Epilogue I

Saylor, 5 years later…

I had wanted to hold this baby shower for Lux, not only to celebrate my sister in-law, but also to celebrate the journey it took for her and Silas to get to this point. Slow and steady was their motto while they healed separately from their pasts, as people, and also together as a couple. They hadn’t decided to get married, but were committed. I was just excited that our family was once again growing.

Lux hates all the attention on her so the shower was co-ed. My eyes find Ciaran standing across the yard talking to Matt and Erika, while holding our sleeping one year old boy on his shoulder. Our oldest son runs across the lawn with his cousin, Matt and Erika’s boy. They’re adoption went through shortly after our wedding, and the cousins are thick as thieves.

My gaze lands on the mother to-be next who is sitting in a chair, feet propped up and talking to Oaklynn. Making my way over them I sit down, huffing lightly. They both stop talking, eyeing me.

“What?” My brow lifts, feeling like I’m missing out on a secret.

“I was just telling Lux my news,” Oaklynn replies, smiling wide.

“What news?” I lean forward, my stomach fluttering with the movement.

“Kai caved at my last ultrasound,” She grins wider. “It’s a girl!”

, “No way! Congratulations!” I smile at her and lean over to hug her. Kai and Oaklynn were married a year after us, and took their time becoming parents. My bestie is expecting their first child in just a few more months, making Lux and Silas’ daughter just a few months older than Kai and Oaklynn’s.

“Well,” I bit my lip and my gaze slides to Ciaran again. He of course is already watching me with a knowing smirk. He knows I can’t keep the news to myself much longer. “In the interest of telling secrets…we’re having baby number three.”

“Stop it!” Oaklynn moves so fast to hug me. “We finally get to be pregnant together!”

I nod, biting my lip. “And we’re also having a girl.”

The scream of excitement from Oaklynn draws a few looks and laughs, but she is so happy. Lux sits up, moving slower than Oaklynn, until she can hug me as well. Tears form in her eyes. “Ugh, I hate crying. I’m so happy for us!” She laughs.

I hug them both. “What are the odds?”

Lux leans back and glances at us both with a smirk. “This generation of Rogue will be filled with strong women. I can’t wait to see how this will go.”

“Same,” Oaklynn laughs, the mischievousness in her eyes dancing brightly.

“To the girls,” I lift my glass of water to theirs in cheers. The future never looked so beautiful.