Epilogue

EPILOGUE

A few months later…

Life was a whirlwind lately, Becca smiled as she looked at her husband and Theo hollering back and forth at each other – with Matthew and Luke egging them on. How hard could it be to install a light fixture in the ceiling?

“Tu ne m'écoutes pas … I told you that wire is chaud !”

“Dude, the wire is for show? Are you sure about that?”

“Chaud! Chaud! It’s French – and means ‘Ot!” Theo shouted passionately, pointing at the wire that Travis was about to touch.

“We use ‘H’s’ in America…were you saying that the wire is hot ?” Matthew goaded, elbowing Luke who was trying to smother a knowing laugh.

“Dis is what I said, tete du cochon…”

“Theo called you pig-headed,” Travis translated for Matthew, causing them all to laugh wildly as her brother, Matthew, frowned deeply.

“I thought we were friends, Theo. Y’all cut the power, right?”

“Yes!” Yeah, Becca was afraid of that - which is why she double-checked their progress. She interrupted as all four men got this wary look on their faces instantly, looking at each other as if to say, ‘ You got it, right? ’ .

They were too busy talking, chatting, and goofing off this weekend to focus on much. She loved the help and spending time out here, but when they all got together somehow, all the instructions for everything suddenly disappeared and caution was thrown to the wind.

“I cut the power to the entire cabin.”

“Can I rent it for de’weekend?” Theo asked curiously, surprising her.

“You can borrow it for free , my friend,” Becca smiled. “You can be our first guest and test out the entire system – from beginning to end – we need a candid voice that we can trust.”

“Heyyyy!” Matthew chimed in as Luke’s mouth dropped open. “What about us?”

“What about us?” Luke parroted.

“You two are supposed to be handing me the light fixture sometime this year?” Travis laughed, winking at her as she smiled in the dimly lit room illuminated by the sunlight streaming in through the miniblinds.

It was a joy to discover it wasn’t just the two-story farmhouse but three outbuildings that also came with the property. Each building had a theme to it that just begged for a little bit of TLC to make it habitable. It would give them a chance to have a home in the country – and to have her bed and breakfast as well.

The last few weeks had been full of changes and some extraordinarily hard work, but those moments would last an eternity. Uncle Davy had married his girlfriend during a weekend getaway to Las Vegas, and she had moved into the house. Lorraine was wonderful and adored Travis’ uncle to pieces, making them both exceedingly happy. With the addition to Davy’s life and household, the end of the NHL season, and purchasing the property – they had made a few more changes happily.

Travis gave Davy and his new wife some privacy by moving out - and Becca joined him. They were married at the courthouse before the paint was dry on the kitchen of their new home. Watching her beloved husband install the new light fixture, she allowed those memories to wash over her.

“Hey Becca…” Travis had said in a strange voice, finishing up the wall he had been painting in the kitchen. She was focused on pulling the blue painter’s tape from the wall she’d just finished and was happily surprised to see that it didn’t bleed underneath but left a crisp line.

“Yeah?” she asked distractedly.

Her brother Jason was running into town to get a few supplies to help and insisted Becca stay on the farm until they were married – which suited her fine. Her things were here from her apartment, and she hadn’t been sad in the slightest about quitting her job. No, it would give her more time to get the website built and set up the business.

“Hey Becca, let’s put the lid on the paint and go get married?” Travis began again – and this time she turned to look at him in surprise. He was kneeling beside the can, about to pour some into his tray, when he’d obviously stopped. “We can paint tomorrow or the next day, but this place doesn’t feel like home without you. I completely understand your brother requesting that we get married first before moving in together, and I would never dishonor you like that, but I know we haven't discussed a venue yet either. Maybe we could discuss it now since we are finally alone for a few minutes. Do you want a big wedding?”

“Not necessarily.”

“Would you be okay saying our vows at the courthouse?”

“I just want you…” she whispered, smiling at him as he rose to his feet.

“And I just want you, Mrs. Giroux,” he replied, taking her paint-stained hand in his. “You are my heart, my soul, my everything – and I don’t need a fancy suit or ten groomsmen. It would be a lot less stress, plus we could surprise everyone and ditch the paparazzi, too. ”

“We would save the money and could put it into the house since I quit my job.”

“I’m not worried about your job – and I told you that,” he chuckled tenderly and hesitated. “But I agree and understand why you worry about it.”

“Are you sure about this place?” Becca asked curiously. “We could get a small place downtown near the arena and make it your man cave so you could have some of your things plus be closer to practice instead of having to commute…”

“About that?”

“Yeah?”

“I spoke with the manager over at Flyboys – and they’ve agreed to charter me for free if I can get some of the guys a few tickets.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope,” he grinned. “Two tickets, we’ll split an Uber from the municipal airport down to the arena and then fly back. Theo and Gerry offered to put me up, too, if needed, but I would rather come home.”

They were married three hours later, wearing their paint-stained clothing and surrounded by their closest friends and family. It was strangely wonderful because they were the only ones taking photographs in the courtroom that was shared by one other couple. As they said their vows, there were no crazy emotional outbursts or emotional sobbing. Instead, it was simply beautiful, and they both couldn’t stop smiling at each other.

“Becca, can you flip on the power, sweetheart?”

“Huh? Oh yes, sorry. I was daydreaming,” she blurted out nervously, blushing as she saw Travis’ smile widen in silent awareness. Walking over to the panel located in the closet of the bedroom of the one-room cabin, she flipped the breaker.

“Let there be light…” Travis grinned proudly as she returned to see him coming down the ladder, nodding to her. “A coat of paint, a few simple touches, and this cabin will be ready to go.”

“Are you going to have an ‘ot tub? ”

“Again with the ‘H’s’?” Matthew laughed, causing Theo to glare at him.

“Yes, we are going to put in a small hot tub in one cabin, one of those big barrel dry saunas at another, and then a small plunge bath in the third one closest to the house.”

“De’ knees?” Theo guessed, grinning, and Travis bumped knuckles with him, nodding. They all were sore after a game, according to Travis, and his friend confirmed it.

“Oh yes - the knees, brother.”

“I don’t know how you dunk yourself in ice water,” Luke tsked, shaking his head. “That seems… abnormal.”

“Definitely not natural,” Matthew added in complete agreement.

“So is the inflammation in my joints after a game,” Travis chuckled easily – and Becca had already ordered one for their home, too.

She wanted to surprise him because she witnessed firsthand how stiff he could get. His poor knees swelled up after a game where he skipped it, driving home instead. After two hours in the truck, exhausted, and then pulling up to the house – Travis could barely walk up the steps to the wraparound porch. She had massaged horse liniment on his knee to try and work out some of the swelling – followed by a very candid talk about what his future in hockey looked like.

Yes, she understood why Travis was happy to support her dreams – because it gave them a shelter in case someday everything disappeared in the blink of an eye. Right now, he was still the ‘darling’ of the sports scene with all sorts of endorsements, but life was full of changes.

Just like my surprise, she thought silently.

Becca had a very frank and open discussion with her brother, away from the others – and Travis. She cornered him yesterday at the family home, in her father’s old office where Jason now worked, and let him have it. They ended up yelling at each other, but she didn’t back down, and a miracle happened .

Jason listened.

Matthew was taking over the PR and advertising. Toni was going to handle running the cattle portion of the bustling farm while Jason focused on the horses. Luke was wicked-smart with the computer and crafty with his hands, so he would be tackling the maintenance, website, and operations with Becca. Instead of Jason handling everything, they were going to divide and conquer so they could each have a life, a chance to feel helpful and be a part of something greater.

“Sweetheart?”

Becca blinked and saw several sets of curious eyes staring at her in disbelief. Travis started forward, touching her forehead quickly and looking awfully concerned.

“Are you okay? Did you hear me?”

“I wasn’t paying attention,” she admitted nervously, seeing their concerned faces as Theo spoke up.

“ Allons-y! We’re done ‘ere…”

“Again with the ‘H’?”

“Oh my gosh, fellas,” Luke chuckled and looked at her knowingly. “Rest, Becca – and we’ll see you two tomorrow.” Her mouth dropped open in surprise as she realized the cat would be out of the bag soon enough if her youngest brother had guessed her secret.

“Becca?” Travis began, looking concerned. “Are you tired, honey? Did you sleep badly last night or…”

“Travis,” she interrupted, laying a hand on his chest just above his heart as she looked into his beloved face. “I’m fine. There’s nothing wrong with me that a little rest - and about seven months - won’t correct.”

“Seven months?” he hesitated, and the transformation of awareness in his face, his eyes, his entire being, was just what she’d hoped for as his eyes immediately became glassy, and his smile nearly split his face. She was so glad the others had left because this moment needed to be theirs alone. “Are we… are you… Becca, are you pregnant? ”

“We’re going to have a baby, Travis.”

“Oh my gosh,” he breathed, laughing happily as pulled her into his arms, kissing her happily – before backing away and looking at her warily. “No more painting for you. No lifting things, in fact, no more remodeling. I’ll handle everything while you…”

“Travis,” she interrupted once more, laughing and touched by the care in his eyes. “I’m pregnant, not helpless. I do think we need to focus on the main house first before we complete another cabin, because we’re not going to want to do anything noisy once the baby arrives.”

“I can’t believe this.”

“How are you surprised?” she teased, blushing at the candid conversation between them. “I mean, we both opted to just see what happened, and well… it happened.”

“Oh, it happened all right,” he grinned, scooping her into his arms. “It might happen again in just a few moments so I can jog my memory.”

“I’m so easy to forget… sigh,” she mocked dramatically, putting the back of her hand theatrically to her forehead – only to see her husband hesitate, getting this strange look on his face before he sat down on the loveseat they had just placed underneath a paned window. “What?”

“You are anything but forgettable,” he said hoarsely, smoothing back her hair from her face and cupping her cheek. “You have been utterly unforgettable since the moment I laid eyes on you at the game.”

“Oh Travis…” she breathed, getting teary-eyed at the love shining from his eyes.

“I looked up, did a double-take, because it was like looking at the sun,” he whispered. “I saw my warmth, love, friendship… my future,” and paused emotionally as he brushed a thumb over her lower lip that was already quivering as she got choked up at his tender words. “You are my everything, Becca – and I am so glad you came to that game, that you gave me a chance to love you. ”

“You’re going to make me cry,” she wept softly and he laughed as a tear streaked down his cheek as he leaned forward to kiss her. “I love you so much.”

“And I love you,” he breathed, laying a hand on her stomach as his lips caressed hers. “I love you both and can’t wait to see what comes next for us.”