Epilogue

EPILOGUE

LOGAN

“Where are you?” I called.

Giggles floated through the cool, evening air as footsteps rushed over the earth.

I followed them slowly, tiptoeing along, holding back the laughter that wanted to billow out as I hunted my sweet little thing.

“Why are you hiding from me?” I sang, popping my head around the trunk of a tree.

Megan squealed like mad from behind the bush where she squatted.

“I got to hides, but you found me, you sneaker!”

A chuckle rumbled up my throat, the child so goddamn adorable I hardly knew what to do with myself.

Discovered, she jumped up and came rushing out of her hiding place, the same place she hid every single time, mind you, lifting her little arms to me as she ran my way.

My chest pressed full.

Overflowed.

I swept her up and pressed my nose into the soft curls of her dark brown hair.

Hyacinth and magnolia leaves.

Just like her mother who gazed over at us.

My heart squeezed and devotion pumped through my bloodstream.

I held our daughter tight as I stared at my wife.

My world.

My gravity.

My soul’s destination.

“Come here,” I rumbled to Aster.

A soft smile filled her face as she edged over the grass on her bare feet, the woman looking at me with those eyes that slayed me through.

With joy and peace.

Her love so fierce for the little girl I held in my arms.

Our hope complete.

“What, you want to find me, too?” she teased.

Happiness bounded around us.

This place that’d become our home.

I tucked Aster to my chest, our daughter squeezed between us in this never-ending embrace.

I leaned down and pressed my lips to Aster’s forehead. “Oh, Little Star, no matter where you go, I will always find you.”