Epilogue

Daisy

Two Months Later

Belle holds her fishing pole over the water as she digs her free hand into a bag of snack crackers.

"Do you think we'll catch anything today?"

She lands her finger over her lips and whispers, "Dad says if we sit really quiet, the fish will come." She looks away as though she's finished talking but spins back just as quickly. "But… only if we sing them the welcome song."

I can't help but smile. "What's the welcome song?"

Suddenly, the whisper is gone, and the pole is on the grass before her. "Welcome fish. Welcome fish. Welcome, welcome, welcome fish. I love you all the sea." She sits back in the chair and grabs the pole like nothing happened.

Country laughs loudly. "Belle, your song is supposed to be a whisper too."

"Dad," she groans, "how do the fish find me if I'm whispering the welcome song?"

He shakes his head. "Got me there. You good on juice or you need more?"

"I need more."

He digs through the cooler at his side and hands her a grape juice box.

These are the moments I never imagined would happen for me. Quiet days by the river with a family of my own.

Belle looks toward me. "I have something to give you. Dad says I should wait, but I can't." She turns around and unzips her backpack.

"Honey," Country says, "we need to slow down. I should talk to Daisy first. A lot has been going on lately."

Belle rolls her eyes at her father and continues what she's doing. "Dad, I was the best girl at your wedding. Of course, Daisy will say yes to me. We're best friends. She gave me all A's in school, and we spent all last weekend doing girl stuff without you. It's fine."

Belle pulls a piece of construction paper from her bag. It's bright yellow and folded in half, though I can see the shadow of a dark red marker through the paper. Already I'm swooning.

"I'm sorry," Country holds my arm and smiles. "She loves you."

"I love her too. There's nothing to be sorry about."

He brushes his hand down over his beard. "You don't have to say yes."

My curiosity is peaked. Whatever this is, it's about to be good.

"Daisy," Belle hands me her piece of paper, "I want to ask you if you'll sign this."

I unfold the paper and stare down at the words.

‘I, Daisy, will adopt Belle as my own kid. I promise to take her dress shopping, adopt a puppy, let Belle tell me all her secrets, and do all things mommies do forever and ever. Amen.'

Beneath the words is a hand drawn picture of Belle holding my hand. We're stick figures and we're both wearing dresses and high-heeled shoes. This version of us is adorable, and this is the cutest thing I've ever seen.

Emotion overwhelms me and I burst into tears, pulling Belle up onto my lap.

"Are you mad? My dad said I should wait and give you time to get used to us."

I glance toward Country and smack his arm playfully. We've been married for six weeks now. We had a small wedding down at the little tree farm in town. It's an adorable place, even in the summertime. Tall pine trees and a little cabin they use for wreaths in the winter, but now is used for refreshments after a party.

It was just the three of us and the MC club. They even got Chap from Rugged Mountain MC to officiate. He's definitely used to these weddings by now. "I think Dad is trying to look out for me, but Belle, I knew the second I met you, that I was supposed to be your mommy. Do you have a marker?" I wipe away more tears as she hands me the red marker in her opposite hand.

"Why are you crying, Mommy?"

Okay, now I'm full-on belly ache sobbing.

Mommy?

I wipe away tears. "Because I'm so happy, Belle. I've never wanted anything more than you and your dad."

I uncap the marker and sign on the dotted line, dropping stains of wetness all over the construction paper, bleeding the ink in a tie dye pattern.

Belle wraps her little arms around my neck and jumps up from my lap, running back and forth through the grass with excitement. "See, Dad. I told you she'd sign it."

I glance toward Country. "You didn't think I would?"

"I knew we'd make it official at some point, but I didn't want to scare you off."

I laugh. "You think maybe the wedding would've done that first?"

He stands from the folding chair and pulls me up out of mine, while Belle runs around like a crazy person in the distance. I think she might be chasing a butterfly now. Country clears his throat. "Thank you for lovin' us. I know I'm not perfect."

"Stop it. You're absolutely perfect. You and Belle are as perfect as they come." Water splashes as a bird lands in the pond and flaps its wings. "I love you, Country. I love you so damn much. And Belle… Belle is my heart. I'm so thankful and honored that she asked me the way she did."

He sighs and pulls me so tight against his chest that I hear his heart beating. "Love you more, darlin'. What do ya say we get inside and start paintin' that entry way? The furniture comes tomorrow. I want to have things done by then."

Back in the day, a Saturday spent painting would've sounded awful, but working on a project like this with my family is everything. I love creating a perfect little nest with the people I love most in the whole world.

I nod and lift up onto my toes to kiss his lips softly. "Yes! Let's paint!"

He kisses the tip of my nose, and we head toward the house. The bounty we collected from Mike's arrest gave us enough extra cash to stock away, but Country insisted on making the cabin everything I ever wanted. He's spent the last few weeks updating everything from a new fireplace mantle, to the kitchen remodel, to the bedroom he added onto the back of the house. The guys from the MC helped, but it went up in record time. He wants everything done before the baby arrives in seven months. It sounds like a long time, but I know it will fly by.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. It's my friend Lydia. She's having a baby of her own, but she hasn't told anyone yet. I think she's nervous about how folks will react.

Lydia: You don't want to come back to the hardware store and sit with me all day, do you?

Me: Yes, I do, but I'm not sure my family wants to come and we're about to paint. Why don't you stop by after you're done.

Lydia: I don't get off until seven tonight. I'll be beat by then. Thanks, though. How are you feeling? Any morning sickness yet?

Me: Nothing yet. You?

Lydia: Yeah, it's been pretty bad. I read online that ginger works well for that so I'm going to… sorry that inked up dude just walked in. The big one. The one I want to rescue myself from. Did I tell you about him?

Me: LOL. You did. Have fun telling him all the facts you learned on the History Channel again.

Lydia: That was one time! GTG! Text you later.

"Everythin' okay?" Country tucks his hand into mine.

"Yeah, that was Lydia. She's stressing about the baby. We should invite her over tomorrow night for dinner. You mind? I think she could use the company."

"Not at all. Belle and I will cook."

I snuggle into his arm and rub my opposite hand over my stomach as we walk up toward the cabin. "We still need a name for this little guy."

Belle jumps up and down. "Wait? Am I getting a brother?"

I glance toward Country. "Oh my God. I'm so sorry. I—"

"Don't be." He grins and lifts Belle into his arms. "That's what we're thinkin'. Got any names?"

"Yes!" She hugs her dad and kisses his cheek. "Why don't we go with Fish."

"Fish?" Country laughs. "You want to name your human brother, Fish?"

"Yeah!" She nods. "Kids in school have all kinds of names. Our family loves to fish, so…"

I laugh and kiss her little hand. "Yeah, I think we can find something that works with fish. What about Hudson? That's the name of a waterway and fish live in waterways."

Belle stares toward me, considering the option carefully as though maybe I'm the one who's lost my mind. Clearly, Hudson is not Fish.

Country grins. "I like Hudson. It's simple and strong. What do you think, Belle? Can you see playing with a Hudson?"

She purses her lips. "Yeah, I could see that, I guess. But what about Finn! I like Finn better!"

It's actually not bad. I glance toward Country and hook into his arms. "What do you think?"

"I kinda like it."

"Me too!" I grin. "Finn it is!"

Finn, our baby boy. If I'm lucky, he'll be just like his father. Big, strong, opinionated, and he'll love fiercely.

Belle wiggles down out of her father's arms and runs up toward the cabin. Her voice trails off the further she runs away, but she's saying something about Rover. Lately, she's stopped talking to her imaginary mom and instead talks to an imaginary puppy.

I forgot I agreed to that in the contract. Smart girl.

Contracts and all, I'm not sure my heart has ever been so full. I mean, happiness is spilling out of me. I can't stop smiling.

Country lands his big hand on the small of my back and guides me up the hill and onto the porch, where two rocking chairs wait.

I lean down into the rocker and Country sits in the other. Belle drags her bike out of the nearby shed, and I hold one hand over our baby Finn and tuck the other into Country's.

If someone had asked me seven weeks ago if I'd be here holding the hand of a bounty hunting, motorcycle riding, bad boy, I'd have laughed hysterically.

I was done with bad boys.

Turns out, I hadn't met the right one yet.

THANK YOU FOR READING.