Epilogue

HOLLY

Nine months later…

Holly and Cade were marveling at the miracle swaddled in her arms, lying there exhausted from the ordeals of childbirth. Her labor had been long and uncomfortable, but it was such a blessing to have the women's clinic within driving distance on the opposite side of town.

"Poor fella," Cade breathed, touching the baby's light brown downy fuzz on his scalp, and she looked up at him. Sharing this moment with him far exceeded her expectations or what she thought was her capacity to love someone. No, seeing her husband smiling and crying with pride as their child slipped into this world was something she would never forget. "He's just plumb worn out, isn't he?"

"Mama is too…"

"Oh, I know you are, princess. I've never seen such determination or resolve on your face."

"Why, Hostess… you look frightened of me," she chuckled, teasing him.

"Nope. Healthy respect. You are right, and I am wrong from here on out," he grinned, leaning down to kiss her on the temple before laying his cheek against the top of her head so they could both watch the baby sleeping in her arms.

"He's so precious," she whispered, caressing their son's tiny pink button nose once more in sheer amazement. "My Daddy would have loved you," she breathed. "Pawpaw would have you turning wrenches before you could rollerskate because that's just what Beary's do…"

"Holly…?"

"Yeah?" she replied, looking up at Cade again and seeing a wary look on his face. "What's wrong?"

"You're going to think I'm being stupid… but I think I have an idea for our son's name."

"Oh?"

"I know we thought it was going to be a girl, then it was a boy, and it was hard to narrow down names, or…"

"Cade, what's your idea?"

"What if we named our son after what brought us together – and honor your father at the same time? Then there is a little bit of both of us in him, on paper, in memory, and in blood."

"I'm not naming him ‘Crash'…"

"Nahhh. I wouldn't do that to my little buddy. No, he needs a strong, honorable, aggressive yet sound name – just like our cars."

Her smile widened as she looked at her husband before kissing the infant tenderly once more there in the delivery room. Cade's large hands cradled the baby's cheek once more as they both adoringly gazed at their child.

"It's nice to meet you… Ford Beary Pruitt."