“My big, sappy woo-woo wish came true…”
Epilogue One
One year later
“Ipromise, Dad, I am only a phone call away,” Morgan assures me, wiping a tear from my cheek with the pad of her thumb. “Please don’t cry…”
“I’m just so proud of you,” I reply, sniffing. She hugs me, and I squeeze her so tightly. “Who allowed you to grow up on me, anyway? I want to file a complaint,” I murmur into her hair.
She giggles, but it sounds wet with tears also. “I swear, I couldn’t help it. If I find out who, I’ll thwart them before they get a chance to get to Tally.”
“I’d be up dung creek without a paddle if it weren’t for you, Morgs,” I tell her, rubbing her back and finally letting her go. “Please video chat with me when you’re all moved in and set up.”
She rolls her eyes. “Aspyn already tacked a reminder on my bulletin board.”
“That’s a good roomie, right there.” I chuckle. “I’m glad they paired you two up.”
“From camp cabins to dorm rooms,” she titters, “we’re inseparable, I guess.”
“Whelp,” huffs Evan, once he catches up with us in the parking lot, “pretty sure that’s the last of it. We did all the heavy lifting. You’re in charge of finding room to organize all that. I do hope the smell coming from one of those boxes was your cleats, and not some dead rodent.” He chuckles.
She leaps into his arms next, hugging him tightly. “Yes, it’s probably my cleats. Why upgrade to new ones, if those are still good, right? Thank you for helping me move in, Evster. ”
Evsterhas been her pet name for Evan ever since our wedding. Well, either that or DBA—dad by association. I’m not kidding, that’s what she actually wrote on her college paperwork, when she was filling in his relation to her.
“You’re welcome, Captain Morgs,” Evan squeezes her back, kissing her temple. “The house is going to be so quiet without you and Colt.” He chuckles, setting her down.
“Doubtful.” Morgan shoots a glance down at the uncharacteristically quiet two-year-old.
“Me! Sissy,me! Up!” Tallulah makes grabby hands at Morgan from her stroller, pacifier half hanging out of her mouth.
“Aw! I wouldn’t forget you, love!” Morgan scoops her up, yanking the paci out of her mouth, before placing a smacking kiss to her lips. “You’re the queen of the house now, big girl! Be sure to give your daddies a hard time for me, okay?” she asks, bouncing Tally on her hip.
“Me big!” Tally squeals, arms flapping. “No nap!”
Evan narrows his eyes at her, tickling her now healthy, pudgy belly—one she didn’t have when she was placed with us. “Ohh, ma’am. Yes, nap. Papa needs sleep too!”
She giggles and squirms, her brown curls bobbing. Tallulah came into our lives shortly after Evan and I got married on Valentine’s Day this past year. We got the call from DHHS right after we got back from our honeymoon in Venice. He and I have been fostering her for a few months. The plan is to adopt her soon. Both biological parents’ rights were just terminated, so we anticipate it becoming official anytime now.
It breaks my heart that they didn’t even try for this sweet girl, who came to us so in need of love and nurturing, but she has gotten it by the boatloads with us. I can’t believe not wanting to put in the effort for her, but I guess if either of them had, it wouldn’t have landed us with Tally, who has been the most perfect gift. Get this, her name literally is Native American for ‘leaping water,’ and it’s so fitting—girl loves to bounce.
Needless to say, she’s stolen both mine and Evan’s hearts, and we wholeheartedly believe she came to us by means of Ryann and Miranda.
“Mowgli!” Kai shouts, strolling out of the dorm next. “Hugs! I’m feeling a little left out here!”
Evan reaches out, so Morgan can deposit Tally into his arms. Morgan turns to give her uncle a hug. “How is thatmyfault?” she teases him, giggling. “What’d you do, get held up gossiping about frat boys with Aspyn?”
He chuckles. “Of course. You know once I get going, I can’t shut up.”
“I do,” she agrees, giving him another squeeze before releasing him. “I guess I should thank you for the muscles today also.”
He nods. “‘Course. That’s why I’ve been spending more time at the gym. Getting ripped to drop you kids off at college.”
“Uh-huh,” she hums, tongue-in-cheek, “totally that. Not so you can gawk at your boyfriend’s booty while he deadlifts.”
He smirks at her, nudging her. “Might have something to do with that, too.”
Evan passes Tally over to me next, so he can pull Kai in for a bro-hug. Clapping his back, he adds, “Thank you for helping today and with Colt last week.”
