Epilogue

EPILOGUE

TWENTY MONTHS LATER: MARINA

" M ommy, up now, please," Lila says, tugging on my pants.

I reach down to stroke her head. "Hang on, baby girl. Mommy's just busy icing the cake."

"I help!" Lila says.

Grinning, I turn to her, "You did such a good job stirring the mix, baby. You've helped plenty."

"Hungry," she whines.

This is pretty much how every conversation with Lila goes. She wants all the attention in the world, and it's only getting worse since Levi was born. She's good with her brother, though, even if she thinks he's annoying.

In fairness to her, he does cry. A lot.

I am glad she can string enough of a sentence together now that I can understand her. It makes everything so much easier when she can communicate at least most of what she wants and needs. Even if she doesn't like it when she can't get her way.

"Daddy want to eat cake," she huffs, tugging at my leg again.

"Did he tell you that, or do you want to eat cake?"

"Cake," she echoes grumpily.

Ellis might not be Lila's biological father, but she's certainly getting enough of his personality that he might as well be. I dread to think how Levi is going to be, raised not only with Ellis's parenting but also his genes.

Not that I would in any way call Ellis a bad father.

The very next day, after we made up, he helped us all move into his place. He stayed the night in my awful, tiny bed, then made a deal with the landlord the next day so we didn't have to pay exit fees. I tried to talk him out of it, but by the time we went to bed that evening, I was free from my rental agreement and all my stuff was boxed and ready to be unpacked in my new home.

Now, our son is turning one and Lila has the father I always wanted her to have.

On the day he signed the adoption paperwork, he stepped down as CEO from Ellis Inc.

He told me he had called Priscilla into his office the day before and asked her how she felt about being the new boss. She had said yes, of course, and he had happily handed over the business to her. It's going to be in safe hands.

I don't think he really cares either way, though. The Ellis I met, nearly two years ago now, was an unhappy, unsatisfied man who thought he would only ever feel peace if he found more success in his career.

But ever since I moved in, I've seen a whole new man. Just like he promised, he's better than he ever was.

He's so good with Levi, too. Every time he screams in the night, Ellis tells me to stay and rest. It's been like a miracle. All those sleepless nights I lost over Lila, they all feel worth it now.

"I heard someone say cake," comes a voice, then Ellis rounds the corner to the kitchen, Levi in his arms.

"Daddy!" squeals Lila, going to attach herself to his leg instead.

"Hey, pipsqueak. Did you tell Mommy that I want cake yet?"

"Yes, she did," I say, shaking my head. "And I'm telling you both, we have to wait. The guests aren't even here yet. It's hardly a birthday party without anyone here, is it?"

Levi stares at me, not understanding in the slightest that this is all for him. He's a funny kid. He has a sense of humor that Lila never did. She loved to keep to herself and find her own amusement. Levi thinks it's funny to roll on the floor and cause a scene.

He's going to be just like his father.

"Ah," says Ellis, putting Levi down, "but that's the party cake. What about the preparty cake?"

"Ellis," I scold, but don't really mean it.

He walks over to a cupboard and pulls out a box, and I fold my arms, watching in amusement.

He does this all the time — hides little gifts all over the house to give to me. He told me, once, as he gave me a ridiculously pretty necklace, that he wants our family to be everything he never had. He wants to be a dad his kids can trust; for us to be parents who love each other and don't fight. To be happy.

I told him that I want the exact same, and it's true.

Carefully, he lays the box down on the counter and he gestures towards it. "Open it."

Narrowing my eyes in suspicion, I do. Inside is a colorful cake, with loopy writing on top. I read it out loud to myself, trying to decode it. "Marry… me… Marina… Oh!"

The second the penny drops, I clap my hand over my mouth, my knees feeling weak and unsteady. Ellis swoops in to catch me. "Whoa, steady. I'm the one supposed to be on the floor."

With that, he elegantly sinks down onto one knee and pulls a ring box from his pocket. "I love you so much. Let's tie this family together forever."

"Do you even have to ask?" I say. "Yes. A thousand times, yes."

He jumps to his feet, slides the ring onto my finger, and takes me in a deep kiss. Love blossoms inside me all over again, a deep comfort that I've kept feeling in the year since Levi was born. We truly are a family.

And as I stand here, with my kids and my husband-to-be, I know I've found it. This is what true happiness feels like. This is what we've both been searching for.

The End