“Dear?” His voice quivers as he approaches her. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry we weren’t there for you.”
Her arms reach for him too. She cradles his head next to hers. “You’re here now. That’s what matters.”
I search the bakery for any sign of blond curls, but I come up empty.
“Hey, Rush… I mean Case.” Delaney shakes her head. “I’m sorry about last week.”
I move to embrace both her and my grandfather together. “Last week is the past. It’s time we all started living in the present, and you can call me whatever the hell you want.”
She chuckles. “I’ll call you Case.”
When I step back, my grandfather does the same.
Delaney takes a breath. “There’s something I need to tell you, Mr. Easton.”
“Cadby,” My grandpa smiles. “You’ll call me Cadby.”
“Or great-grandpa,” I say quietly.
His head turns slowly. “What are you saying? Emma is knocked up?”
Emma bursts out laughing. “No. There is no way.”
I shake my head as Delaney giggles. “I didn’t think that one through.”
“Think what through?” His eyes narrow as he stares at me. “What’s going on, Rush?”
“Let’s try this again,” I say.
We both catch sight of a little boy with blonde hair as he rounds the counter and heads toward us.
“Rush.” My grandfather reaches for me. “Do you see him?”
“That’s Mickey,” I whisper as I hold tightly to his hand. “That’s our Pol’s little boy.”
Mickey marches right past his mom until he’s standing in front of the two of us. “I’m Mickey Wilts, sirs. My mom told me you’re here to meet me. She said you loved my daddy very much.”
My grandfather brushes his hand on Mickey’s shoulder. “He was my grandson.”
“My daddy was your grandson?”
“Yes.”
“Are you my Papa?” Mickey takes a step closer. “I always wanted a Papa.”
“I’m your Papa.” My grandfather takes Mickey into an embrace. “And this is your uncle Case.”
The smile I get when the kid’s eyes meet mine chases every ounce of pain I’ve felt away. “It’s good to meet you, Mickey.”
His gaze darts back to his mom. “Is this real? I get an uncle and a Papa in the same day?”
“It’s real,” she says through a sob. “This is your family.”
Mickey reaches an arm out to pull me into a hug with my grandpa. “This is the best day of my whole life.”
I look over at Emma. “It’s the best day of mine too.”
EPILOGUE
