Epilogue
6 months later
Reed
It had been almost two and a half years, and it almost felt like a dream. A dream that I never wanted to wake up from. When I hurt Kori all those years ago, I never thought I would have the chance to tell her how sorry I was. How every day after that I felt as if I was only half a man. Now, each day I looked at her, each day I held her, I couldn’t believe how stupid I was. I was a fool, and you didn’t always get second chances. Those opportunities to fix the wrongs in your life were rare.
The day Kori came back to Georgia, my heart broke for her. I had heard throughout the town about her tragedy. All I wanted was for her to be happy, to be loved. When I saw her after that, she was so broken, so lost. Seeing her suffer through those months was crippling. I wanted to fix something I had no control over, and that just pissed me off.
Since then, we had grown together. We had learned to love one another again, this time so much stronger. In the process, I gained Rhett. That little man was my major weakness. I would do anything for him or his momma. I watched him grow from that tiny baby to a toddler full of energy. He’s such a happy kid.
It’s been an amazing ride. Every day I thanked God this beautiful woman was able to look past my adolescent behavior. She gave me a chance to show her I was no longer the dumb ass boy who hurt her.
Things in our lives were about to change once again. I was waiting for her to tell me what I already knew. She didn’t hide the test very well. The trash can was going off like a god damn beacon this mornin’.
Now, as I sat in my truck outside the school, I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. I had talked to her twice today, still nothing. So showing up here to meet her after school with Rhett was my plan of attack. I couldn’t wait any longer. I needed to hear those words fall from her lips.
“Momma,” Rhett blurted out as he began bouncing up and down in the truck seat, pointing toward the school. She could still make me feel like a teenager. The raging hormones and racing heart kicked into overdrive while I watched her approach. She was beaming when her eyes locked with mine.
“Hey, boys, this is a surprise.” I opened my truck door and stepped out, taking her in my arms for a hug. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed me softly.
Rhett made his way across the seat and Kori took him in her arms. For just being two and a half years old, the boy was a tank. I quickly grabbed him and held him in my arms. Kori looked at me strangely as she scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. “What was that all about?”
“He’s just heavy, I got ’em.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and shifted on her feet. “What’s going on? He was that heavy yesterday when I carried him around, and the day before that…and the day before…” I cut her off.
“I know babe.” I grinned because, damn it, I couldn’t hold it anymore. “I know, I saw the test this morning in the trash. I just need to hear you say it to me. I’ve waited all day to hear the words, Kori. I can’t wait any longer.”
She bit her lower lip and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. She shrugged. “I was gonna tell ya tonight, after dinner.”
“How about you tell me now instead?” My chest tightened, and my heart raced with excitement. I reached out for her hand and held it firmly in mine as I placed it over my heart. “I’m bursting at the seams here, Kori.” We had never expected it to happen so soon, but damn it, I was so happy it had.
A single tear fell down her cheek as her eyes locked on mine. “I’m pregnant. We’re gonna have a baby.”
The chills ran over my body, and I grabbed for her, pulling her close. Closing my eyes tightly, I fought off the impending tears. “You have no idea how happy I am right now. Thank you, Kori.”
There was nothing in my life that was as great as what I was currently holding in my arms. Kori, Rhett, and my unborn child were my world. The thought of my baby growing within her was staggering.
We stood together, holding one another in the center of the parking lot. The moment could not have felt more perfect.
“Let’s go out to dinner, we got something to celebrate. Rhett’s gonna be a big brother.”
Kori
Things were perfect. Reed and I would be getting married soon, and now we were growing our little family. At first I was scared, overwhelmed. Looking at those two pinks lines set off a slight panic within me. Things with Reed had been almost perfect.
I wasn’t sure exactly how he would feel about me getting pregnant so quickly. I had just stopped taking the pill recently. I mean, we knew it would eventually happen, but I also thought it would take a little time. I only held off on telling him because I had planned to confirm it at my appointment in two days. I guessed he was more observant than I had given him credit for.
When I stepped out of the shower, I could hear him talking to Rhett in the hallway. “But it’s bedtime, buddy. Momma and I have to work in the morning, and you go to Granny’s.”
“No sleep.”
“I know you don’t want to, but we all need to. How about I tuck you in and tell you a story? Does that sound like a deal?” Reed tried to bargain with the determined toddler.
I finished up in the bathroom and slipped into my pajamas. I had every intention of going to Rhett’s bedroom and offering a little help. When I got just outside his door, I stopped abruptly. Leaning forward just enough to hear, I listened in silence.
“I didn’t know your daddy, buddy. But I know your momma loved him very much. For your momma to love him, he had to be pretty dang special.” I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. Reed had never made me feel like Blake couldn’t be a part of our lives. He had done his part to make sure Rhett knew all about his daddy. This only made my love for him stronger.
“Your momma says you, my boy, are just like ’em, and you’re pretty great in my book, so that only means that your daddy, well…he must’ve been one great guy.”
“I have two daddies, one in heaven and you,” Rhett stated.
“That’s right, and we both love you, buddy,” Reed assured him, and I slowly backed away from the door.
“Night, Daddy Reed. I lub you.” Rhett yawned as he spoke. At that moment there was absolutely no way I could hold back my tears. They began to fall in sheets.
It wasn’t long after I crawled into bed that Reed joined me. He looked concerned as he pulled me against him. “What’s wrong? You feel all right?” I only nodded and wiped at the tears in my eyes. “Why you crying?”
I looked up into his big brown eyes full of love. “I heard you talking to Rhett. It was a beautiful conversation, and I just got emotional. You better get used to it, because I’ll cry a lot over the next seven or eight months.” I tried to make light of the moment.
“Well then, I’ll just spend all those moments soothing you and making your tears turn into smiles.”
“I love how you love us.” I cuddled against his chest and he kissed the top of my head.
After a moment of silence I spoke again. “I’m worried about Maria. She has been really quiet lately. Gavin left town two weeks ago, and I’m pretty sure she’s regretting letting him go. I think I need to kidnap her and force her to talk to me.”
“You’re a good friend, babe. She’s just going through some things. Just be there for her when she needs you, that’s all you can offer. Where did Gavin go anyway?”
“Apparently he had to go back to Savannah and try to push the divorce through. He left things really messed up with Maria. She thought he felt a certain way, now she’s not sure. I feel horrible for her.” He skimmed my temple with his lips and kissed me softly. “I just want her to be happy.”
“She will be, when it’s her time,” he whispered and held me just a little tighter.