Epilogue
“If you ask me, he looks like a little old man,” Jake joked.
“Bite your tongue. This is the most beautiful baby boy ever born. I haven’t seen a baby this gorgeous since Kristy’s birth,” Charlie argued. “And anyway, he’s the spitting image of his father so what do you say about that, smarty-pants?” She cradled their three-hour-old son against her breast. The baby suckled her nipple hungrily, making grunting noises as he fed.
“Greedy little devil isn’t he?” Jake grinned proudly. “A boy after my own heart.” He winked at his wife.
“Settle down, boy.” Charlie chuckled, pulling the baby away from her breast so she could burp him. She gently touched one of his curly brown locks. He was indeed the spitting image of his father. Charlie had a feeling as their son got older he’d be quite the heartbreaker. She placed him over her shoulder and gently patted his back.
“He is something else, isn’t he?” Jake reached over to stroke his son’s back, with reverence of a truly treasured gift.
“Yes, he certainly is,” Charlie smiled.
Jake leaned over to kiss his wife of a year. “I love you so much, Charlie. Each day with you is like Christmas, but I think this little guy, along with our little angel, are the greatest gifts you could have given me.”
“I love you, too, Jake. So much.” Her heart burst with love. She smiled as she thought back on their past year together.
Charlie and Kristy had moved into Jake’s large estate house in Springfield shortly after their engagement. Jake had insisted on a speedy wedding in Vegas. He didn’t want her changing her mind, but neither the Foxes nor the Browns were having it. Their parents had wanted a big grand event so Charlie and Jake compromised, deciding on a small church wedding with friends and family. It took two months to throw everything together, but with Moira and Delores working with fevered diligence, things went off without a hitch.
Kristy was the flower girl. Helen and the twins were bridesmaids. Laura served as Charlie’s maid of honor. On Jake’s side, Caleb and Dylan served as ring bearers. Jake’s other two nephews Jason Junior and Mark were groomsmen while Steve and Carl shared the honor of best man. Steve and Laura glared at each other for most of the event but somehow, they managed to behave themselves.
The ceremony was beautiful and poignant. Jake and Charlie recited vows they had composed from their hearts. There was not a dry eye in the entire church.
The reception was held under a tent in Jake and Charlie’s backyard. Everyone had a good time. No one seemed to notice when the two of them slipped off to be alone. They honeymooned in Fiji for two weeks while Kristy stayed with the Foxes.
They both decided she should stay home to raise Kristy, and Jake began to delegate more and more work for Steve to do so he could spend more time with them. It soon came to the point where Steve was doing so much around the office, Jake made him a full partner at MBF.
When Charlie announced a few months into the marriage they were expecting their second child, Jake was ecstatic. He had made it clear that he would be there for the birth of their second child every step of the way.
They both cried when the doctor announced they had a healthy baby boy. Charlie smiled as she remembered Jake crying harder than her.
The baby let out a loud belch. “I think the little bugger is finished for now.” Charlie laughed. Jake took his son out of Charlie’s arms so she could adjust her gown.
“Kristy was a little disappointed she couldn’t come, but she was excited when I told her she had a little brother. She said she would draw a picture for him.” Charlie smiled while Jake relayed the phone conversation he’d had with their daughter.
“Jake, thank your parents again for watching her. They have been a big help through this entire process.”
“Believe me, they’re having a blast. They say watching their grandkids helps them stay young.”
“My parents say the same thing. I can’t believe they’re finally going to sell that house on wheels and settle down in the area.” No one could be happier about that bit of news. Her parents were getting on in years, and Charlie worried about them roaming the country without any permanency. In the past year, Charlie and her parents had mended their rift. Delores and Keith apologized to their daughter for being overbearing and promised to be more supportive of Charlie even when they didn’t necessarily agree with every decision she made.
“Who can blame them, when they have the world’s greatest grandkids as an incentive?”
“I think you’re a little biased.” Charlie laughed.
“You better believe it.” He gave their now sleeping son a kiss on the forehead. “So what do you think Steve and Laura are going to say when we tell them they’re to be the godparents of this little bundle of joy?”
“I think they’ll love it. They both spoil Kristy enough as it is.”
“Yes, but will they behave? You know how they can barely stand being in the same room,” Jake pointed out. “Remember how they acted at our wedding?
“They’ll behave or they will have me to deal with,” Charlie said fiercely.
“Speaking of our little bundle of joy, what should we name him?”
“How about Jacob Junior?” Charlie wasn’t too crazy about it, but she’d been so sure they would be having another daughter, she hadn’t come up with a boy name she liked.
“No, I was thinking along the lines of Paul.”
Charlie looked at Jake, her heart swelling with love. His generosity made her heart skip a beat.
“Really?”
“Yes. Without Paul, there would be no us,” he said.
Charlie leaned over to her sleeping son.
“Happy birthday, Paul,” she said.
Just then Paul opened his eyes, seeming to approve of his new name.
“I think he likes it.” She smiled, feeling content.
“I think so, too. Paul it is then.” Jake smiled back.
“Jake, I love you.”
“I love you, too, Charlie Fox.”