“Long enough,” he murmurs, stepping forward with slow, deliberate movements, like he’s afraid to break the moment.
He doesn’t stop until he’s kneeling in front of me, right in front of the urn. His large, calloused hand reaches out, and to my shock, he rests it gently against the cool metal, his thumb brushing over the name carved there.
“Thank you,” Dean says, voice rough but unwavering. “For your service. For the gift of your son. I’ll never try to replace you, but I want to be a father to Justice. A real father.”
My breath shudders out of me, a sob breaking free as fresh tears spill over my cheeks. “Dean…”
He reaches into his pocket, and my heart stops as he pulls out a small velvet box. My hands shake as I cover my mouth, my entire body trembling as he looks up at me, eyes filled with love, devotion, and a quiet strength that makes me want to fall into him forever.
“I love you, Jo. More than I ever thought I could love someone. You and Justice are my home.” His voice drops to a whisper, thick with emotion. “Marry me.”
A choked sob escapes me, but I shake my head—frantic, disbelieving. “Oh my God.”
His face falters, but before he can say another word, I grab his hand, pressing it flat against my stomach.
“You’re gonna be a dad.”
Dean stills, his entire body freezing, his breath hitching as his eyes snap to mine. A beat passes, and then his throat works on a swallow, his other hand coming up to cradle my face. When his gaze meets mine again, it’s glassy with unshed tears. “You’re serious?”
A watery laugh bubbles out of me as I nod, emotion overwhelming me. “Yeah, Dean. I’m serious. I came in here to tell Jonah. But I really should tell you first. We have a baby on the way, Dean.”
A strangled sound escapes him, part laugh, part choked breath, before he pulls me into his arms with Jonah’s urn between us, holding onto me like he never wants to let go. His arms loosen around me, I set Jonah back down on the nightstand to move him back to the shelf while Dean stares at me in awe.
“Thank you for not wanting to shut Jonah out for Justice and for me.”
“Jo, you have given me the best gift in the world, your love, Justice, and our baby. I wouldn’t have this if it wasn’t for his sacrifice. I can never replace him or repay him, but I can live my every breath to make sure he’s not forgotten while loving you and building our life together.”
And I know, without a doubt, I’ll never want him to let go. Ever.
Epilogue
Raff
Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton
* * *
I gaze in the rear-view mirror of Josie’s SUV as I pull into the driveway. My hands steady on the wheel while my heart is anything but. I glance to the rear seat, where Jo sits beside the car seat cradling our brand-new baby girl, Journey. She’s wrapped in a soft pink blanket, her tiny face barely visible beneath the fabric.
Jo looks up at me, exhaustion and happiness mingling in her eyes. “We’re home,” she whispers, a soft smile on her lips.
Home. It’s never been just a place—it’s them. Josie, Justice, and now Journey. My whole world packed into one truck.
I hop out, rounding the front to open her door, then gently take Journey from her arms so Jo can climb down. She moves slower than usual, the toll of childbirth still evident in the way she winces just slightly. I kiss her temple, murmuring, “Got you, mama.”
I hold Journey close as we walk toward the house. She’s so small, her weight barely noticeable in my arms, but she carries the gravity of something life changing. Jo moves beside me, a hand resting lightly on my arm as if grounding herself.
As I step inside, Danae is already in the living room, her suitcase in the corner. She flew in from Arkansas the second she heard Jo was in labor, determined to be here to help. Her sharp green eyes soften when she sees Journey in my arms.
“She’s perfect,” Danae says, brushing a gentle hand over the baby’s head. “Good job, Josie Mosie.”
Jo snorts. “Tell my body that. I feel like I got run over.”
Danae laughs. “That’s what happens when you push a human out of your body. But hey, you survived.”
Before Danae can respond, a familiar voice interrupts. “Damn, I was just coming to check in, but I didn’t know there’d be a welcome committee.”
Miles leans against the doorway, his ever-present smirk firmly in place. His eyes flick to Danae, and something shifts in his expression. “Didn’t know you’d be here.”
