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Epilogue
Caiti
Four weeks later
“How many more boxes do youthink you need?”
I scan my bare surroundings at Dane’s question. The remaining pile to pack dwindles fast. We sold my house in Colorado and used the profits for our down payment on a family home. Today is officially moving day. “I think two.”
He plops a kiss on the crown of my head. “I’ll be back with two.”
“Careful with your foot on those stairs!” I call after him. He’s still in a walking boot after the incident on the river. The bones weren’t broken, but ankle injuries can be difficult to heal, and he’s experienced some lingering effects.
The man takes it all in stride. The next day, it was outwardly impossible to tell he’d nearly died, something he later confessed in the quiet dark of our bed, but I could tell it affected him. His touches lingered far longer than before as if he needed constant connection. As soon as he was discharged from the hospital, our relationship status was no longer in question. He claimed me so thoroughly that night if I truly had any remaining doubt about loving him, he washed it away with his own bare hands. And lips. And tongue.
I blush at the memory. Carefully wrapping the framed picture of him and his mom in bubble wrap, I set it aside. The next frame holds a photo of the three of us—Dane, Ophelia, and me—down at the Swinging Bridge taken two days after his accident when we finally retrieved Ophelia from Cami and Law. She missed her daddy fiercely when we picked her up, and I’m eternally grateful that she didn’t have to experience something I could never cushion her from.
“Look who I found.” The sound of Dane’s voice draws my attention from the wrapped breakables to the doorway of his room. He gallops in with Ophelia squealing from high on his shoulders, her hands wrapped around his forehead and a wide grin displaying her white teeth.
“I widin Daddy!”
A laugh bursts out of me. “You are. Just like a cowgirl.”
“Giddup!” She pulls his head back like a lever to control his speed. He flips her from her perch into his awaiting arms and dips low in a fake plunge. “Don’t dwop me!” She squeals.
“Never!” He kisses her on the cheeks with a loud smack. “Are you ready to see the new house?”
Ophelia nods, a crease across her brow. I think the idea of moving is beyond her comprehension. We’ve enlisted all of our Arrow Creek friends to help us move, and her bedroom went first. We wanted all her stuff ready to greet her to ease the transition. Kiersten took her for some ice cream so she didn’t have a meltdown when her entire room disappeared.
“How about you, Mama?”
“This is it.” I gesture to the pile before me. “Just waiting on the boxes.”
“Sorry. There was a minor distraction.” Dane flashes me a sexy grin in apology. “Hey, Nathan. Grab two more boxes, and we’ll be good to go.”
A moment later, Nathan steps into the room, extending the requested boxes my way. “You are a Tetris master with these packing skills, Caiti. I thought we’d be around all day moving your stuff.”
“I can’t even count the number of times I’ve moved in my life. I have it down to a science.”
“Well, you could make a career out of it. Just saying.”
Professional packer? I file the idea away for later. Even though I quit my job on the spot, I’m not without money. I had a sizeable savings of my own, and that’s not even including the life insurance money I’ve barely touched. The plan is to take the time I didn’t have the last three years to focus on transitioning Ophelia and me into our new life. Once she’s settled and my anxiety is a little more stable, I’ll begin the search for something to fill my time.
The guys chat while I pack up the remaining items, wiping the sheen on my forehead when I finish. I gaze at Dane and our friends proudly. “That’s a wrap. We’re officially ready.”
“All right. I’ll take these and see you guys there.” Nathan scoops up the remaining boxes and hauls them from the room, leaving Dane, Ophelia, and me.
“You want her to ride with me or you?”
I don’t have to hesitate before giving my answer. “I’ll take her this time.” I’ve slowly regained my confidence driving with Ophelia in the car, and now I never pass up an opportunity to practice. I stand and take my little girl’s hand.
“I’ll be right behind you.” Dane presses his lips to my forehead.
The drive to our new home is about twenty minutes. A much longer commute to the bar for Dane, but not unreasonably so. He’s the one who insisted on the location. The acre lot is perfect for raising kids and any other living beings we decide to take on. He also said since he returns to town daily to visit his mom, we’ll have no problem making the trip to bring Ophelia to daycare and, eventually, school.
I shiver at the thought of her growing up. I’m not even close to ready for those milestones.
Bracing the steering wheel with excitement, I turn down a long paved driveway. Around a lazy bend, the trees give way, and the two-story farmhouse comes into view. The white house with black shutters is magazine picturesque. I can already imagine many summer nights on the wraparound porch with a cool drink in my hand while kids play in the large, grassy yard.
“We’re here, Ophelia.”
“Dat mine?” She shoves a chubby thumb into her chest.
“That’s ours, honey. Want to see your new room?”
“Daddy too?”
Her attachment to Dane settles in my heart. I hope these two never lose their bond. “Daddy lives here now too.”
“I see him?”
I’ve already become uninteresting to my daughter. I thought that wouldn’t happen until the teen years. Before I can answer, he materializes outside her door and sets her free.
“I have a surprise for you.” He hoists her onto his hip and taps her nose.
“You do?” I ask.
“I suppose the surprise is for you too.” He winks. The smile spreading across his face implies he intends to beg for forgiveness later. Much later, when little girls are asleep in their beds and mom and dad can be alone. An anticipatory shiver threatens my calm façade.
“Uh-huh.” The heavy sarcasm falls too short to be taken seriously.
“This way.”
He waits for me to meet him at the other side of the car. His palm claims mine, and together we trek across the lawn.
The front door to our new home opens, and out steps Evie, Rhett, and Tommy holding a leash. Tommy jogs down the steps. The wind blows his brown hair off his forehead, and his chest puffs out for his very important job. A wiggly brown and white pup with long, floppy ears runs behind him.
“Oh my goodness.” I cover my mouth at the sight of cuteness barreling in our direction.
“Puppy!” Ophelia screams, wiggling to be set down. Dane lowers her to her feet just as Tommy and the baby Basset Hound near.
“Is that ours?” I ask the thoughtful man at my side. He’s always striving to make us happy, and Ophelia is definitely in puppy heaven. She drops to all fours and lets the little dog lick her right on the mouth as she laughs.
“Sure is. Her name’s Luna. Rhett and Evie have her brother, Mars.” He nods to our friends. I didn’t even noticed the little dog lying comfortably in Evie’s arms. “Tommy named him, so I kept with the theme.”
“You’re definitely her favorite now,” I mutter. Dane easily kisses the faux pout away.
