Epilogue
“I have a present for you,” she said.
“I have one for you,” he said.
“Okay, you go first.”
He took her hand, pulled her into Corey’s room, and pointed out a window that faced the lake. “See that?” He could tell that she didn’t understand at first.
“Oh, my God, is that Corey’s tree?”
“Yes. We’re going to plant a tree for every child born and make a little forest there.”
She hugged him and sniffed. “Thank you so much.”
He kissed her sweetly. “You’re welcome. Now, what’s my surprise?”
She handed over the letter and waited for him to open it. The expression in her eyes gave him a hint that it was important.
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing at first. “This is Corey’s birth certificate.”
She nodded and smiled.
“You changed it and put my name down as his father.”
“Yes.”
He pulled her into his arms and tried to control the emotion that clogged his throat, just holding her for a long moment. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.” She pulled back and smiled at him. “I couldn’t very well have your name on his brother’s or sister’s and not on Corey’s.”
It took him a second to understand the words. She’d pressed her hands to her stomach and grinned.
“Are you saying… God. Tell me.”
“You’re going to be a daddy again,” she told him.
He yanked her back into his arms. “Damn, woman. I think I can’t love you any more than I do, and then I wake up another day next to my little and fall deeper.”
He wiped the tears that slid down her face. If it weren’t for the smile on her face, he would’ve been worried.
“I feel the same way, Daddy.”
“Daddy, Daddy, Daddy,” Corey yelled from his blanket.
The adults laughed.
“I’ll never get sick of hearing that,” he said before he pressed a kiss to her lips. “And especially you, baby. I’m going to be your daddy, too.”
“Yes. Forever.”
The End