Epilogue

Emmett

Three Years Later

Race home and relieve the nanny? Check. Change from my business suit into clothes that I won’t mind getting barf or dirt on? Check. Start a pot of soup for dinner? Check. Now it’s time for the baby’s late-afternoon feeding.

“I swear, you guys keep me busier than the office ever did,” I say with a chuckle.

While I wrangle Landon into his high chair, Chloe toddles off into the living room in search of something to play with—or destroy. Our big black Newfoundland, Heidi the Second, is sleeping in the patch of sunlight by the bay window, but that doesn’t last long. Chloe runs right over and yanks on her poor floppy ears.

“Be gentle, sweetie,” I call out, maneuvering a spoonful of mushy peas into Landon’s mouth.

Chloe doesn’t really listen, but the dog clearly understands that she’s only three years old. As gingerly as she would handle her own puppies, Heidi bumps my daughter backward onto her butt and licks her face while Chloe screams with laughter. Despite Heidi’s hundred-pound bulk, I know my daughter is safe with her, so I let them roughhouse while I focus on trying to get more food into Landon’s stomach than on his cheeks, his bib, my clothes, or the floor.

Just as I reach the bottom of the baby food jar, the garage door clunks open, then shuts. I smile at the rattle of keys. Ever since I hired a better VP and reduced my hours to spend more time with the kids, I often beat my wife home from work.

Jenna shuts the door, hangs up her coat, and toes off her pumps before walking into the kitchen to kiss me hello. “How was your day?”

“Great. How was yours?” I reply, wiping off Landon’s messy face.

She heaves a tired, but happy sigh. “Crazy busy. We hosted a big reading-and-signing event this afternoon, so there was a ton of people, and before that we got in several boxes of new titles that needed shelving, but I can’t really complain. Business is booming.”

I nod, pleased. I used my clout as CEO to negotiate with Baxter’s other executives and nudge Jenna’s sales contract to something more in her favor. So, although Baxter Books became its owner on paper, the Lit Apothecary was allowed to maintain its indie charm instead of becoming the faceless behemoth that Jenna had been afraid of. She runs its day-to-day operations, and it still specializes in antique and collectible books. In fact, it’s doing better than ever, now that it can draw on the marketing power of a large media company.

“Are we still on to take a walk to the park in the morning?” Jenna asks.

As Landon squeals and thrashes his tiny arms in excitement, I nod. “Sounds good to me.” I poke Landon’s belly, making him giggle.

Jenna chuckles. “We need to figure out where we’re taking our summer vacation too.”

It’s a nightly dinner topic since we’ve yet to nail down a location. Jenna and I have already both arranged with work that we’ll be gone for two weeks this summer, and we’re looking forward to some time away with our mini people.

“Maybe the lava tubes of Hawaii?” I say.

She raises her eyebrows high in the pointed you better be kidding me look I’ve come to know and love so well. “You are not throwing my children into a volcano.”

I wave my hand in surrender. “Fine, fine. How about camping, maybe taking the kids horseback riding?”

“Horsey!” Chloe screams from the other room, startling Heidi off her.

“Oh no, now you’ve done it.” Jenna lets out a mock groan. “We’ll have to watch that horse show again tonight.”

I peck her on the cheek. “I take full responsibility. And I’ll pour you as many glasses of wine as you want.”

“That reminds me.” In a sultry undertone, she murmurs, “Are we still meeting for our . . . appointment on Saturday night?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

I kiss her again, this one hot and lingering. It’s been difficult to squeeze in sex between work, errands, and taking care of the kids, but so worth it. After three years and two pregnancies, Jenna is just as alluring as the day we met. Even more so, in fact, now that I’ve witnessed the miracles that gave her those stretch marks. Her body is so amazing, carrying our babies, carrying her through all of life’s challenges, and I can’t wait to see how we grow old and gray together. And our weekly date nights have definitely helped make sure we can stay connected and close.

I add, “But if you’d rather check out the inside of your eyelids, we should cancel. I’m worried you’re not getting enough sleep.”

“It’s fine, darling.” She smiles up at me through her eyelashes. “I want you too. I’ve been looking forward to it all week.”

“Oh?” I grin. “Then your wish is my command.”

She gives me one last kiss, heavy with sensual promise. “Right now my wish is dinner, a hot bath, and sleep.”

“Coming right up.” I lift Landon out of his high chair and pat his back until he burps, thankfully not dribbling down my shirt. “I started some lemon chicken soup about an hour ago. It should be ready soon.”

“That sounds wonderful.” Jenna walks into the living room and comes back leading Chloe by the hand, an attentive Heidi trailing behind. “You ready to eat, baby girl?”

“Eat, Mama,” Chloe replies as Jenna helps her into her chair at the dining table. Heidi lies down next to her, ready to gulp down any scrap of food she drops.

As I start ladling the soup into bowls, I look around my home, at my beautiful, smart, ambitious wife and my two cute, lively children, and it strikes me that I’ve truly never been happier.

This is a far cry from my lonely life in my penthouse apartment where every day was the same—work, gym, sleep, and more work. Each day is different, and most importantly, it’s filled with people who love me.

Jenna leans past me to get our glasses and Chloe’s sippy cup down from the cupboard. “What are you thinking about?” she asks.

“How thankful I am that I met you,” I reply.

She pats me on the butt. “Same here.”

“And I’m also glad that I stepped back to a less demanding role at work.” I hesitate before adding, “Sometimes I still feel a little bit guilty about it, but I think it was the right thing to do for you and our kids.”

“And for you too,” Jenna says gently. “You were never a hundred percent fulfilled at that job. You’re not a bad boss . . . or a bad son . . . if you don’t sell your soul to the company. It’s okay to take your own feelings into consideration and dial back on stuff you don’t like in order to make room for what you do. You have a right to live a life you enjoy.”

“I know.” I set the soup bowls on the table so I can hug her. Her warm scent lingers, and it instantly calms me.

I still feel responsible for Dad’s company; if I didn’t, I would have found a replacement CEO long before meeting Jenna. But once I had a family, I was responsible for them too, and in a weird way, that gave me the permission I needed to change my work life like I’ve always wanted to anyway.

“Falling in love with you taught me that. And I’ve found my fulfillment right here, as a husband and father, with the people who need me most . . .” I kiss her. “And who make me happiest.”

Thank God for stuck elevators and beautiful, bold women who know what they want, and cheesy spank-bank slogans that make her laugh. Thank God for good Mexican food and babies who look just like their pretty mother, and jobs that provide your paycheck but don’t have to be your whole life.

Thank God for my wife. My everything.

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