welcome and wrapped itself around Gabe’s ankles.
“Hello, B.J.,” Gabe murmured, reaching down to tickle the cat’s ears. He’d brought the kitten home to Page a few weeks after they’d returned from their ordeal in Springfield. She’d immediately burst into tears, which had worried him until she’d explained that the tears were in response to the thoughtfulness of his gesture. She’d named the cat “Buddy Junior”—B.J., for short.
“Where’s Page?” he asked the affectionate cat.
As if in answer, B.J. yawned, turned, and walked lazily toward the den. With a chuckle, Gabe followed.
He found Page sitting cross-legged on the carpeted floor. She look
ed up to greet him with a radiant smile.
He smiled back, pleased to note that the shadows were all gone from her sky-blue eyes now.
She’d had nightmares for a while. They’d disappeared when she had finally convinced herself that Gabe would always be there to comfort her when she woke.
He bent to press a lingering kiss on her soft lips, immersing himself in the familiar taste and scent of her.
“Happy anniversary,” he murmured when he reluctantly pulled back for air.
He handed her the box of roses. He could hardly wait for Page to open the gift he was saving until after dinner. He’d purchased airline tickets to Hawaii, and had booked a suite in a five-star hotel in Maui.
He’d been saving for a long time to finally give Page a real honeymoon.
“Oh, Gabe, thank you,” she murmured, opening the box of roses with beaming pleasure. “They’re beautiful. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Gabe said easily.
And then he turned his attention to the six-month-old baby who lay on his back in front of Page, and was making an eager grab for B.J.’s temptingly close tail. Gabe reached out to lift his son into his arms. Stephen Blake Conroy squealed in slobbery delight when Gabe tickled his chubby tummy.
Gabe didn’t mind in the least that their son would be going along with them on their honeymoon—and he knew Page would feel the same way.
Gabe’s sister had volunteered to baby-sit, but Gabe had politely declined. He liked having his family close by, he’d explained a bit sheepishly. Maybe someday he and Page would take a few days off to themselves, but for now Gabe was perfectly content to be part of a happy threesome. Four, counting the cat
Gabe brushed a kiss against his son’s impossibly soft cheek. And then he wrapped an arm around his wife’s shoulders and pulled her snugly against him. Life was good, he thought contentedly.
He and Page had been given a second chance at having it all, and they would spend the rest of their lives celebrating. Together.