“What is it?” Megan asks.
Colton is in my arms, and after I hand him to her, we walk into the living room where we sit side-by-side on the couch. “There’s something I need to make clear,” I say as I face her.
“Okay.”
“You are the mother of my child,” I begin. “And for Colton’s sake, I want us to have a good relationship. But you need to understand that I’m marrying Ashley. That’s not going to change.” I wait to see what she’ll say.
“I know that, Drake.”
“Do you? Because you didn’t seem to last night.”
“Well, I do. Okay? I mean, you made it pretty clear last night.” She softly sighs. “I think I said those things because I missed Colton so much. I just let myself get caught up in a fantasy.” Shaking her head, she says, “I know that part of our lives is in the past.” She frowns. “It didn’t work out between us. I get that.” She looks at Colton. “But now we have this beautiful baby.” Her eyes meet mine. “I want us to have a good relationship too. I do. So I’m going to do my best to make it work. Okay?”
She seems sincere, and I’m glad I brought it up. I just hope she means it. “One other thing,” I say.
“What?”
“I understand that you were missing Colton while I had him, and I meant it when I said I don’t mind you coming to see him, but I really need you to call first. Okay?”
Her jaw tightens, but then she sighs. “Yeah. Okay. I guess I wouldn’t want you stopping by unannounced either.”
Relieved to have gotten that out of the way, I ask, “Do you have what you need? To take care of Colton?”
Smiling, she nods. “Yes. Thank you for asking.” She stands. “I’ll bring him back in a week, all right?”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
After she leaves, the silence is overwhelming, and I know I’m going to miss Colton over the next week.
I go to the bedroom where I find Ashley sitting on the bed reading a book.
“How’d it go?” she asks as she sets the book on the side table.
I repeat the conversation I had with Megan. “I guess we’ll see if she means what she said.”
“Yeah.”
In reality, I know we’ll have to deal with Megan for the rest of Colton’s life. Though I don’t relish that, I’ve come to accept it, but I know as long as Ashley is by my side, everything will be okay.
“Come here,” she says as she pats the bed beside her.
I do as she asks, and as I savor her closeness, I say, “You know, since we’re baby-free this weekend, we should go somewhere.”
She laughs. “That sounds great. Any ideas?”
“Hmm. Well, I know this cabin a couple of hours south of here. I understand it’s a beautiful place, a place where magic can happen.”
Her eyes sparkle. “Oh yeah? What kind of magic?”
ASHLEY
Drake smiles. “The kind where strangers meet in the most unexpected ways, and then fall in love and live happily ever after.”
“Oh.” A smile of pleasure curves my mouth as I remember how we met and how the cabin was the place where Drake first confessed his love to me. “I’d love to go to such a place. Especially with you.”
“Especially with me, huh? Why is that?”
I gaze at him—the man I love with all my heart. “Because the only time I experience magic is when you’re around.”
Laughing, he wraps me in his arms. “Let’s go there together.”
When we arrive at the cabin late that night, Drake insists on carrying me over the threshold.
“Just like the first time you came here,” he says with a laugh.
I laugh too. “But that was because I hurt my ankle and couldn’t walk.”
“I remember.” He deposits me on the couch. “No need for a fire on this summer night.”
“No snowmobiling either.”
“Right. Which is why I brought the ATV.”
Excited to go for a ride the next day, I put away the groceries while Drake brings in our luggage. As I organize the shelves, memories of the other times I spent here race through my mind.
Now this place will be mine as much as Drake’s.
Knowing how lucky I am—despite the obstacles that have been placed in front of us—I smile as I stand on a chair to reach the top shelf in the cabinet.
“Do you need help?” Drake asks as he comes up beside me.
I look down at him and remember when he first kissed me—it had been when I was struggling to reach a can of tuna on this same shelf. Placing my hands on his shoulders, I lean down and kiss him soundly. “I’ve got it.”
His hands grip my waist and he swings me down, then he tugs me against him. “I think it’s time to go to bed.”
Laughing, I say, “All right. If you’re ready.”
“I’m more than ready.”
With our fingers intertwined, we walk toward the stairs.
“For the night of our wedding,” I say, “I want to come here.”
He looks at me with a smile. “That’s a great idea.”
Excitement at our future swells within me, and as we walk into our bedroom, I lean against the man I’ve fallen deeply in love with, the man who, though not perfect, is everything I’ve ever wanted. And as we fall into bed and curl into each other’s arms, I whisper I love you, and he whispers it back, and I know I’ve found my forever love.
Epilogue
ASHLEY
“Happy five year anniversary,” Drake says to me as we snuggle in front of the fire at our cabin.
“Same to you,” I say with a contented smile. “And Happy Valentine’s Day.”
Chuckling, he tightens his arms around me. “I think I know why you chose Valentine’s Day as our wedding day.”
Tilting my head so I can see him, I ask, “Why?”
“So I would never forget our anniversary.”
I laugh. “Honestly, that’s not why, but if it helps you remember, then all the better.”
The fire crackles and I revel in this time alone with Drake. “How do you think my parents are doing with the twins?”
This time his laughter is loud and long. “Oh, I hope they’re surviving. Three-year-olds can be a real challenge. But with Jacob and Isabella it’s double the trouble.”
I picture our beautiful children and laugh with him. “At least Megan was willing to switch weeks for taking care of Colton.” I think back to when we first learned of Colton’s existence and how worried I’d been about everything. Not that it’s easy, but we’re working it out, and I definitely love Colton as much as I love Jacob and Isabella.
DRAKE
“Yeah,” I say as I savor the feel of Ashley in my arms. “But I know Megan and Ben have a big trip planned this year for their anniversary, so be ready to change our plans to accommodate them.” When Megan announced her engagement to Ben, I’d insisted on meeting the man who would be Colton’s stepfather. Fortunately, I’d found him to be a good guy.
“That’s no problem. I’m just glad she found someone.” Ashley’s quiet for a minute. “So, what do you have planned for tomorrow? I checked the forecast and it’s supposed to be sunny.”
“I thought we’d take the snowmobile up to our favorite ridge.” I smile as I remember the first time I took Ashley on my snowmobile. It’s been many years, and as I think about how close we’ve become since then, warmth towards the woman I love with all of my soul surges through me and I kiss her neck.
“Mmm,” she murmurs. “Maybe we should extend our trip.
I’d love nothing more. “We’d have to see if that works for your parents.”
ASHLEY
“Yes,” I say with a soft laugh, “but at least my boss wouldn’t mind if I miss work on Monday.”
“I don’t know which work is harder,” Drake says. “Working in my marketing department, or taking care of our rambunctious children.”
“Taking care of the children is definitely harder,” I say. When the children were born, I s
tayed home with them for the first year, but by then I realized I missed working, so Drake and I decided I would work part-time in the marketing department at Drake Consulting. So far, it’s working out great.
In addition, when Drake has out-of-town business trips, sometimes I come along to pinch-hit as his assistant. Jasmine moved on a year or so after she started at Drake Consulting, and Drake’s new assistant is a wonderful woman whom I consider a friend, but she doesn’t like to travel.
“If you really want to extend this trip,” he says, “We can see if Tina’s available.”
I think about our part-time nanny, who does a fantastic job. “Maybe, but we have a lot going on next week, so we’ll just have to see.”
“It’s up to you, my love. I just want you to be happy.”
I lay my head against his chest. I’m the luckiest girl in the world. I’m married to the man of my dreams and he’s so good to me and our children. “Thank you, Drake.” I pull away and look at him. “You’re wonderful. Do you know that?”
His eyes meet mine, and when he smiles his dimple deepens. “I think you’re pretty wonderful.” He gazes at me a moment. “Sometimes I still can’t believe you decided to marry me. Especially with all of my baggage.” Smiling, he adds, “You have no idea how thankful I am that you did.” He tenderly kisses me before smiling at me again. “I can’t imagine my life without you and our children.”
Sinking against him, I sigh in contentment. Over the years our love has deepened beyond my wildest dreams, and as I think about growing old with him and seeing our children grow up and start families of their own, I have no doubt that marrying him was the best decision I ever made, and I know he’ll love me forever.
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Noelle Stevens is a pen name used by author Christine Kersey. Christine has a number of FREE books available for download. To learn more, click HERE.
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