It was the name we’d finally settled on. Grace. The name Winnie had fought so hard for.
“Grace,” she whispered with a knowing smile.
I stood and took the pizza from her, dropping it on my desk. “I have to show you something.”
Taking her hand, knowing she was mine forever, I led her out back to where my family sat.
Winnie gasped, recognizing them all immediately, but before we could make introductions and share hugs, I turned Winnie around to see the back wall of the restaurant. I’d planned on showing her no matter what, but this moment couldn’t be more perfect if I tried.
In beautiful hand-painted letters taller than me, the wall read:grace’s backyard.
Because, sure I was in a tiny little apartment for now and Winnie was still in Addison’s pool house, but this place would always be for our daughter. For Grace.
Winnie’s hand drifted to her mouth as the realization set in and tears began to flood her wide blue-green eyes.
“For her.” I turned Winnie around to this little oasis with its bistro tables and picnic benches and playground with twinkling lights strung across that always reminded me of Christmas Notch, where it all began. “For us,” I said.
Winnie threw her arms around my neck as she turned to me and my arms slid up her back. I pulled her even closer to me, her belly round and full between us and bigger than it had been the last time I’d held her this closely.
She looked down and laughed. “You learn to work around it.”
“I’m a quick study,” I said with a soft growl before bending down to kiss her good and thoroughly. My hand traveled up her neck, guiding her even closer to me.
Her tongue danced along mine, and she gave my lip a soft tug with her teeth. I drew back just enough to whisper, “If we don’t stop, my whole family is going to see me dry humping you right here right now.”
She squeaked, her cheeks blushing.
She attempted to step back, but I only tugged her closer into my side as we turned to my family, who were all glassy-eyed—even Dad. But definitely not the triplets. They looked like they might puke.
“Mom, Dad,” I said, truly prouder than I’d ever been in my life. “Meet Winnie.”
“Mr. and Mrs.Lieberman,” Winnie gushed. “I’ve been dying to meet you for real.”
Mom squeezed past Nolan and gave Winnie a warm, tight hug, and I watched as Winnie melted into her arms, an indescribable joy on her face.
“I’m Mom or Bubbie Jo,” my mom whispered. “And that bozo back there is Dad or Poppy.”
“Or Josephine and Jacob are fine,” I said.
Winnie wiped back a tear. “Our little Grace can’t wait to meet her Bubbie Jo and Poppy.”
Tamara weaseled her way in and stole Winnie from me, but I didn’t mind. I loved watching my rambunctious family pull her in like she’d belonged there all along. Because she did. She always did.
I didn’t know what would happen with Winnie and her parents, and I knew there’d always be a hole created by their absence and that the pain they caused her would always live in her like an echo, but I would do my best to fill in the gaps and ease the hurt. Winnie had a family now. She always would.
Tucker passed a wriggling Talia to Mom and came over to give me an awkward fist bump. “You got it all, man. The biz. The girl.”
“Yeah,” I said, for the first time not annoyed by his Dr.Bro energy.
“Tamara and I are so happy for you, and hey man, when you’re ready for that vasectomy, it’s on the house.”
I threw an arm around his shoulder. “I’m pretty sure Winnie and I are only getting started.”
Epilogue
Teddy Ray Fletcher
Three months later
