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EPILOGUE
ALEC
“Shh, be quiet, we can’t let dad hear,” comes the stage whisper, which may as well be a shout.
“Gemma! If you don’t want dad to hear, then maybe you shouldn’t scream like a banshee,” comes Paisley’s caustic retort. I snort under my breath.
“I’m not screaming,” Gemma says petulantly.
“Alright girls, you don’t have to sneak in,” Tana says, easily smoothing over the spat. “Your dad won’t be upset.”
At this Paisley snorts and it sounds so much like mine, I muffle a laugh. “Yeah, right. He said if you brought home any more animals, he was going to make us sleep outside with them. He said we didn’t have enough room for anymore. Especially not wild ones.”
“Darla isn’t wild!” Gemma protests. “She’s a lady. Aren’t you Darla?” I don’t know how to describe the answering animal noise, but it’s not one I’ve ever heard come from a domesticated critter. I sigh, but it’s a contented one. I’d let Tana bring home two of every species on the planet if it’s what would make her happy, but I sure as hell don’t tell them that.
“We should have snuck it around the side gate,” Paisley says instead of answering her sister. “That way we could have put it in a pen. Dad would never notice with the amount of animals we have out there.”
I can hear the restrained laughter in Tana’s voice all the way in the bedroom. “I think the only reason why he lets us have so many animals now is because we don’t keep them a secret from him.”
“You may be okay sleeping outside with them,” Paisley replies without missing a beat, “but I like my bed. I don’t want to sleep with a bunch of rabbits and chickens. I’m telling you, we should have snuck it in. He wouldn’t notice.”
“Paisley Anne, you better not be sneaking anything around this house,” I say, coming out to find the three of them huddled over an animal carrying cage at the kitchen island.
Gemma giggles as though this is the best day of her life. Paisley jumps a little, then smiles and juts out her chin. Then my eyes turn to Tana, who is grinning as though she couldn’t possibly be happier.
“It wasn’t my idea,” Paisley objects and shakes her head, backing up a step to distance herself. “They’re the ones who decided to bring it home. You know I don’t like cleaning up poop.” She shudders at the mere thought.
I cross the kitchen to Tana’s side and press a kiss to her temple. The cinnamon-sugar scent of her fills my nose, releasing any lingering tension I have from the never-ending arson investigation. Her body loosens in response and molds to mine. Her hand comes up to clutch at the shirt covering my stomach and she pulls me close enough to kiss me firmly on the lips.
I’m forever grateful for the years we shared together before the accident. A part of me will always miss the woman she used to be. But I love this version of her just as much. When she pulls me to her like this and kisses me as though she can’t wait another moment, it reminds me every time how precious our life is together, how cherished. When she lingers against my lips, I know she senses it, too.
We only split up because Gemma starts giggling and Paisley makes choking sounds. “Can you guys, like, not?” Paisley asks and mimes sticking her finger down her throat. But I don’t miss the way her lips turn to a smile when she goes to the fridge to pull out a juice. Much as she likes to complain about everything in typical pre-teen fashion, Paisley couldn’t be happier to have her family back together. In fact, the only reason I’d start to worry was if her moaning and complaining stopped.
Tana giggles and presses her lips more firmly against mine, making theatrical smacking sounds and causing Gemma to cackle.
“Ugh,” Paisley says. “I’m going to my room. You guys are so gross.”
I ruffle Gemma’s hair and say to Tana, “So what did you bring home this time, sweet pea?”
“We found an orphaned squirrel baby at school today. I’m going to keep it here over night until I can take it to Penny in the morning.”
“A squirrel, huh? That’s a first.”
“Can I take it to its cage?” Paisley asks. “I’ll be really careful, I promise.”
Tana passes the creature over to Paisley, who lovingly whispers to it as she and Gemma leave the room.
“We’re going to need a bigger house,” I say to Tana once we’re alone.
She makes a face. “I don’t think so. We don’t have that many animals. Besides, we’re only fostering some of them and some are just rehabbing until they get better. I won’t bring home any more if you really—”
I shut her up with a finger over her lips. “I don’t mean those animals.” I put my other hand over her still flat stomach. “I mean this one. We need more room with another baby on the way.”
“No we don’t, I told you that before. Besides, I like it here. We’ve been here a long time and the girls love it too. I don’t want to uproot them.”
“Baby, you’re going to want more room. You don’t want Gemma and Paisley sharing a room, do you?” I shudder. “Zeke’s friend Malcolm is selling his place. It’s in the country with a big yard for plenty of rescues. I’m just sayin’.”
“Are you trying to bribe me?” Tana asks with narrowed eyes.
“Maybe. If this baby is another girl, then I’m going to need all the space I can get. Are you sure you don’t want to find out until they’re born?”
She nods. “Positive. Are you ready to tell the girls yet? We can’t keep it a secret forever.”
“I’m ready if you are, sweet pea.”
Tana pushes up on her toes to kiss me. “As long as you’re with me, I’m ready for anything.”
