Epilogue

Epilogue

Carver

Nine months later…

I holdour son and then look over to Lainey. Both are sound asleep. The delivery was difficult for her, as we all knew it would be. Our son was thirteen pounds and her little body wasn’t able to have a natural birth. She’s been on bed rest the last few weeks, but I haven’t minded. I’ve been able to have her all to myself.

I’ve been busy at work, but I’ve got enough crews to cover so I could take off time when Lainey needed help, and then I was on hand after our baby was born. He’s completely perfect and I can’t stop holding him. Lainey says I keep hogging the baby, and she’s probably right. I can’t help it, though. He looks just like her. He’s going to be big like me, but he’s got her eyes and her chin, and I can’t stop smiling.

I didn’t know I could love something so much until I saw Lainey. Now that she’s given me a child, that love has somehow grown. Impossible though it seemed, she’s domesticated me in every way. Now she shows me how to use a smartphone and takes me to cook-outs with friends. I didn’t think this life was possible, but I would do anything for my Lainey. And now I know I would do the same for our son, Phoenix.

Lainey likes the name because she says it represents us. I agreed, because I never want to see a frown on her face. As long as she is in my arms when I go to bed at night, she can always have anything she wants.

Phoenix sighs and wraps his hand around my finger. My heart warms. Now there are two of them to pull at my heartstrings.