14. Epilogue

Epilogue

3 years later

Justin

I 'm on the dance floor at the town's fancy country club. We had our second child six months ago and I told Ana that I wanted to have the big reception we should have had when we first got married. I don't know what made her give in, perhaps the two children under two and an inquisitive eleven-year-old, but I'm glad she did.

Having Ana in my arms still gives me a thrill. I look down at her beautiful face and smile.

"You're the most beautiful bride I've ever seen."

"I'm your wife. Did you forget?"

"Never."

I place a kiss on her forehead and keep up the pace with the music. I put in a request for the band to do at least thirty minutes of slow songs so that I could have Ana this close to me tonight. My brothers are all around me on the dance floor with their wives, and my parents look like lovebirds, with how close they are to each other when they dance.

My life is full of blessings, though I'm a little scared of my first daughter's upcoming teenage years. I don't think any father is ready for that. For now she's being helpful with the other kids. One boy was born two years ago, and the latest one, a girl, was born six months ago.

Ana and I discussed how many more kids we wanted and we agreed that at least one more. After that, I'll get the snip so that she can relax and not burden her body with birth control meds.

Is one person allowed to be this happy? Is this real? Maybe I should ask one of my brothers to pinch me and see if I'm dreaming. I have this amazing family and the support of my parents and siblings. I run a business successfully, and I have been making small but essential changes in our town of Woodland Falls.

The job is complex, but I manage it well with the help of two assistants and a clerk. Ana spoils them often so that they can focus on their jobs.

Ana is my life, and I sometimes get down when I think of how many years I wasted keeping a distance from her. She can't get rid of me now.

I wake up from my reverie when Ana herself pinches me.

"Sorry. I'm worried life right now is too good to be true."

"Things seem to be a little too perfect, don't they?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I accept this as our life now, and I think you should too."

"Oh yeah?"

"We have three kids and more to come. There are going to be some obstacles in our future, baby. I'm grateful for what we have and you should be too."

"Fine, I'll stop worrying."

"We have the house to ourselves tonight."

"We do?"

That was a surprise to me. With three kids we can no longer rely on my parents to do all the heavy lifting, so we've needed more help. When we want time to ourselves we need to call in the troops, meaning one or two of my brothers would take the baby and the toddler. It's not easy to coordinate, so I've been having low expectations for sexy times.

"I arranged it with your mother, Merry and Sam. They'll take over from the babysitter when the reception is over."

"You are the most resourceful woman in the world. I'm so lucky I married you."

"You know what this means, though."

"That I get to spend the rest of the night worshipping your gorgeous body?"

"That's right, husband."

I love it when she calls me that. I love her more than life. And I know we'll spend the rest of our lives together. Forever.