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CHAPTER40
Epilogue - Esme
Three Years Later, Esperance
Pulling into the driveway at home, I killed the engine and took a moment. Today was one of those days at work where I wondered if joining the circus would have been a better career choice. Running a charity for single moms was rewarding, but exhausting. I sighed, reaching for my bag, when a sudden burst of laughter from inside had me smiling. The chaotic symphony of our life.
The day’s tension dissipated as I stepped into the kitchen to hear Wolfe calling from the pantry, “Good timing. Dinner’s almost ready!” He stepped out with a bottle of sauce in his hand, and I burst out laughing. My husband, wearing his ridiculous ‘World’s Okayest Cook’ apron that the kids had given him for Christmas, dusted head-to-toe in white flour.
Still smiling, I reached up on tiptoe to give him a big kiss. “What is going on here?”
“Belle helped me make dessert.” Wrapping his arms around me, he pulled me tight against his floured chest, ignoring my halfhearted protest so he could kiss me properly. My blood was humming when he finally let me go. “Round the kids up, if you like. I’ll serve dinner.”
A delighted shriek interrupted us, and suddenly I was being bear-hugged by Belle. “Esme! After dinner, can we watch that new princess movie?”
From the living room, Tiana’s voice piped up, dripping with pre-teen sarcasm. “Only if Ariel stops trying to make our dog an internet sensation.”
Ariel’s indignant face appeared from around the corner, phone in hand. “For the record, that video of him doing the floss dance was solid gold.”
Laughing, I raised my hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay, movie it is. But let’s have dinner first.”
Our dinner was filled with animated talks, the occasional food fight, and tons of laughter. These moments, surrounded by the kids and Wolfe, filled me with a warmth that was indescribable. It was during these times that I felt like the luckiest woman alive. With dinner winding down and Belle’s movie request granted, I excused myself to go change.
Heading upstairs, the warm sounds of my family faded, replaced by the frantic beating of my heart. Standing in the middle of the main suite, I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to calm my racing heart. There was something I needed to share, and I couldn’t wait a second longer. Taking a shaky breath, I called out, “Wolfe? Can you come up?”
His footsteps were quick, concern clear as he came in and sat down on the edge of the bed. I was too restless to sit, so I stood in front of him, my hands behind my back. “Everything okay?”
“Well…” I started, biting my lip. “You know when we switched from the IUD to the pill?”
He nodded slowly.
“And when I was miserably sick a few weeks back?”
His eyes, filled with growing apprehension, watched me closely. “Yeah… Esme, seriously, you’re freaking me the fuck out. What’s going on?”
Handing him the positive pregnancy test, I held my breath. The seconds dragged on while he stared at it, then he finally lifted his eyes to mine, searching. I loved it so much that his first thought was to check with me. He was well aware that I’d always been adamant about not wanting kids of my own. Having parented my siblings for over half my life, I didn’t think it was something I could handle doing again, from scratch. But Wolfe changed everything. His belief in me and my dreams, his support, his deep and abiding love for me. With him next to me, I could handle anything. And so, “I’m… I’m happy,” I whispered, tears blurring my vision. “I never thought I’d say it, but I really, really want this. I really want to have a baby with you.”
Wolfe pulled me into his lap and I could feel him shaking as he wrapped his arms around me, holding on tight. “God, Esme. I love you so much. And this? It’s like a dream come true.” He kissed me tenderly, and I felt my heart almost burst.
“I love you, too.” We held each other, giving ourselves up to the pure joy of the moment. Until, “Let’s go tell the kids.”
Back downstairs, in the movie room, I cleared my throat, catching their attention. “Guys, before we start the movie, we have a little announcement.”
They all turned, their young faces bright and curious. Wolfe kneeled down and whispered something to Belle. She frowned in adorable confusion. “I’m gonna be an Auntie?”
I looked at Ariel first. Out of all four kids, she was the one who’d had the most understanding of what I’d been through, and how hard I’d tried to protect her from the same fate. She blinked a few times, processing, then her eyes widened. “Wait, do you mean…?”
Tiana frowned as much as Belle did. “What’s going on?”
“You’re having a baby?” Ariel’s voice was tremulous.
I laughed, nodding. “Yes. We’re having a baby.”
Their cheers filled the room, and Florian was the first to jump up and wrap me in a big hug. Belle was next, latching on and bouncing up and down until Wolfe picked her up, laughing because she was really getting too big to be picked up like that. Tiana was already plotting the baby’s future social media fame. And Ariel, with tears in her eyes, simply wrapped me in a tight hug.
Wolfe, his face glowing with happiness, rounded us all up in a group hug. The laughter, the excitement, the sheer joy–it was the most perfect moment. Finally, we settled on the sofas and put the movie on. I curled against Wolfe’s side, letting out a sigh of sheer bliss when he slung his arm over my shoulders. And in that room full of love, we all felt that the newest addition to our family was already very much a part of it.
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