Epilogue

EPILOGUE

DALE

A Year And A Half Later

The new shutters I've sanded and painted are now on the beach house Bella and I purchased several months ago. The place is a fixer upper, and it's been slow going, but it's livable and Bella gets everything she's ever wanted.

We stayed in Forbidden Falls because it's dear to our hearts. It's where we met and fell in love.

My brother Eric tried to convince us to settle in Evergreen Lakes and they have an impressive body of water there, but it's nothing like the ocean with its salt air. But it doesn't stop the visits and we're only a day's drive away.

Bella comes out holding the baby monitor and looks around the porch. "Babe, this is amazing. Thank you." She gives me a kiss and wraps her arms around my waist as she takes in our home.

She wanted to go American traditional— so white house, blue shutters and a red door where the American Flag is always properly displayed.

It didn't take long for my retirement papers to get filed, even though I thought about it, per Bella's request. I respected her wishes and once things settled down, I resumed work for a bit after my prolonged leave and the first week back, I was miserable. I worried about Bella, and how she was doing. My head and my heart weren't there anymore.

We got married right away in a lovely ceremony on the beach, with only my brother and his family in attendance. Then Bella went straight into therapy, as nightmares plagued her when her memories resurfaced. She still has some memories locked away and sometimes the dreams remind her, and she needs to talk them over.

I tried to be the man for her with that, but it put me in a murderous mood, and I hated how much stress it put on Bella. So she works it out with a therapist and shares it with me when she's ready.

I even started seeing a therapist to handle what she tells me so I can be what she needs and not react to everything she tells me what she's been through.

It's also helped us manage our first year of marriage like champs since we jumped in head first. We've had some difficult moments, but the learning curves have been worth it. We're ready to take on whatever else comes our way since we learned how to communicate with each other. Because we're a team and I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Aaron sound asleep?"

"Yup. He was exhausted and didn't give me too much of a fuss, but I'm definitely not producing enough milk anymore. I had to also give him a bottle."

It took a couple months before Bella got pregnant, but boy, it didn't stop us from trying enthusiastically. We were elated when it came up positive, but the pregnancy had been tough, and he was a huge boy. I swear when he was born, he looked more like a three-month-old baby instead of a newborn.

Watching Bella with him is the best thing in the world. She's a fantastic mother with the patience of a saint and I'm grateful she picked me for her partner.

"What left do you have to do out here?" She asks as she looks around.

"The railing needs to be redone and painted and then the outside will be done."

Bella smiles and jumps around. "I can't believe it. You're amazing." She wraps her arms around me and squeezes me while I lean down so we can kiss. "But we need to get on top of the guest rooms. We need at least one of them done asap."

The projects started by fixing up the kitchen, bathrooms and master and adding on to the house before we moved in, with help from contractors and such, so we could live here. And then as soon as we moved in, I started tackling projects on my own or with Bella's help. The place was a two bedroom, but we added on two more with an extra bathroom, with space to add on more rooms if necessary.

"Bella, I thought we were going to wait on the rooms, and I was going to work on getting the garage built and the storage shed you wanted."

She smiles and tucks into my side again. "Well, babe, plans are changing." She lifts a pregnancy stick showing positive in front of my face.

"You're pregnant?" I'm dumbfounded, nervous about the pregnancy, excited to have another child, and full of love for this woman for giving me another miracle.

"Uh-huh. Can you believe it? I was shocked."

I kiss her and hug her close. "Promise me you will take this pregnancy easy and let me dote on you hand and foot."

Bella's smile softens as she cuffs my cheek with the beard I've been growing. Ever since leaving the military, I've been trying the beard and Bella seems to love it. Especially in our late night escapades.

"I promise, babe. This pregnancy is going to go off without a hitch. We're going to have another baby."

"I love you."

"I love you. Now and forever."

I smile and pick her up and run into the house. It's time to celebrate the new addition to the family. At least in the short time Aaron is going to be out for.

Thank you for reading Rescued by the Guard.

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Click the picture to find out more about the next in the Winter Rescue series!

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