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“I must have saved a thousand people in my past life because I still can’t believe I’m this lucky.”
Her gaze softens and she bites her bottom lip. Closing her book, she gets up and walks to me, smiling at the bundle of joy in my arms.
“I can’t believe I’M this lucky,” she counters.
“Oh, are we competing now?”
She chuckles and kisses our daughter’s forehead. When she lifts her eyes and meets mine, I feel my heart hammering in my chest—the way it always does when she’s this close. “I love you, Lane.”
“I love you, baby. Always.”
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
LANIE
Five Years Later
“We’re in the Maldives,” I tell my mom excitedly. “Can you believe it? He surprised me with a trip to the freaking Maldives.”
I listen to my mom on the other end of the line screech with happiness and ramble on about the things we have to do. Not that she actually knows what to do since she's never been to the Maldives. But it's been on her bucket list for as long as I can remember, and she used to fill her days with fantasies about traveling here.
Maybe it’s something we can do for her. Maybe we can send her on a surprise trip. The moment the thought passes through my mind, I smile, knowing exactly what we’re going to get her for her birthday.
Things between my mom and me have greatly improved over these last few years. She’s still just as committed to her sobriety today as she was the day she told me she’d gone to her first meeting. She’s put in the work she’s needed to do on herself to overcome her addictions and outrun her demons. She’s more than made amends and has been the sort of mother I’d always wanted when I was growing up.
Better late than never, I suppose. I won’t lie though, it’s been nice to have her finally get her shit together and become the sort of person I’d always hoped she would be.
“How are Lawrence and Lily doing?” I ask.
“They’re doing fine. They miss you, of course.”
“Well, tell them we’ll be home in just a couple of weeks,” I say. “And Mom, thank you again for watching them. I really appreciate it.”
“They’re my grandbabies, Lanie,” she says. “What sort of grandmother would I be if I didn’t relish the chance to spend time with them? Now, you stop worrying about us and go have a wonderful time out there.”
“Thanks, Mom. Love you.”
“Love you back, Lanie.”
I disconnect the call and set the phone down on the table between the chaise lounges we’re lying on. I look over at Lane and smile. He’s stretched out on the chaise, sunglasses on, looking like he’s either sleeping or dead. But hey, after a night filled with lovemaking followed by a morning filled with even more lovemaking, I guess he’s earned the right to nap if he wants to.
“How’s everything on the home front?” he asks, surprising me.
“Good,” I say. “Mom says the kids are doing good.”
“I knew they’d enjoy some time with their grams,” he says. “And how are the other babies?”
I laugh. “She said that Daisy, Buster, and Keaton are all doing just fine.”
Keaton is the newest addition to our family—a Dane who was orphaned as a baby, so we took him in and he’s blended into our little family right away.
“Are you doing all right?” Lane asks.
“Yeah. I’m good.”
“Promise?”
“Yep.”
