Epilogue Two

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Ruby:

“Are you sure about this, Ruby?” Jax’s soft question makes me smile.

“Stop worrying, Jax. She’s going to be here any minute.” We’re meeting the woman who’s going to carry our child today. We’ve already adopted a beautiful little girl and she makes my heart sing, but I wanted to have a child with Jaxon’s sweet, soft nature and his fantastic genes. I’m hoping for a little boy with his loving, gentle personality.

There’s a knock at the door and he draws in a deep breath. We both walk to the door and open it. The girl at the door is young and pretty and for a moment I feel a little uncertainty. But then I smile.

“Colleen? I’m so happy to meet you. This is my husband, Jaxon. And this is our daughter Belle. Come in, please.”

She steps in the door and Jaxon offers to take her coat which she declines. She’s nervous. I can see it in her strained smile.

I reach out and clasp her hand. “I can’t tell you how much this means to us. I don’t know what they told you, but I cannot have children.” My eyes meet Jaxon’s and his are full of so much love. “I was attacked when I was younger. I almost died. It means a lot to me to have a child that’s part of Jaxon because this beautiful man here has so many great traits, it would be a shame to waste them. I wanted to have a child that carries all of his love and hope into the future.”

He shakes his head. “You carry all my love and hope into the future. I don’t need a child for that.”

I smile. “You know what I mean.”

Colleen clears her throat. “I wasn’t sure about being a surrogate until I met you guys. I read most of your story in your file. I’m so sorry that happened to you.” Her eyes are sad and troubled.

“It was a long time ago.” I nod to Jaxon. “Besides, I have my husband and he’s the perfect man for me. I won’t say it was worth it in some trite way but I love my life now.”

She smiles and sits in the chair in front of her. “Well, I can see that you will give this baby all the love in the world.”

Jaxon smiles, holding Belle in his big arms. “Absolutely. We’ve been waiting to do this for a long time. We wanted to make sure we were ready.”

My eyes meet his bright blue eyes. “We’re ready to do this.” His quirky little smile makes my breath stutter. His hand tucks me against his side and Belle gurgles happily from her brawny perch.

This is my life and it’s perfect. I’m a lucky woman. My head rests on his warm chest and I can hear his heart beating in my ear. That big heart that loves me and will forever. His lips touch mine and Belle swats his face. His warm laugh wraps around me and I smile into his eyes. God, life is good.