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Tears fill my eyes. Those are the words I’ve been craving, needing from him. “I can’t live without you either.”
We lie on the bed, talking and talking, filling the gaps of the time when we were apart.
Andrew pulls my head down and brushes his lips against mine. “I don’t ever want to go a day without you. Okay?”
I nod. “Okay.”
Epilogue: Emily
-Six months later
“Who stands for this child?” The priest’s voice fills the church, warm and resonant.
Andrew squeezes my hand, and I step forward with him, my heart swelling. “We do,” we answer together, our voices steady.
It feels like such an honor to stand here as Liam’s godparents, promising to be a part of his life and help guide him.
The love and pride in Jack and Sarah’s eyes as they look at us is overwhelming, and I feel a rush of gratitude to be part of this family.
We’re all bound together in so many ways, and now, Andrew and I are preparing for a new journey of our own.
The ceremony continues, with soft choir music echoing through the church as the priest blesses Liam, dipping his fingers into the holy water and making a small cross on his forehead.
Liam’s wide eyes blink up in wonder, his tiny face the picture of innocence.
I feel Andrew’s hand on my back, rubbing small circles. There’s a sense of calm and warmth around us, a reminder of all that we’ve built and everything we’ve gone through to be here.
After the service, we gather outside in the church courtyard, where laughter and joyful congratulations fill the air.
Friends and family gather around, passing Liam from one set of eager hands to another, his little fingers grasping at anything he can reach. Sarah makes her way over to us, a joyful smile lighting up her face.
“Thank you, both of you, for being here and for agreeing to be Liam’s godparents,” she says, her voice full of emotion. “It means everything to Jack and me.”
Andrew pulls her into a warm hug, his voice soft. “We’re honored, Sarah. Liam is going to be an incredible little boy.”
Sarah glances down at my belly, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “And I can’t wait for Liam to meet his future playmate,” she says with a knowing grin.
My cheeks warm, and I place a hand over my small but growing bump. It’s only been a few months, but the life growing inside me already feels like a miracle.
Andrew’s hand joins mine, resting on my belly with gentle pride.
“We’re looking forward to that, too,” Andrew says, his eyes full of love as he gazes at me. His touch is so protective, so filled with promise, that my heart aches with joy.
If it’s a boy, Andrew and I have agreed to name him Ace, after my father. If it’s a girl, we’ll give her a female variation of the name.
I’m so touched by how determined Andrew is to honor my father. First the Ace Riviera and now our baby.
The hotels have all been renovated and the transformation has breathed new life into each one, blending my father’s vision with Andrew’s modern touches.
After we exchange a few more words with family and friends, I step aside to watch Andrew as he holds Liam, looking so at ease, so ready for the journey ahead as a father.
The sight fills me with warmth, and I can’t help but think of how he will be with our child, his protective nature paired with such tenderness.
My mother has promised to be back in time for our baby’s birth. She rekindled her friendship with her old friends and together, with two widowed women, they’ve been cruising the world.
She sounds happy and settled. It makes me happy to see her enjoying her life again.
Barbara has stepped into my Mom’s shoes and is always there when I need her. She’ll be a wonderful grandmother. She’ll spoil her grandchild, no doubt about that, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Sarah sidles up beside me, following my gaze. “You two have something really special, Emily,” she says softly. “I could see it from the start.”
I nod, my heart swelling. “We’ve been through so much. And somehow, it brought us here.”
As if sensing my thoughts, Andrew looks over, catching my eye with a smile that’s meant just for me. Then he makes his way to where Sarah and I are standing.
He bends down and presses a gentle kiss to my forehead, his love enveloping me. “To family,” he whispers.
“To family,” I whisper back.
The End.