One week later, Regina was ensconced in Miss Ethel’s house, currently sitting on the sofa, smiling at the gathering. The room was full and spilled into the entry foyer and dining room, where Miss Ethel and Rosalie had set up trays of sandwiches, and bowls of fruit and chips, and sodas on the table.

Zander sat in one of the cushioned chairs, with Rosalie perched on his lap. Zeke took his usual spot on the floor near Miss Ethel, naturally in her chair, her knitting needles clicking. In the basket on the floor, lay a pile of colorful caps she was knitting for the cancer wings of both the children’s hospital and the adult cancer center. Every color, every design, some with knit flowers and others with sports insignias. Regina grinned as she observed the growing pile of caps made by loving hands and touched the one she sported on her head.

Rafe looked up as Eleanor walked into the room, her hands full of drinks. He jumped up to assist and then settled back on the other end of the sofa with her in his lap.

Asher, quiet as ever but, as she noted, eyes intently taking in everyone in the room, sat in a dining room chair that he moved into the room, his plate balanced on his lap. His gaze landed on hers and a small smile slipped across his lips.

Jayden and Jaxon argued quietly about the game that had been on TV last evening, their conversation often not making sense to anyone else as their twin-language of finishing each other’s thoughts and sentences took over. Miss Ethel lifted her eyebrow at them and the two men instantly quieted, causing a giggle to slip out of Regina.

Cael had not arrived yet, having said he needed to pick up something for the impromptu gathering. Hearing a noise from the front hall, she looked that way just as he stuck his head around the corner.

“I brought a visitor today,” he announced with a twinkle in his eyes as he gazed at her.

Before she could ask, Cindy popped out from behind him, her face bright with a wide smile and the beautiful hair in her wig glistening in the light of the hall. “Hi, Miss Regina!”

Throwing her arms wide, she watched with glee as the little girl wove between the large men, scrambling to move their feet out of the way. She welcomed her with a huge hug. “Oh, my goodness, it’s so nice to see you out of the hospital!” She eyed Kathy and Tom entering the room with Cael and shot them a smile also.

Cindy pulled back and her eyes jumped to Regina’s head, her small face scrunched in thought. Feeling the need to show her exactly what she looked like, she pulled off her knit cap, exposing her bald head. Cindy stared for a moment not saying anything and she wondered if she had done the right thing. The room was quiet and just when she started to speak, Cindy said in a small voice, “You gave your hair for my wig.”

Smiling, she nodded. “Yes, I did, but it was a simple thing to give, sweetheart.”

“But, now you’ve got no hair.”

“Darling, I was going to lose my hair anyway. Giving it to you was a gift worth giving. And, you know what? I don’t miss it. I think the most important thing for us to do is focus on being well.” She winked, adding, “But, I have to admit…my hair looks good on you.”

Cindy giggled for a moment, then stared once more at Regina’s head before reaching out to touch the smooth skin. Slowly, she moved her hand back to her own head and slid the wig off. Cindy’s hair was starting to grow back, little wisps of hair like a newborn chick, covering her head. “I want to be like you when I grow up,” Cindy said, proudly. “I want to be strong and pretty.”

“Oh, baby, you already are.”

The two of them, one adult woman and one child, stared at each other, their bald heads no longer an issue, as they drew from each other’s strength.

There was not a dry eye in the room.

Regina slipped from the California-king bed, no longer sitting on the floor, but now on a platform bed frame that included a bookcase headboard. Tiptoeing to the bathroom, the gleaming hardwood floors covered with a dark blue and grey rug gave the master bedroom a homey feel. Once inside, she took care of business before moving to the wide, vanity mirror.

Her complexion was less sallow and a fluff of slightly curly, red-blonde hair covered her head. Now that they were into winter, she still wore a thick cap when she went outside, but inside, she preferred to be natural. Which reminded her, the last time she had been with Cindy, she watched Tangled with her and heard a line she had never paid attention to before.

“You don’t really need someone to complete you. You only need someone to accept you completely.”

Yeah…natural is the only way to go, cause he accepts me completely.

Stepping into the large, walk-in closet, she donned a pair of yoga pants and threw on a sweatshirt over a tank top. She stood for a moment, staring at her clothes hanging neatly next to his and a smile settled on her lips.

Walking back into the bedroom, she passed a sleeping Cael, the covers down to his waist, giving her a mouth-watering view of his thick muscles and tight abs. He had worked late finishing the latest site for his company and was looking forward to a weekend with no obligations.

She padded downstairs on her socked feet and headed straight to the coffee maker in the kitchen. Within a few minutes, the scent of strong coffee wafted through the house. Not long after, the sizzle of bacon, cheesy hash browns, and scrambled eggs added to the tantalizing aroma.

Right on time, Cael scuffled into the room, his sweat pants hanging dangerously low on his hips. He accepted to cup of coffee shoved into his hands, but bent to take her lips before his first sip. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”

She giggled, replying, “Um…yes. Last night after we tore up the sheets making love.” His chuckle, rough in the early morning, rumbled through her and she sobered, adding, “And I love you too.”

“Got something I want to ask you…I know I’m not doing it right, but standing here in our kitchen, seeing all that makes you, you, well, I can’t wait.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box.

Eyes wide, she gasped, watching as he opened it and pulled out a delicate, white-gold, princess cut diamond ring.

“Heard Cindy ask if she could be a bridesmaid when we got married and you told her yes, when the time was right. It made me realize that I didn’t want to wait, Red. The time is now. You and me, forever.”

Nodding, she held out her hand and watched as he slipped the ring on her finger. She stared at it for a moment then clutched his face with her hands, pulling him in for a long kiss. Turning off the stove, she allowed him to pick her up in his arms. Breakfast would have to wait.

“We need to hurry,” Regina called out.

“Babe, it’ll take as long as it takes,” Cael replied. His hands were full with four-year-old Jonathan, who insisted on choosing his own clothes and dressing himself. Today, it was the green shorts with a blue Batman shirt, and in his hands he clutched the superhero cape that had been worn so often it was ratty on the edges.

Finally, scooping him up, he carried him down the stairs where Regina stood with baby Lena in her arms, cute and cuddly in her coordinated pink outfit. Used to her son’s eclectic choice of clothing, she grinned as she placed a kiss on his cheek.

“Mom,” he complained, looking to his dad for camaraderie, but Cael’s response was to bend, placing a kiss on Regina’s lips and then moving to kiss the top of Lena’s head.

Picking up Miss Ethel on the way to the park, he assisted her into the back seat, where she insisted on sitting between the two car seats, chatting with Jonathan and cooing at Lena. Once there, she held Jonathan’s hand while Regina carried the baby carrier and he carried the picnic basket and blankets. Finding a shady spot near the pond, they spread blankets on the grass and settled down.

He and Jonathan played with a ball while Regina nursed Lena before placing her back in her carrier. Pulling out the picnic items, she placed them on paper plates.

Miss Ethel looked fondly at he and his family, her eyes still as sharp as ever. “My boys were all so good,” she said to Regina, pride in her voice.

“Miss Ethel, I think that had everything to do with you,” Regina replied, stilling her hands and watching the older woman.

Smiling, Miss Ethel said, “Oh, I think I helped, but I think each one of them had such goodness in them to begin with.” She offered a hug to Jonathan as he plopped down on the blanket next to her.

Cael bent to kiss Regina before settling down between her and a sleeping Lena. Soon, the food was eaten and Jonathan was begging his mother to let him feed the ducks. Retrieving the bag of cracked corn she had brought, the two of them wandered to the edge of the pond, tossing out the feed and laughing as the ducks swam quickly to them.

Cael rocked the carrier as Lena stirred slightly and she was soon slumbering again. Looking over at Miss Ethel, he asked, “Are you too hot? We can leave just as soon as you—”

“Oh, hush boy,” she laughed. “I’m just fine. In fact, I’m better than fine. I’m with one of my wonderful boys and his beautiful family.”

He smiled and nodded as he cast his gaze over Lena and down to the pond where Regina and Jonathan were laughing. “I never thought it could be like this,” he said. Seeing her tilted head, he added, “Family. Happy…and healthy family. I never thought it would be this way for me.”

“Oh, my dear boy,” Miss Ethel said, her grey eyes warm on his face as she patted his arm with her frail hand. “Remember what I told you the first night you came to me? Fairytales tell us that evil can be beaten and the happily ever after can come true. You’re living proof of that.”

Soon, as the sun began to set, the gathering collected their item and walked back toward the parking lot. Miss Ethel held fast to Jonathan’s hand and Cael wrapped his arm around Regina, carrying Lena, as the sunset cast them in its glow.

Leaning down, he whispered, “Happy, Red?”

Her wide smile warmed his heart as she replied, “Happily ever after.”