Epilogue
Forest
Six Months Later
Today is the day. I’ve got everything set up. The girls have the flowers we’re going to give Bailey, and the ring I have for her is burning a hole in my pocket. The past six months have flown by between the girls and their hectic schedule now that swimming is in in full effect, moving my office that’s now only ten minutes with heavy traffic from our house. A move that had heads spinning, but I wasn’t budging. Those long terrifying minutes, listening and not being able to be there. It never leaves my mind. The only satisfying moment was watching on the eleven o’clock news that Krissy was being arrested. Shortly after Madden and I sent everything over to the right sources, my brother doing more of the legwork than I expected or asked, a warrant was signed by the judge for an arrest. The accident made the news, part of that because of the last name Hughes; the other part of the equation is where it happened, in front of a police station. Well, that tends to make the news, and media pick it up. It was three days after Bailey was released from the hospital, her sleep schedule all out of whack. We were staying up later until she was tired when we saw Krissy on the television, hands behind her back, head dipped down while being led by five cops. She was arraigned, bail was set for two million dollars, which she couldn’t put up. The reason was disgusting when Krissy admitted the truth. It still makes my stomach coil in anguish. I never would have thought she had it in her. The money from the divorce settlement was gone, not that Krissy received a lot. Pictures do wonders when they’re documented correctly. Add in her breaking the law when it came to the restraining order, and she was shit out of luck. That wasn’t the kicker. Apparently, she kept life insurance policies on the girls. Krissy hit rock bottom. The man she was having an affair with didn’t want anything to do with her, and she was living paycheck to paycheck due to a blow habit. Prison is where she belongs and where she’ll stay for a very long time.
“You girls ready? I hear Bailey.” We’re standing in the living room, back to the fireplace, the girls in a pretty dress each. Piper is having a harder time standing still, constantly whirling in a circle, watching as her dress billows out. Cammy was annoyed until I told her to let her be; Bailey wouldn’t mind.
“I am so ready,” Cammy says.
“Baiwey home! I get her!” Piper darts off the second Bailey opens the door from the garage. She went shopping today with both of our moms, along with Hendrix. Damage was sure to be done all the way around with the four of them.
“Well, don’t you look beautiful today. What’s the occasion?” I hear in the kitchen. Hopefully, Piper will lead her towards Cammy and me.
“Dad-dad murry you.” Cammy attempts to hold her laughter in but is having a hard time doing it.
“Remind me not to tell your sister any secrets,” I mumble under my breath when I see Bailey and Piper walk into the living room, Piper holding her hand. The other has the flowers, and she’s leading the way. I get down on one knee and open the black velvet box where a gold ring sits, one diamond set in a cushion cut design.
“Seee, murry Dad-dad, Bai-Bai,” Piper tells her, the two of them standing in front of me while Cammy is moving closer.
“Oh my gosh, Forest.” Tears are welling in her eyes.
“Bailey, will you do me the honor and marry the three of us?” I ask. Bailey sinks to her knees and wraps her arms around the girls and me.
“Yes, I want you all, forever,” she responds.
“Yay! Bailey’s going to be our mom!” Cammy says inside our circle.
“Mom-mom!” Apparently, Piper is on board as well.
“I love you, Bailey, love you, Cammy, and love you, Piper,” I tell the three most important people in my life.
“Wuv you.”
“I love you, too,” Cammy says, pulling away from our group hug first. Piper follows her, and then it’s the two of us. My lips crashing onto hers, needing to taste her sweetness. Bailey’s mouth opens, allowing me entrance to take what I so badly want. If I’d planned this out, my parents could have taken the girls tonight, except I wanted them to be a part of this, to know they’ll always be included. That means tonight, as soon as the girls are in bed, I’m going to take my fiancée in every way possible. God, this is a beautiful fucking life.
Epilogue
Bailey
“Show me. Fuck your pussy for me, Bailey.” Forest is sitting in front of me, back where we first met, in the same exact room. A weekend away from the girls, for us to have this. Don’t get me wrong; I adore everything about my two little girls. Sometimes, though, we need this, to reconnect and not have to worry about every single moment.