Epilogue

EPILOGUE

KENNETH

Two Years Later

S ometimes, I'm still shocked at how good life can be. I'm lying by the pool on our private cruise in the Caribbean with my beautiful wife Kasey by my side. She's cradling our sleeping daughter, her tiny round head covered with a ridiculous baby-size sun hat to match Kasey's, and I can't help but smile at the sight.

Everything feels perfect—the sun shining, the ocean glistening, and I have everything I've ever wanted right here beside me.

It's good to be me.

Kasey reaches into her bag to grab something, but she struggles to get it out one-handed with the baby on her chest. I offer to help, and she hands me the bag. "I've got a surprise for you and I can't wait any longer," she chirps excitedly, keeping her voice down so she doesn't wake Kaia.

Taking a second to admire her long, oiled-up legs, I smirk. "Kasey, we can't have those types of surprises with the baby here."

She rolls her eyes. "Oh, just hush and open it already!"

Inside her cavernous purse, I find a small box, and Kasey tells me three times in the space of a second to open it. Laughing at her anxiousness, I do. I can hardly believe my eyes. Inside the polished wooden box is a pair of cufflinks made from abalone. Even before she tells me what makes them special, I already sense the importance radiating from the gift.

"They're made from abalone that comes from the beach of the resort where we first met," Kasey says, her eyes bright. "Happy early anniversary. I couldn't wait, sorry."

I look up from the gift Kasey, feeling overwhelmed with love and gratitude. She knows me so well, and she always knows just how to make me feel special. Money is no object to me, which is why it's so perfect that my wife is so thoughtful and deliberate with the gifts she chooses.

What she doesn't know, though, is that she is the most precious gift in the world to me. Her and sweet little Kaia. I lean over and kiss both her and our daughter on the top of their heads, feeling like the luckiest man in the world.

"It's perfect," I tell her, my voice thick with uncharacteristic emotion. Only Kasey will ever see me like this. "Perfect like you. Thank you, baby girl."

Looking thrilled at my reaction, Kasey settles back into her lounge and closes her eyes, patting Kaia's back in an unconscious motion as she does so. "You're welcome."

As I sit here, watching my family, I think back on all the ups and downs we've been through together. From our tumultuous past to our blissful present, we've come so far. But what excites me most is the future that lies ahead. I know that whatever comes our way, we'll face it together, with love and strength.

Gazing out at the sparkling blue water, watching the waves dance in the sunshine, I reflect on how much has changed over the past year.

Kasey's decision to go freelance and start her own office after fast-tracking her associate's degree had been a bold move, but it had paid off. She had worked tirelessly to build a thriving business and had even hired someone to manage it while she took time off to focus on our daughter.

As I expected, it took her no time at all to get pregnant, which is why we married so quickly in a small but lavish ceremony. With the way we still spend entire nights wrapped up in each other's bodies, I'm sure Kaia won't be an only child for long either.

Meanwhile, I had begun training Devin to take over as CEO of my company. It had been a difficult decision to trust him after he had caused so much trouble in the past, but he had truly turned his life around. Thanks to Kasey's forgiveness and my guidance, he was now a better man. Just like I am.

Last Christmas, he shocked us all by bringing a young woman named Hanna to the celebrations. We all agreed, in hushed words and glances, to never tell Hanna the full truth of how Kasey and I met. It just works better that way.

Hearing Kasey's breaths slow as she dozes off into an afternoon nap in the sun with Kaia, I realize that I couldn't be happier with the way things have turned out. I have the love of my life, a beautiful daughter, and a son that will take the reins soon enough while I travel the world with my sweet Kasey and Kaia.

I stand, gazing down at the cuff link before kissing Kasey gently on the lips so she doesn't wake. My heart is full, and I wouldn't trade this moment for anything in the world.

I take a deep breath, feeling grateful for this moment and for all the moments that have led us here. As the ocean breeze blows over us, I know I'm exactly where I am meant to be—right beside my wife and daughter.