A tiny cry erupted from her, and she stood there staring down at me for the longest time, the smile lighting her mouth soft and soggy and so goddamned sweet. “And you . . . you gave me everything, Rex Gunner. My dreams. My hopes. A little girl to call my own. You and Frankie, you are the parts of me I hadn’t known I was missing. Both of you, you are my heart and my life. And I promise you, I will always be yours.”
Overcome by emotion, blinking back my own tears, I slid that ring on her finger, and Rynna dropped to her knees on the blanket in front of me. Those eyes searched me, flitting all over my face. “I knew today was a special day, and I’ve been saving you a surprise of my own.”
I cupped her face, tracing my thumb along the curve of her jaw. Just needing to touch her. “You’ve got a surprise for me, huh? Not sure I need anything but what you’ve already given me.”
Her eyes fluttered, and her head dropped, and she set both her hands on her belly. Then she peeked up at me with a timid smile, wearing eternity on her face.
My eternity.
My forever.
My second chance.
I pressed my hands over hers, hardly able to speak. “You telling me I’m lucky enough that you’re going to make me a daddy again, too?”
Quickly, she nodded. “I know, I know it’s soon, but you and I, we haven’t exactly been careful all this time . . . and . . . and . . . oh God, Rex, I’m so happy. This baby makes me so happy.”
She was rambling. Nervous. Excited.
Wondering how I’d react.
Crazy thing was, we’d never had this conversation, but all along I’d been taking that chance with her.
I dropped my forehead to hers, her hair wound through my fingers, our noses touching as I murmured, “Nothing could make me happier than growing this family with you. I’m so happy, Rynna. So goddamned happy. You’re my second chance, Rynna, and I’m not afraid of what this life will bring.”
Little Thief.
She’d stolen my heart.
And I was going to give her everything.
Epilogue Two – Rynna
I paused just outside the swinging kitchen door—a fresh cherry pie in my hands—staring out into the dining room.
Every person I loved was there for the grand re-opening of Pepper’s Pies.
There for me. Because of this legacy. A private party just for my family and friends.
My husband.
My sweet daughter, Frankie Leigh.
The woman I’d come to adore, to claim as my own, Rex’s mother, Jenny. She was such an important fixture in our lives, there to give me advice and an encouraging word when I needed one, or simply being a friend at other times. Fun and caring with that wild streak I was sure she’d never outgrow. Loving us unconditionally, in her own perfect way.
Ollie and Kale, Nikki and Lillith and Brody were all there, laughing where they stood by a few tables we’d pushed together in the middle. Seth Long, the officer who’d worked to put Janel and Aaron away, and a few of the guys from RG Construction I’d gotten to know were there, too.
Macy had flown out just for the celebration, and she mixed in just fine, laughing at something Kale had to say, which was probably something entirely inappropriate.
And I swore, as I looked around, my gramma was there, too. Her spirit always so strong. Her presence so profound.
Forever guiding me with the whisper of her encouraging words. Comfort covered me, a warmth that lit me from head to toe, her voice a murmur in my ear.
“Someday you’ll understand what I’m talkin’ about. Someday you’ll know what it’s like to be in love . . . You know you’re in love when their happiness counts more than yours. The key is your happiness meaning most to them, too. Put those two together? That’s magic, Rynna. That’s what real love is. It’s two people giving all they have.”
Magic.
That’s what Rex and I were. Two people giving it all we had.
We both loved the other first, their happiness before our own. Approaching our relationship that way? That happiness could only grow as it was poured out in the day to day, amplified in the little things and strengthened when life threw obstacles in our way.
Frankie suddenly looked my direction, wearing that grin on her face that always managed to touch my soul, the word falling from her mouth making my spirit thrum with joy. “Mommy!”
“Yes, baby?”
“Is that a Pepper’s Pie?”
“Of course it’s a Pepper’s Pie. I made your favorite kind.”
“Dids you know my Gramma C’rine used to make me all the Pepper’s Pies?” she turned and continued to ramble at Macy, who seemed to be her new best friend. “She used to works here, too, but now my mommy does and she makes me pies and they’re soes good, and my daddy eats them all, all, all gone and I have to race him to even get a piece.”