“She’s going home with you, isn’t she?” Elisa meets my stare.
“I hope so.” I pray to God she is. “She does have a good life there. She works in a coffee shop and has become great friends with the owner. She says the ocean is like a balm to her soul.”
“She has you,” Elisa’s soft voice points out.
“And my son.” They both raise their eyebrows at that. “Jesse. He’s eight, loves baseball, cupcakes, and Laken’s special hot chocolate. He’s been texting me non-stop since I arrived in Seattle, wanting to know if I’m bringing her home.”
“What about his own mother?”Fucking Cassidy.
I struggle to find the right words when I feel Laken’s fingers flex on my chest. Looking down, I see her watching me with a smile on her face. “His mother is in and out of the picture. As soon as I can find her again, she’s going to be out.”
The Cooke’s share a look before Ward speaks. “Because of the instability?”
“Yes. Jesse comes back from spending time with her once or twice a year, and he’s just a completely different kid. He’s moody, miserable, and has feelings so big he doesn’t know what to do with them.” I fucking hate the torture my son goes through every time he sees her. “We spoke before I came west. He wants a break from her. He wants time to learn how to be a kid whose life isn’t disrupted just because she comes breezing through town.”
“Mature boy, you have.” Ward smiles down at his daughter.
“You’re going to love him, Daddy.” He pats her leg with a grin on his face and a hand on his wife’s shoulder.
“Get some rest, sweetheart, and we’ll be here to pick you two up in the morning.” Her mom leans over to kiss her cheek, followed by her dad, before leaving us alone again.
Quiet encompasses the room until Laken sits up and stares down at me. “Did you mean what you said?”
“I did.” I’m unsure what she’s talking about, but whatever it is has hope shining in her eyes, so yes is my answer.
“You want me to come home with you?”
“Darlin’, I want everything with you. Marriage, babies, ten cats if you really want, or dogs. I don’t care, as long as you’re at my side. I want it all.”
Her smile is brilliant as joyous tears shine in her eyes. “You always know what to say.”
“Honesty is the best policy.” Gripping the front of her shirt, I lower her down to me, capturing her lips with a promise of more to come. “Whatever you want, I want.”
Brushing her fingers against my jaw, her eyes close, and after a couple of deep breaths, they open, and what I find is a new woman. An invigorated woman. A woman who’s ready to go after what she wants. It’s a spectacular sight to behold.
“I want to go home.” Melding our lips, Laken relaxes into my hold, and together, we make plans for the future.
Epilogue 1
LAKEN
Surprise!
Four months later.
“Hurry up, Jesse!” All morning, he’s been working on a surprise with me to give to his dad, my husband, Hale. I still can’t believe we’re married. My parents flew out for the beach wedding two months ago and stayed for a month. I think they’re halfway convinced to move here now, and it’s not because of me. Rather the little boy I’m currently waiting for by the front door.
When they arrived, he’d been with us to pick them up from the airport and held up a huge welcome sign for them and didn’t hesitate to call them Pop and Nan. It was a pivotal moment for me, for us, as a family. And I’ve been so grateful that they didn’t express the doubts I knew they had about Hale and me marrying so quickly. They were charmed by his entire family in the time they spent here.
“I’m coming!” he calls out just as the doorbell rings. Picking up my purse, phone, and keys from the counter, I expect it to be Torque, Hale’s younger brother. He comes over all the time. I think he might feel alone now that his brother is married and settled into family life. But I love the beefy firefighter, so I enjoy when he comes over too. Even if Hale isn’t here.
“You were supposed to meet us there,” I say as I open the door, not looking up to see who it is.
“Meet who where?” A woman’s voice has my head lifting.
“I’m so sorry, I thought you were someone else.” I smile despite recognizing who it is and the hell she has given us over the last few months. “How can I help you, Cassidy?”
“I need to speak with Hale.” Her arms cross, and she scowls at me.