Epilogue

epilogue

Colton

I know it's only been a few months since we met and got together, but I'm tired of this transitional part of our life. I'm tired of going back to my cabin at night. I want to wake up in the same bed as Hannah every day and not just the days when Abby is somewhere else.

I want to make pancakes for that little girl because she is the light of my life. I never gave much thought to being a father, but it's not a question anymore. Do I want more kids with Hannah? Absolutely, but I don't need them. I think of Abby as my daughter.

"Okay, buddy, you've got to be quiet a little bit longer. Can you do that?" I peek inside the crate and he's still sleeping. I carry the crate into Hannah's garage and leave it in there while I go into the house.

"Anybody here?" I yell.

"Colton!" Abby is the first one to greet me and she rushes into my arms. I swing her up and she kisses my cheeks.

"Hey munchkin, whatcha been up to?"

"Drawing a picture and eating marshmallows."

"Marshmallows? By themselves?"

She shrugs and giggles.

"Hey baby," Hannah says as she steps into her foyer.

I set Abby down and pull my love into my arms. I give her a brief kiss because kiddo in the room.

"Is today the day?" Abby asks.

Hannah frowns and looks at her daughter. "What day?"

That's my cue so I drop to one knee and pull out the box and flip it open. "Hannah Marie Payne, I've loved you from the moment I saw you. Will you please put me out of my misery and marry me?"

"Yes!" Hannah says, those whiskey eyes filled with tears. I slide the ring onto her finger.

Abby is grinning widely when I turn to her. "Abigail Grace Payne, I love you too and I'd very much like to join your family?" I present her with a piece of jewelry too. It's a heart-shaped locket engraved with her initials.

She squeals and throws her arms around my neck. I put on her necklace, then come to my feet and pull Hannah in for a slightly more heated kiss.

"Okay, there's one more surprise," I say. "Can you girls wait here for a moment?"

I run right back out to the garage and grab the ball of fluff with the giant red bow around his neck. Then I go back inside and set him down.

"A puppy!" Abby squeals and sits on the floor and he waddles right over to her and drops into her lap. She looks up at me. "What kind is he? What's his name?"

"He's a golden retriever and you get to name him. He's yours."

Tears prick my little girl's eyes and damn if I'm not teary-eyed myself.

"I love you, Colton," Abby says. "And I'm super glad you're going to be my daddy now. Even before the puppy. But especially now."

I laugh and pull Hannah even closer.

"You might as well just move in now because I will not be the only one waking up in the middle of the night to take the puppy out to potty."

"Are you going to be this much of a slave driver when you're my wife?"

"Even more so."

I wiggle my brows at her. "I can't wait."