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This is happiness.
This is love.
And it’s all ours.
Forever.
Extended Epilogue
Ten Years Later
Rosie
I stand at the barbecue, my hand on Ryland’s arm as our children run up and down the garden together.
Two boys and two girls.
Just like we discussed on our first real date.
The sun flutters down over the scene, making the pool and the water coming from the sprinkler sparkle in the summer light.
Jackie runs over to the sprinkler, giggling as she drags our youngest, Bucky – named after Ryland’s father – through the water. Bucky laughs and kicks his legs, a big grin on his face.
Jackie is so good with our four year old.
Kelly and Elijah skip over together, hand in hand as the seven-year-old twins often are. Kelly’s hair is absolutely beautiful, jet-black like Ryland’s used to be, long and wavy down her back. Elijah’s hair is black, too, cropped close like his father.
“Dinner smells good, Daddy,” Kelly says.
Ryland smiles down at his children. He’s still got the glint in his eye I recognize from the delivery room after I gave birth to Jackie, the absolute wonder and gratitude. I don’t think he’s ever going to lose that.
“It better,” Ryland says, flipping a burger. “I’ve been working my butt off for you little rascals all afternoon.”
“Daddy said butt,” Elijah grins. “Did you hear him, Kelly?”
“Yes, I heard him,” Kelly says, rolling her eyes at us as if to say, What’s he like, huh?
“Butt, butt, butt,” Ryland grins, pulling a face at Eli.
Eli giggles and shakes his head, bubbling with excitement at his father’s attention.
Children are strange, wonderful creatures.
Before I became a mother, I had no idea how different they could truly be, even when they come from the same people.
I look across the garden to where Mom lays beneath the umbrella, lying back in her comfortable recliner chair with a paperback novel in one hand and old Chopper curled up in her lap. Her hair cascades around her, reaching down to the tiled groundwork, long and silver and proud.
She hasn’t cut it once since she got the all-clear.
“Where have you gone, Rosie?” Ryland asks, turning to me with a heartwarming grin.
“I’m right here,” I tell my husband, leaning forward and resting my cheek against his arm. “I was thinking about how lucky we are.”
“We’re the luckiest people alive,” he says passionately. “And I’m never going to forget it.”
“Me neither,” I say, with just as much emotion burning in my voice. “It’s me and you…”
“And Jackie and Bucky…”
“And Eli and Kelly and Mom…”
“Forever,” he smiles, kissing my forehead.
