The faintness of a grin can probably be seen on my lips. “No need to cry if it’s the truth.”
Nearly throwing herself at me, her hands frame my face, and she crushes my mouth with a kiss. “I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
She smiles, a tear sliding down her cheek. “Come on, I have wicked ideas.”
EPILOGUE: ROSIE
3 YEARS LATER
Counting the paper unicorn plates, I check that we have enough. Between neighbors, Carter’s family, and my own family, I’m not quite sure why we didn’t have our daughter’s third birthday party somewhere else.
“Why is it so difficult for them to hang a banner? Like seriously, they’ve been at this for five minutes,” Esme comments as she stands next to me in the kitchen, holding her toddler. It’s nice having kids close in age; playdates and coffee are part of our routine.
Dropping the plates on the counter, I review the scene, and my lips quirk out. She isn’t wrong. “It’s all about height, I guess?”
“Sure. What’s with men and counting inches,” she quips.
I chortle a laugh. “Can we keep it PG? It’s a birthday party, after all.”
She shrugs. “It’s true.” She passes her son a cracker from the snack tray. “On a level of one to ten, how chaotic is this party going to be?”
“A nine point five.”
Bouncing her son on her hip, she grabs his little hand. “Fun. Now let’s go see if Auntie Hailey has delivered that baby yet.” She walks away to join Hailey on the couch where she is taking up residence for the party, rightfully so, as she’s about to deliver a girl any day now.
Glancing to my sister sitting on the floor with Cassie and playing with her tea set, I make note that Bella has been acting strange all day. I’m about to head their way, but a man with swagger and predatory eyes is approaching me.
“Bravo for finally hanging the decorations,” I tease Carter who wraps his arms around me.
“Don’t get sassy on me. We already have a little princess over there who gives it to us in full,” he reminds me.
I giggle because he is very right. Stepping back, I lean into Carter’s shoulder as he stands by my side to observe our daughter squealing in delight. “She’s growing too fast.”
“We can always do it again,” he highlights. We give one another a glance before bursting out a laugh. “Yeah, we’re not going there.”
I always thought that I would want a big family. The same as I grew up with. However, my views changed after having Cassie. Every day is pure sunshine and lullabies, but it’s work and far too many sleepless nights. It’s to the point where my imagination has me second-guessing if she is possessed, and I burn sage to save us all. Except, that is not the case. She’s healthy, but sleep isn’t for her, barely any hours a night since she was born. It affects you when you rarely get a night of rest. It’s not a risk we want to take again. Maybe we will change our minds one day, but for now, one kid it shall be.
“It’s all good. Just the three of us,” I agree, then sigh as our little girl is no longer a baby.
The loss of Carter in my arms brings my attention back to the tasks at hand. He steals a carrot from the tray and evaluates all of the options for snacks.
“Feeding an army?”
I raise my brow because he should know better. “Something like that. It’s our families.”
“And Jet,” Oliver adds as he joins us around the snacks. We all dart our attention to the back French doors to see Jet standing in the snow and wagging his tail. Carter and I have considered many times that we need to get our own dog, but Jet visits us enough. “Cupcakes. Nice choice.” Oliver tips his nose to the box of pink icing and sprinkle-covered mini cakes.
“Cookies, too. Options for everyone.”
Carter returns to me and slips his arms around my waist from behind. “She thinks of everything, this one.” He pulls me close to his body, and for a second, I’m questioning if we are crossing the border on public display of affection.
“Good. One of you needs to have a brain in your relationship,” Oliver says in jest to hold up their brotherly camaraderie.
“Aren’t you funny. Now make yourself useful and grab the champagne,” Carter instructs him with a cheeky smile on his face.
I shake my head because they may be grown men, but they are adorable with one another.
