AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Promise.” I place a quick kiss on her forehead. “I love you too, Lori Stevens.”
EPILOGUE
Lori
7 Months Later
“There, that’s him,” I say, pointing through the small window to the adorable baby boy. “Elijah Jeremiah, my nephew. He’s perfect.”
The swaddled little bundle stretches his arms and kicks his feet as if he knows he’s being watched. He’s so tiny, and he has a thick head of hair. The love I already feel for him is insane, like my heart might bust out my chest.
Spencer wraps his arm around my waist, kissing my temple. “Just like his aunt.”
Turning my gaze to him, I bump him with my hip and press my lips to hold back my smile. “Don’t be such a cornball. I mean, you’re right, but still.”
These past months have been such a whirlwind. Everything is so good it feels like a dream. I go around pinching myself all the time, terrified I’m going to wake up. I’ll admit, it’s still a struggle for me, accepting that I deserve this life—that I deserve Spencer. But seeing myself through his eyes makes it a little easier every day.
I think maybe we all have that moment—the one that changes us forever. Death, heartbreak, or other tragedies. Whatever the cause, we go from being one person to someone else entirely. For me, that was Paul. Because of him, I lost sight of who I was and wanted to be. Now, I feel like I’m finally getting those pieces of myself back.
He laughs. “Come on, bestselling author, let’s go see the new parents.”
Finding out I hit the bestseller list was the most surreal moment of my life. Something I’d been striving for since I was a young girl was finally a reality. But more than that, my message is being heard. For so long, it’s been society’s belief that the guidelines of sexual assault are black and white, having no gray area, but Ashland’s story is helping to change that. Women all over the world have been sending me letters of thanks, and I’ve done countless interviews. People aren’t only talking about a topic no one likes to talk about, they’re also changing the dialogue.
Surprising even myself, I ended up putting my own story in the back of the book. It didn’t give his name or enough detail for most people to figure it out, but it forced me to talk to my friends and family about what happened, helping me take another step toward healing.
The hardest part of sharing my story was dealing with everyone else’s emotions about what happened. To them it was new information, a fresh wound that was bleeding. But, for me, telling them was about closure, picking off that final scab to reveal the healed skin underneath.
“Who cares about the parents, I want to get my hands on that sweet baby boy.”
“Yes, well…” he says, taking my hand in his. “You need to go through them to get to him.”
I pout, dragging my feet as he pulls me down the hall. When we get to the door, I tug on his arm to stop him from going inside. He turns his gaze to me, his eyebrows furrowed.
“Do you think we should wait to share our big news? It’s sort of a special day for them, and…”
He gives me a soft smile, always so understanding when it comes to my eccentric ways. “I’m sure Julianna will be thrilled, but if you want to wait, I’ll support that.”
I give him a soft kiss on the lips. “Thank you.”
He knocks on the door, and Eric opens it with the brightest smile I’ve ever seen on his face. While Spencer and Eric do their bromance thing, I hurry over to my sister. She looks tired, yet there’s still a glow about her.
“We stopped by to see him on our way in, he’s so beautiful. Good job, Momma,” I say, fighting back the tears swelling in my eyes.
She reaches out for me, and I stuff my left hand in my pocket before grabbing hers with my right.
“I’m a mom, how did this happen?”
“Well, I believe Eric put his—”
“Okay, Aunt Lori, none of that.”
I shrug. “Hey, you asked.”
She sighs, squeezing my hand. “Am I ready for this? What if I’m a horrible mother?”
I tilt my head and roll my eyes. “It’s a little late for second thoughts,” I tease. “But you were born ready. My nephew is very lucky to have you as his mother. I know you’re going to do an amazing job raising him.”
She nods her head as a few tears fall down her face. Spencer steps up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, and I release Julianna’s hand as I melt into him.
