Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
“Do you mean that, Roland?” I whisper. “You would be happier with me and the baby nearby?”
His eyes grow fierce and he shakes me just a little bit, with urgency in the rough action.
“I know I’d be happier with you and the baby at my side. I love you, Aria. I want to be with you, and this job? It’s nothing compared to my family. I want you to be my wife, and I want more children with you. I want to see you grow round again and again, swelling with our future kids. That’s the truth of what I feel, and I think the only question is: is that what you want too?”
With an incoherent cry, I throw myself into Roland’s arms. This feels like a dream because it’s everything that I hoped for. In fact, I didn’t even let myself hope for a long time. I figured that Tommy would never know his father, and that Roland would never meet his son.
But now, all of those fears are buried. My gorgeous professor is right here in the flesh, stating the things that I need to hear so badly: that I matter. That my son matters. That we matter to him more than anything, and that he wants a life with us.
“I love you Roland!” I cry, clasping that broad form close as I cry into his shoulder. My tears paint the fabric wet, and my voice is thick and almost incoherent. But the gorgeous professor knows, and he merely pulls me closer.
“I love you too, Aria,” he rasps into my ear. “You mean the world to me, and you always have, sweet girl. Now, when do I get to meet my son?”
I pull back to gaze into his eyes, and to my surprise, his cheeks are wet too from tears. We’re both crying and laughing simultaneously, while also holding the other person close.
“Right now,” I say with a sniffly hiccup. “We can go to my apartment now if you want, and you can meet Tommy.”
Roland presses his mouth to mine, sealing our devotion in a deep, passionate kiss before breaking away.
“Yes,” he says, his voice cracking with emotion. “Let’s go find our son.”
And with that, the future opens because I have my man once again, and he wants the both of us. With Roland at my side and Tommy at our feet, I know that we will persevere and prevail with love surrounding us on all sides forever.
Epilogue 1
Roland
She’s so gorgeous that my breath chokes in my throat. But Aria turns and tugs my hand, a smile decorating that perfectly pink pout.
“Come on,” she says, pulling me towards the front door. “Tommy should be up. He had his nap earlier in the day, and I can’t wait for you to meet him.”
My heart beats almost painfully in my chest. Is this really happening? Have Aria and I declared our love for one another, and now I’m on my way to meet our son together?
It seems impossible, and yet it’s true. For months, I was squirreled away in a musty cabin in the mountains of Maine, stewing in my own despair. The world was dark and gloomy, and it was as if a grey mist clouded my vision every day. But now that cloud has lifted, and I’ve reclaimed my woman once more. Not only that, but she had my baby in secret, and now I’m going to meet the little guy.
Aria shoots me one more reassuring smile and then raps on the wooden door.
“Haley,” she calls. “I’m home.” The blonde turns to me with a smile and whispers, “Haley’s my babysitter. She’s really good with Tommy. You’ll like her.”
The door opens, and a young woman stands there with a baby on her hip. I don’t even see the woman because my gaze is transfixed by the sight of the little boy. He’s my doppelganger: we have the same blue eyes, thick, chestnut hair, and left-cheek dimples. He’s sucking his fingers, but he immediately turns to look at me with curiosity.
“Ga-goo?” he asks.
Aria reaches for him while greeting the other woman.
“Thank you so much for babysitting extra today, Haley. You’re a lifesaver. Oh, and by the way, this is my friend Roland.”
I nod distractedly at the woman while still staring at my son. He’s a round-faced cherub, and he stares right back at me, the new person in his little world.
“Oh it’s no problem, Aria,” chirps the other woman before grabbing her purse and turning to leave with a cheery wave. “Anytime!”
The babysitter’s car zooms away, and I take a deep breath, trying to get oxygen in my lungs.
“Do you recognize Daddy?” Aria asks the little boy softly. “This is your daddy, Tom-Tom. Aren’t you going to say something, Roland?”
To be honest, I’m not sure I can manage it. The lump in my throat feels about the size of Mount Rushmore, and to my horror, tears are pricking at my eyes again. Since when did I become such an emotional mess? But I already know the answer: ever since I convinced Aria to be mine once more. And now she’s given me the ultimate gift: this little boy who looks just like me.