Epilogue

Chastity

Ten Months Later...

I sat on the deck of our home, overlooking the crystal blue waters of the sea. My eyes were heavy with exhaustion, my body ached, but not for the reasons they used to. I looked down at the little boy cradled in my arms and my heart swelled with immeasurable joy. Tears of happiness welled in my eyes, but I managed to fight them back.

Jordan stepped out onto the deck, with a wide smile on his face and two glasses in hand. Lemonade for me, since I was still nursing, and a beer for him. He handed me the glass and smiled.

“Finally sleeping, huh?” he whispered.

“Finally,” I laughed.

Jordan sat down beside me and stroked our son’s head. Lucas Jackson had been born only two months earlier, and he looked a hell of a lot like his daddy. A big boy already, and from birth, it was clear that he definitely had the strong Jackson genes.

With our son resting, I turned to my fiancé and asked, “Have you talked to your dad today?”

“Nah,” Jordan said and shrugged. “I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”

I side-eyed him. “You’ve been saying that for a week now.”

Jordan shrugged. “Not like he cares anyway,” he said. “It’s not like we ever sat around making small talk. We don’t have anything in common.”

“He should care,” I said. “You’re absolutely killing it in school, sweetie.”

I was so proud of Jordan. He entered into a program for robotics. It was a self-taught program for the best and brightest – and already he was standing out. With job offers already on the table, we had the opportunity to move anywhere in the world our hearts desired. For now, though, we were content in our little paradise in the Seychelles. We were happy there. So happy in fact, that Jordan was thinking of opening his own lab right there and not moving anywhere.

Jordan squeezed my hand, but didn’t speak any further of it. His dad never really forgave him for leaving, at least not fully. He felt betrayed. But, he was slowly trying to mend things. With a grandson in the picture, it was a little easier – Nick wanted to get to know Lucas. Things were moving in the right direction, but they were still tense.

Which only seemed to make Jordan a better father. He was devoted to our son, day and night, and made sure to shower him with love. He said he wanted to be a better dad than he’d ever had, and he was proving it every single day.

My phone rang, which required some shuffling of our baby – thankfully, he didn’t wake up as I handed him off to his daddy. I stepped inside and closed the sliding door, to avoid waking Lucas up. When I saw who was calling, I wanted to smack myself. I’d had so much on my mind, my head wasn’t really in the game when it came to my company and I’d forgotten all about this scheduled call with Layla.

Thankfully, things were running smoothly enough. I didn’t have to devote every ounce of me into the company – which had been my goal when we’d left New York.

“Hi Layla,” I said. “How are you doing?”

“Good, but probably not as good as you,” she teased. “Still enjoying perfect weather out there?”

“Of course,” I laughed. “Still snowing in New York?”

She groaned. “Don’t you know it,” she said. “But good news – the new line is getting rave reviews here in the States already. And we’re expected to launch overseas soon. Everyone is loving C&W, I’m telling you. I couldn’t have picked a better, more amazing partner.”

“It’s a great partnership, what can I say?” I smiled. “I feel incredibly lucky that you and I are working together, Layla. Very lucky and very grateful.”

“No need for gratitude, dear,” she said. “You are increasing the value of both of our companies exponentially. That’s all the thanks I need.”

Many of my own designs had gone into the new catalog. Not my designer’s designs – my designs. For the first time in a long time, I actually got to sit down and create. And it felt so damn good.

In addition to that, I was also helping locally. I taught at the local college a few evenings a week, introducing the concepts of design and fashion to the future fashionistas of the world. It might not be as glamorous as charity balls and galas, but it was nice. More relaxed. And infinitely more rewarding.

More me.

After I got off the phone with Layla, I walked back out to the deck. Jordan still had Lucas in his arms, fast asleep. Jordan didn’t see me, not at first, so I stood there and watched for a while. My big, burly construction worker of a man – my hero – and an infant barely a few months old. It was such a juxtaposition of sizes and strengths. And yet, he held the child with such care and gentleness that it melted my heart.

Nothing was more beautiful. Not even the rolling waves of the cerulean ocean against the shore could compete with what I was looking at. Jordan caught me staring, and motioned for me to come out. When I stepped outside, he gave me a small smile.

“What were you doing?” he asked.

“Just admiring the view,” I said, leaning down to kiss him.

Our lips met and my entire body felt alive. No longer exhausted from caring for an infant, my body yearned for him. Ached for him. Just feeling his lips against mine sent electricity surging through my body. Ignited the fire low within me.

“Come on,” I said. “Let’s take him inside and get ready for bed.”

“It’s still early,” Jordan teased. “Don’t tell me we’re that old that we go to bed before it’s dark out.”

“Who said anything about sleeping?” I winked.