Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
“I see,” the judge responds, smiling at my boy.
“And this is my mommy. If you hurry and marry them then we can be a family—official like.”
“Is that right?”
“Yep.”
“Then, I guess I better hurry it up,” the judge says, trying to act like he’s being very serious.
“I sure would appreciate it, sir.”
“You must really be excited to have your parents married.”
“Well, I am. I really want all my friends at school to know that my daddy is home now and that he’s never leaving.”
We all look at Lennon as he says that.
I kneel and rub my hands up and down Lennon’s arms. “Hey, you know I’m not going anywhere, don’t you, buddy? Nothing could ever take me away from you and your mommy. I promise.”
“I know, Dad.”
“Then, why are you wanting to rush everything up?” I ask, worried.
“Well, Nanny Barb and Grandma Hazel promised to take me out for ice cream after. So, if we could hurry up, I’d really appreciate it.”
Everyone starts laughing and I shake my head. “You heard the boy, Judge,” I murmur.
“That I did,” he agrees.
I rise back up and hold Katie’s hands as we pledge our lives to one another. It was a long, broken road to get us to this point. Every step of the way was worth it, however, because it led me straight to Katie. I wouldn’t change a thing, because every detour we took prepared us to be the partners that we each needed.
Forever.
Epilogue
KATIE
“Get back in bed, Mrs. Ryan.”
I grin down at Jake. “That’s right, I’m a married woman now,” she laughs, sliding back under the covers.
He instantly pulls my body back against his, wrapping his arms around me. “You’re my woman,” he corrects me.
“I’ve always been your woman, Jake. Now, I’m just your wife, too.”
“God, I love you, Sunshine,” he groans.
“I love you,” I respond snuggling down into his arms with a yawn. It’s our wedding night and my husband has worn me out. I had to take some medicine because of my hip, but I can tell that I’m getting stronger. “Lennon said to remind you we’re having pancakes tomorrow at Nanny Barb’s.”
“I’m sorry, baby. This is not a very exciting honeymoon.”
“I beg to differ. Tonight was perfect.”
“I wanted to take you away somewhere.”
“We can, eventually. Right now, I think it’s important we include our son in everything.”
“I do, too.”
“Besides, your mom isn’t doing so well.”
“Still no word from my brother?”
“Not a word. It’s been a month now. Jeff’s phone has been disconnected and he never gave us the address of the ranch he was working at in Tennessee.”
“Shit,” he hisses. “I don’t know what to do.”
“She’s planning on flying up there next week to fill out a missing person’s report. It might be good if you go with her.”
“I will. Maybe we can track him down. I don’t understand it. He seemed better when he left here.”
“I know. I’m not sure what’s going on. This isn’t like Jeff at all. Even when he was ghosting me, he still checked in with Barb.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Jake says, and I give him a smile.
“I know we will sweetheart.”
“I think what we both need right now is to get back to our honeymoon,” he suggests with a glint in his eye.
“Okay, but I think it’s only fair to warn you that you’ve worn me out and you may have to do all the work this time.”
“I can deal with that,” he laughs.
Damn, I’ve a very lucky woman…