Epilogue
Why was it that sometimes it took a terrible tragedy to wake a person up? Roxie would never understand it, but she also wasn’t a person who didn’t learn from mistakes. She’d made too many of them in her life, and now she had been given a second chance, and she vowed not to waste it.
Kian held Lily in his arms, and the sound of her laughter was about the most beautiful music in the universe to Roxie. She rubbed her bulky stomach as she glided across the dance floor, her eyes focused on the two most important people in her life.
“There’s my beautiful wife,” Kian said as she leaned in and kissed him before giggling.
“With my stomach out so far, I’m having a much more difficult time reaching you,” she said.
“I love this belly. I’m going to miss it,” Kian told her as he ran his fingers across her protruding stomach.
“I’m going to miss it, too,” Roxie admitted. “I love Lily as if she truly were mine. I also love this experience of carrying a child within me and getting to be there for every moment.”
“Lily is both of ours,” Kian said, and Roxie had no doubt of the truth in his words.
“We’re blessed more than words could ever say,” Roxie told him.
“Yes, we are, and we’re a family,” Kian told her.
“Dance with me,” Roxie insisted.
She chuckled as he held Lily in one arm and wrapped the other around Roxie’s waist. She leaned her head into his shoulder and smiled at Lily as the three, soon to be four, of them swayed to the music playing.
“Happy anniversary, Mrs. Forbes,” Kian whispered.
“Happy anniversary, my love,” Roxie replied.
He leaned in and kissed her, and she knew every single day would bring more and more joy to her life. It truly didn’t get any better than it was right now. She’d been afraid of losing herself. Now she realized how foolish that was. She couldn’t get lost in another person when she knew exactly who she was. It wasn’t until she’d realized that that she’d actually found herself, and now she had the rest of her life to continue to grow into the person she was always meant to be.
“Joseph Anderson, I sure have to say I’m more than grateful you’re my friend,” Lucian said with a wide grin as he patted Joseph on the back.
“Hey, I’m not chopped liver,” Sherman grumbled before he gobbled down the rest of a pastry that was so buttery, he couldn’t help but moan in delight.
“Of course not,” Lucian said with a chuckle. “I’ve been waiting for my children to pull their heads out for a long time, and it seems they just needed a little pushing to get the ball rolling.”
“Well, you’re not even halfway there yet,” Joseph pointed out as the three men turned and looked to where three of Lucian’s sons were standing off in a corner, away from the rest of the crowd.
“I wonder what they’re discussing over there,” Sherman said. “We should just put bugs on all of them, and then we’d know.”
He would most likely do that if he could get away with it. The sad thing was, Lucian wasn’t too against the idea himself, and he knew for sure Joseph would be on board.
“They are probably jealous their oldest brother is celebrating his one-year wedding anniversary with such a beautiful and sweet bride,” Joseph said with a chuckle.
“Yeah, I somehow doubt that,” Lucian said.
Lucian and his wife were thrilled that both their daughter and their eldest son had found spouses who not only made them shine, but who Lucian could truly say were their perfect matches. But he still had three sons who had darkness in their lives. If only they’d open their hearts, they’d find joy unlike anything they could ever imagine.
Owen was his most relaxed son, always ready to laugh with you or lend a hand. He would make a fine husband if he’d just settle down. Chasing fires was honorable and all, but it didn’t keep you warm at night. That thought had Lucian smiling. It might keep him mighty hot if he was in a burning building. Lucian wasn’t as worried about him as he was about Declan, though.
There was something his youngest son wasn’t talking to them about. He wasn’t sure what it was, but Declan had secrets he didn’t share with anyone. He wore his emotions close to the chest, and he never made a mistake and exposed them.
Sure, his son was a fine man—all of his children were—but Declan had secrets, and he needed a strong woman who could help carry whatever burdens he felt he needed to carry alone.
Now, Arden, on the other hand, was primed and ready for love. That boy had been a miracle worker at the high school where he taught. He’d changed many lives of his students, and Lucian couldn’t be prouder of the profession he’d chosen. He might not have his name shining in lights, but he was making more of a difference than most people in his position would choose to make. He was creating leaders and saving those the rest of the world had given up on.
“I think Arden is ready,” Lucian said aloud, and Joseph and Sherman turned to gaze at the man in question. Just then he looked up, and his eyes narrowed in suspicion as he caught all eyes on him. Then he shifted uncomfortably and looked away.
“Oh yes, I think he’s certainly ready,” Joseph agreed.
Before they could speak further, a commotion broke out. The three men turned and found Lily dancing on her father’s shoes as he slowly moved across the floor. Roxie was slowly approaching them, her cheeks glowing, her rounded stomach just beginning to show in her fourth month of pregnancy. She was already Lily’s mother now, and soon she’d add one more child to their family.
Lucian couldn’t be happier with his growing family. His daughter had given him a beautiful baby boy who’d just turned a year old a month earlier, and Lily was a fresh breath of air Lucian couldn’t get enough of. He had to push back his sorrow at missing her first few years of life. That was a hard lesson he’d certainly learned from. Hopefully his kids had paid attention and were a lot more careful after that.
In about five months, he’d have another grandchild. He didn’t want to be greedy, but he’d be satisfied if he had about twenty of the babies running around his place in five years on Christmas morning. Maybe he’d keep that thought to himself—at least for now.
Turning in the opposite direction from the dance floor, Lucian spotted where the noise was coming from. One of Arden’s students was in a fistfight. Arden moved quickly, breaking the two boys up, Owen and Declan right behind him.
“Wonder what that’s all about?” Sherman said.
“Arden will get it worked out,” Lucian said, not at all worried.
Kian watched as his brothers marched the kids from the room, but he knew the situation was secure, so he went back to dancing with his bride and daughter, looking happier than he’d ever looked.
“Yes, today is a day of celebration,” Joseph said with a beaming smile.
The three men quickly grew quiet as their wives approached, but not before Joseph winked. They’d never grow bored of helping to find happiness for those they loved. It was selfless, after all, Lucian thought before he wrapped his arm around his wife and led her to the dance floor. He’d also never get tired of holding his own perfect bride, who was just as beautiful today as she’d been the moment he’d met her.