Epilogue

Gemma

“ W hat’s she doing?” Everett asks, his curious gaze meeting mine in the rearview mirror.

Breathing out a laugh, I look down at our brand-new baby girl, where she’s sound asleep in her car seat. “Same thing she was doing a minute ago when you asked.”

Everett’s smile is beaming as he turns onto our street, going slow as molasses to not disturb the little princess beside me. Watching how careful he is with her, like she’s a glass vase that might shatter, is so adorable, I think my heart might burst right out of my chest.

Rosie Dylan Windward was born yesterday at six thirty-seven in the morning, weighing seven pounds even, and standing—or laying—at a whopping twenty-one inches tall. She’s got her daddy’s nose, and the same long, dark lashes her big brother had when he was born. She’s perfect.

Pulling into our driveway, Everett turns off the car and climbs out, opening the back door as he gently unhooks her seat from the base. His eyes meet mine for a brief moment, and just the overflowing look of love coming from his gaze is enough to make my throat ache. I swear, I’ve done nothing but cry for the last twenty-nine hours since she’s come into this world sunny-side up. First, seeing Everett sob as he first laid eyes on his new baby girl, watching him hold her and talk to her, and then watching Sutton hold his new sister. It was all too much for these chaotic, post-birth hormones.

“I love you,” he breathes, reaching out to cup my cheek tenderly.

I smile through blurry vision. “I love you.”

God, how am I supposed to walk into my house and have my entire family meet our daughter when I can barely keep it together long enough for him to look at me?

Being the stubborn—but good—man he is, Everett takes the baby and both bags into the house so I don’t have to carry anything. Even though I’ve made it perfectly clear that I’m more than capable of helping, he insists. I purposely walk a little slower so I get to have the absolutely delicious view of him doing the new daddy walk up to the house. His tan, corded forearm flexing as he effortlessly carries the car seat, paired with the backward hat on his head, is enough to convince me that one more wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Grace is holding open the screen door as we approach, tears already welling in her eyes. “Oh my gosh,” she whispers. “Let me see her!”

Everett and I decided a few months ago that it would be just the two of us in the delivery room and in the hospital, save for Georgia dropping Sutton off for a few hours yesterday to meet and spend time with Rosie. I wanted to be able to enjoy those first few hours with just the four of us, and make sure we were able to work with our sweet girl on latching. I’m so glad we decided to do it this way, but I’m more than excited and ready for everyone to meet her now.

“Who’s all here?” I ask my sister as we make our way to the living room.

“It’s only me, Sutton, and Charley,” she explains. “I made up a schedule for everybody to come see you in intervals so you aren’t so overwhelmed with us all here at once.”

Glancing over at my sister, I smile. “Of course, you made a schedule.”

“I think what you mean to say is, ‘Thank you, Grace. What an amazing little sister you are.’” She juts her chin out, and I can’t help but laugh as a grin spreads on her face.

Everett sets the car seat on the floor and squats down. “Do I leave her in there?” he asks, lifting his gaze to meet mine.

I shake my head, a small smile tugging on my lips. “You aren’t supposed to let babies sleep in their car seats when they’re not attached to the base.”

“I’ll hold her!” Grace offers, just as Charley and Sutton stroll in from out back.

“Mom, Dad, you’re back!” Sutton exclaims, and that damn organ in my chest squeezes all over again, hearing him refer to Everett as that. It’s been over a month since he started doing it, and clearly, I’m not getting any less sappy about it anytime soon.

He comes over and gives me a gentle side hug, like he’s not sure if he’s going to hurt me. Breathing out a chuckle, I wrap both arms around him and squeeze. “You’re not going to break me, babe,” I whisper beside his ear.

“How are you feeling?” he asks, peering up at me. I swear, he’s shot up overnight, and he’s nearly as tall as I am.

“Sore, but so happy, especially now that we’re home with you.”

Grace’s cheeks are wet, eyes red-rimmed, as she sits on the couch with the little peanut in her arms. “She is absolutely perfect, you guys.” Looking up at me, my sister adds, “You did so good.”

That’s all it takes for me to lose it. A choked sob rolls up my throat as tears fall hot down my face. I bring a hand up to my mouth, looking from her to Sutton, then to Everett, all eyes on me. “I’m sorry, I’m a blubbering mess. I can’t help it.”

Everett chuckles, bringing a hand to the small of my back. “Why don’t you sit down? I’ll get you some water and a tissue.”

His kindness only makes me cry harder. “That’d be great. Thanks,” I mumble.

Charley sits next to Grace, admiring Rosie. “She’s so pretty, Gem.” Looking up at me, she asks, “How was labor?”

“It actually wasn’t terrible. It wasn’t nearly as long as my labor was with Sutton, and I only had to push for about fifteen minutes.”

“How long did you push with me?” Sutton asks.

“An hour and a half.” His eyes widen, and it makes me laugh. “Yeah, you were a stubborn boy.”

Everett comes back in a moment later, sitting on the arm of the chair I’m in, handing me the water and a tissue. Charley and Grace end up staying about an hour, and once they leave, Rosie and I lie down for a nap. I forgot how utterly exhausting it is to push a human being out of your body. After we wake up and she nurses, Everett takes her, insisting I take a shower.

In the bathroom, I strip out of my clothes and stand in front of the mirror. A smile curls my lips as I take myself in. I don’t think it’ll ever not amaze me what a woman’s body is capable of. The fact that yesterday morning I had a baby inside my stomach, and now that baby is a living, breathing being. The stretch marks, saggy skin, swollen breasts, and even my pregnancy nose… all of it came from growing a life inside of me. It’s so miraculous, and sometimes, I think it’s easy to forget just how special that is.

After I take a too long, too hot shower, I dry off and get dressed, eager to get back to my two main men and the little princess who already has them both wrapped around her tiny finger. Opening the door, I stop in my tracks, my breath catching in my throat as I take in the sight before me. Tears sting the backs of my eyes and my heart thumps in my chest. Sitting with his back against the headboard on my side is Sutton, his sister in his arms as Everett sits beside them, his arm around Sutton as they both gaze down at Rosie.

My family.

Watching Everett grow so effortlessly into his role as a father in Sutton’s life, and now watching him find his footing with Rosie, makes me fall in love with him all over again. From the moment he stepped into our life, he’s made us a priority. He’s never made us feel like a bother, never made me question his commitment. Everett has been all in from the beginning. I’d even go as far as saying he’s been all in since the minute we locked eyes on that pier. As if in some magical way, he knew what was coming for us.

Like he knows I’m thinking about him, Everett lifts his head, his ocean blues meeting mine across the room where I stand with my shoulder resting against the doorway. He smiles at me, his eyes crinkling at the corners as the first tear falls from my eye.

I can’t imagine life getting much better than this. As I watch the man I love, love on our two kids, I thank the universe for whatever it was that sent him to us.

I’m so in love with this beautiful crazy life I’ve been blessed with.