Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 72074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“Casey,” she says, laughing and crying at the same time.
“I built this house, not knowing that I wanted to fill it with children. I want our kids to run in from the barn and mess up the floor. I want our kids to hide in the room upstairs and then pretend they ran away. I want our kids to grow up here, and then I want them to bring their own kids here.” She sobs now. “There is only one person I want to do all that with, and it’s you, darlin’.” She doesn’t say anything; all she can do is sob. “One year ago, I asked you to stay and make a home with me. Today, I’m asking you to help me fill our home. I’m asking you to hold my hand today and always.” I don’t finish because she grabs my face and kisses me hard. The taste of her tears on my lips.
“Yes,” she whispers, her lips still on mine. “But,” she says, and my heart stops in my chest as she turns around and walks to the side of the bed and takes something out of her side table. “Just so you know.” She starts to say. “We are going to be filling the house sooner than you think.” She holds out the white stick to me. My eyes go to the word pregnant, and then I drop the box and take the stick from her. “Casey Barnes, you are going to be the best father anyone could ask for, and I’m so happy that our children are going to have you.”
I don’t move from the spot still on bended knee when it finally hits me. “How?” I ask her, the tears now leaking down my face. She laughs at me.
“If I need to tell you how?” She shakes her head.
Laughing, I grab the box that fell out of my hand and open it, and just as I know, my girl doesn’t even look at the ring. She couldn't care less, but I care. So, I went overboard, and she is probably going to moan about how big it is, but I couldn't care less. She now looks down and gasps out at the five-carat pink square diamond ring that I got for her. “I know that it’s not traditional, but when I saw it, the only thing I could think of was the sunsets that we watch every night. How the sky turns a light pink right before the sun sets, and I knew that it felt like home.”
“Yes,” she says before I say the words again and lunges for me, making me fall back.
“I love you,” I say to her right before I rip off her new panties.
Epilogue Two
Olivia
Five years later
“What is all this fuss about?” I ask, walking into the nursery while my two-week-old daughter, Harlow, cries at the top of her lungs. “I just fed you,” I say, taking her in my arms, and I kiss her soft cheek. The minute she is in my arms, she quiets. “Not you, too,” I say to myself, walking over to the rocking chair and sitting down. “After your two brothers, we said you wouldn’t be spoiled,” I say, and she just closes her eyes while her hands are folded over her chest. “I’m giving you two more minutes, and then I’m going to put you back in your crib.” I rock her back and forth and look around at the pink nursery. After having the boys, Quinn, who is four, and then Reed, who just turned two, I went full-on bubble gum pink for her.
I rock her for five minutes and then get up, placing her down gently. She stirs for just a moment, and then I walk back out of the room. I walk down the hall to Quinn’s room, and I find him in the middle of his bed, sleeping like a starfish with the covers already thrown on the floor. My son hates to be covered, no matter how many times I try. Walking in, I turn off the light and lean over, kissing him on his cheek. He looks exactly like Casey, right down to the way he smirks at you. He is also the biggest daredevil in the world. Last week, he somehow convinced Billy to let him ride a mustang. “I love you,” I whisper and walk out of the room, pulling the door closed behind me but leaving it open just a crack. I walk over to the other room and find Casey in bed with Reed. My heart stops in my chest when I see him spooning Reed. I lean down and kiss my husband’s cheek, and he slowly opens his eyes. “Hey.”
“Hey,” he mumbles. “Is she asleep?”
“For now,” I say. “I’m going to go to sleep.” I lean over and kiss Reed’s cheek, and he turns over right away. He also came out looking exactly like Casey, something that I resented since I carried them for nine long months.