Page 123 of All The Ways to Miss You

He takes it from my hand and swats my backside. I jump with a yelp, laughing.

Tossing it aside, he gives me a serious look. “This house is more than a peace offering; it’s where I want to put our life back together. I want to pick up where we left off. This is the place I want us to have a second chance.”

His features soften as the muscles in his cheeks relax. His gaze moves across my eyes and to my mouth, consuming me. As my fingers slide along his lapel, pulling him near, the air around us thickens. This is my chance to be happy. This is a chance to take back the life I once had. I link my hands around his neck. There, I thread my fingers into his dark hair and lean in, our mouths drawing closer.

Our lips brush for the millionth time, but the first time in our new beginning. When his lush lips slide over mine, I melt into him, acknowledging our promise to each other. His touch teases and my mouth opens, accepting him. Accepting us.

“I never stopped loving you, Cait. Never.” He breathes the whispered words into my soul.

I inhale deeply, allowing his message to quiet my mind and course like magic through my opening heart. The connection between us is undeniable and tangible. The proof can be found in the unimaginable journey we each traveled to arrive at this point.

I tell Evan what I’ve come to understand with complete certainty in these past months. “My mind may have forgotten, but my heart didn’t. It was always waiting for you.”

epilogue

One year later

Evan lifts a sledgehammer and swings it like a bat. Or like he wants to kill a rabid bat. It connects with the wall and drywall drops in chunks to the floor. White dust swirls in the air. I wave it away from my masked face.

“You sure Ozzy won’t get mad at us?” Evan asks before taking another swing. This blow breaks through to the adjoining bedroom, and light pours in from the other side. More drywall tumbles to the floor.

I step across the room, away from the dust, and remove my mask to answer. “I think he’ll understand. Besides, we only have four months to turn this into the bedroom of our children’s dreams.” I rub my belly and the two growing babies inside.

Evan sets the sledgehammer aside. Every time I mention the twins, he has to stop what he’s doing, drop to his knees, and chat with them. This time, he lifts my shirt and kisses my bare belly. I watch him with an amused expression as he acts out.

I wish my parents were this excited. Things have been better with my dad, but my relationship with my mom is still a work in progress.

“Tell me what you want, girls. I’ll do anything. A room for princesses? Mermaids? Unicorns?”

I clear my throat and adjust my stance with one hand on my hip.

Reading my displeasure, Evan reconsiders his words. “Or we can do astronauts? Dinosaurs? I know, fighter jets. What do you think? Tell me.”

He places an ear to my skin and listens. I press my lips tight, trying not to giggle.

“They’re saying no to dinosaurs. Too scary. Unicorns—overdone. Princesses are okay as long as they’re ninjas by night, and they prefer cowgirls over astronauts. Wait, hold on. They’re arriving at a decision . . . World travel? I love it. You got it, girls.” He glances at me with a smile.

I consider it. A traveling theme? I can already imagine sweet little vintage suitcases as shelving. A map of the world in soft colors painted on the wall. A complementary compass rose on the ceiling. Hot-air-balloon mobiles can hang over the cribs. It makes sense because these girls will be our greatest adventure.

“I like it, but we’ll still need two vision boards. One for Stephanie and one for Ramona,” I say.

Evan stands to meet my eyes. His expression appears confused. “Stephanie?”

“Steph was responsible for getting us together.” I shrug and recall a faded memory. “And she may have made me promise to name our child after her.”

“She made you promise too?” He laughs.

“She was such a manipulator. Or a mad genius,” I add.

“She was both and wore them like a badge, and I can’t imagine a better way to honor her. Stephanie it is. I love it.” He kisses me, but when he pulls away, his face scrunches. “But let’s talk about that other name. I’m not sure about Ramona. In the endless lists of baby names you’ve been hounding me with, you’ve never mentioned that name.”

I try to keep my face expressionless. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I love it.”

“Mrs. Wade, are you messing with me?”

Now I’m the one laughing, because Evan’s tickling me.

“Stop, you’ll make me pee!” I gasp out a cry as I hop around, doing my best to avoid his assaulting fingers.