by Alison Ryan
Patricia put her sunglasses on, “Is that all then? Because I’m done here.”
“So am I,” Barrett said, and with that, he walked away.
67
Epilogue: Six Months Later
“Can I feel another kick?” Thisbe leaned over Scarlet’s swollen belly. “I love when he kicks!”
Scarlet laughed, “Well, unfortunately I can’t get your brother to kick on command. Although sometimes if I have orange juice I can get him all jumpy. Want me to try?”
“Yes, Momma!” Thisbe said with excitement. She jumped up and down on the porch swing they were sitting on. “I’ll go get some. Daddy’s in the kitchen.”
“Okay, baby,” Scarlet said. “I’ll be right here.”
Scarlet watched Thisbe run barefoot across their wraparound porch and through their front door, the screen slamming shut behind her. She smiled in that moment, so happy to hear the sound of her daughter gushing to Barrett about needing a glass of juice for the baby.
Scarlet clutched her tummy and whispered, “Sweet little baby boy. As happy as I am to meet you, I will always cherish these times it was just me and you. And that with you I get to enjoy all that is the miracle of pregnancy. No stress, no hiding. And your daddy gets to see it all too. He’s just the best daddy in the world. You’re going to love him. Last night Mommy needed an Oreo shake in the worst way. And even though it was midnight, your daddy got it for me.”
Scarlet laughed, “He’s going straight to heaven, dealing with me. But sweet boy, we just feel so lucky every day these days. Not many people get a do over in life. A chance to rewind and make things right. And most people never get to have the love this family has. The kind of love that creates beautiful babies who will live beautiful lives.”
Scarlet looked out at the expansive green and rolling hills of their Franklin, Tennessee farm. This was the life she never could have imagined, even when things with her and Barrett were perfect.
“I can’t wait for you to meet your sister,” Scarlet said. “She’s everything good about me and everything good about Daddy wrapped into one little package. And she loves you already. She talks to you every day, nonstop. I’m sure you’ve heard her. She’s so smart and kind. I hope she stays that way forever. And that both of you always know how much you were wanted and loved. I doubt there is anyone on this planet that was conceived with more love than each of you were.”
As Scarlet spoke, Thisbe came back to the porch, walking carefully with a tall of glass of orange juice in her tiny hands. Barrett followed behind her, a silly grin on his face. It was the kind of grin that had scarcely left him the past few months.
They were so completely happy that it scared Scarlet sometimes. But she was learning to accept her good fortune and know that she deserved it after all she’d been through.
“Here you go, Momma!” Thisbe said. “Make Holloway giggle and jump!”
Scarlet took a long gulp of the juice, “Okay, baby. Here goes nothing!”
Scarlet pulled up her shirt so that her pregnant stomach was exposed. Both Thisbe and Barrett placed a hand on it and Scarlet put her own hand on top of Barrett’s and looked at him with tears in her eyes.
“I love you,” she said to him. “So much. More today than ever before.”
“What a coincidence,” Barrett replied. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
They smiled and waited. Suddenly a big kick, right under Thisbe’s hand.
“I felt him!” Thisbe squealed. “I knew Holloway loved me the most! The most of all!”
Barrett shook his head, “No one loves you more than me.”
Scarlet smiled and touched his face. She couldn’t argue with him on that one. Because she finally realized it was true.
THE END
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About the Author
Alison Ryan is a romance author who lives with her husband and sons in a southern kind of heaven. She loves books about love, watching too much Bravo, and good bourbon. Not always in that order.
In her former life she has been all of the above: a Las Vegas limo driver, an insurance adjuster, an American Idol reject, a repo woman, and a graveyard front desk clerk at a dilapidated motel on the shores of the Redneck Riviera. (Panama City Beach) Her 20's were a fun, but exhausting time.
She is quite happy to be pretty boring in her 30's.
@AilisonRyanBooks
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Also by Alison Ryan
Revel
Atlas
His to Win
The Mentor
Relent (Coming Summer 2016)
The Mogul (Coming Summer 2016)
ODIN (Coming July 2016)
