I laugh as Mindy says goodbye and drives off. Then, Rob and I turn to one another, both of us smiling.
“You know, in my line of work, it’s easy to forget how wonderful life can be,” he says with a grin while gently caressing my belly. “But then something amazing happens, and I’m reminded all over again. By the way, did I mention that I love you, Pepper White?”
“I’ll never let you forget,” I say saucily before pressing my lips to his. “And by the way, I love you too, Rob Trainor.” I wrap my arms around him and look up into his eyes. “Life with you is already wonderful and amazing, and now with a baby, you’re stuck with me.”
The handsome man’s eyes flash and I can tell he wants to say something more, but then he merely smiles, leans down, and kisses me sweetly. Who could ask for more? I got my man, and I got my baby too.
Epilogue
Pepper
* * *
Two years later.
Our back yard is filled with the smell of barbecue and the laughter of friends and family, but I’m upstairs trying to find a new outfit for Emily. Our one-year-old daughter toddles around my legs as I pull out a baby blue dress from the closet. I drape the dress over my shoulder and bend down to snag her.
“Aha!” I say, scooping the wiggling girl into my arms. “I’ve got you now, Emmy!”
She squeals and giggles as I cover her face in kisses.
“I take my eyes off you for one second, and you immediately spill juice all over your dress. But that’s okay sweetheart. Mommy doesn’t mind.”
I peel off the pretty red dress that I selected to match Rob’s shirt, but after being a mom for a month, I’ve learned not to get too attached to Emily’s clothing because kids are like hurricanes. Between the spit-up, potty, and insane levels of dirt and dust, Emily’s clothes can get trashed in no time. Nonetheless, I’ve taken more than enough pictures of her in the red outfit, so it’s okay.
I slip the blue dress over my daughter’s head carefully so I don’t ruin her pigtails. She’s the spitting image of Rob, from the chestnut hair to the warm brown eyes, and she even gets the same contemplative frown he has when she’s thinking hard about something. I love her to bits, and thank my lucky stars for Emily each day.
Then, I do the button at the back of her neck and set her down while I adjust it. The dress is a bit big on her but not so much that it’s noticeable. Besides, I don’t have time to find another because it’s almost time for Rob to blow out the candles on his birthday cake.
“Up! Up!” Emily says, reaching toward me.
“Up!” I agree, and pick her up again, bouncing her warm weight in my arms.
I head down the stairs, but before going outside, I stop by the living room to get Rob’s gift. It’s hidden behind my diploma on the mantelpiece. I finally got my degree, but haven’t started working as an ultrasound tech yet. Right now, I’m just enjoying being a stay at home mom and watching Emily grow because there’s never a dull moment with a baby. Plus, every day I learn something new about who she is, and it’s such a gift. I couldn’t be happier, and Rob has urged me to stay home for as long as I like too. He makes more than enough at his job to support us, and we enjoy our time together as a little family.
Then, I walk outside with the gift in one hand, and my daughter in the other. My friend Jessa comes up, her red curls bouncing.
“Hey girlfriend,” she says with a big smile. “Oh my god, I can’t believe that afternoon at the bar turned out like this! You weren’t that drunk but I had no idea you’d steal an ambulance! By the way, who’s that hot guy over there?”
I laugh and turn my head. Jessa’s always fun to be around. She looks gorgeous today in black leather pants and a tight top, and sure enough, I see Rob’s co-worker Sam staring our way. The blond man jerks when I wave and I laugh.
“It’s just Rob’s friend Sam,” I giggle. “I think he likes you too, Jess. I’ll introduce you later.”
“You will?” Jessa squeals before throwing her arms around me. “Oh my god, thank you! I feel like my ovaries are drying up here in Prescott, but maybe the city will finally deliver the man of my dreams.”
I merely laugh and give her another hug before my daughter starts tugging at my hair and demanding my attention. Emily’s spotted her nephews, Jamison and Jeremiah, although “nephew” seems like a strange word, seeing that she and the twins are the same age. But it is what it is because Mindy and I gave birth at the same time, and it’s been wonderful. We always wanted to be mommies together and it seems that the planets aligned perfectly.