Page 122 of Bluebird

Epilogue

Luke

Icouldn’t wait to see her. We hadn’t spent a night apart since we sorted our shit out a year ago. I paced back and forth between the rooms of our house until I lost my patience and marched out the front door.

I paused on the veranda, and breathed in the cool night air. Gazing up at her window across the street, like I had done many times growing up, I hoped to get a glimpse of her one more time before bed.

She had always been so unattainable before. Nate’s little sister, country music sensation, and insanely hot. I had been in love with her since we were kids, and somehow, after everything we had been through, she loved me back.

“Miss me?” A beautiful voice surprised me from my nan’s chair swing.

A relieved smile crept over my face as I gazed down at the most gorgeous girl I have ever known. A familiar old woollen jumper swamped her tiny frame, as she sat with her legs tucked up against her chest.

I sauntered over to her. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

Natalie shrugged and smiled. “I think we’re safe for a few more hours.”

I sat down beside her and pulled her legs over my lap. “I need more than a few hours with you, Blue.”

Her cheeks turned pink under the moonlight. “You’re not jinxing our wedding day.”

I groaned in protest as I leant in to kiss her soft lips, but she put her hand up to stop me.

“I have something for you.”

My brows pulled together as I gazed down at the tiny wooden box in her hand.

She drew in her breath and handed it to me with trembling fingers.

“Blue…”

“Just open it, and you’ll see.”

I lifted the lid, and peered inside. In the box lay a silver guitar pick.

The very same bluebird design I had carved into Natalie’s favourite guitar, was engraved into the metal. But there was something else. Something even more intricate. Something that changed everything. Under the original bluebird, was an even tinier one, flying behind it.

I felt every single pound of my heart as I slowly raised my eyes to meet hers. The smile she gave me in that moment was unforgettable. “Are you…?”

Natalie nodded her head with the same expression she wore eight months ago when I asked her to marry me.

Fear surged through my body. “Blue…”

Natalie cupped my face in her hands. “I had an early scan, Luke. Everything is fine.”

I let out a relieved sigh and lifted her onto my lap. She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled my forehead to hers.

“We’re having a baby,” she whispered, softly.

“And everything’s fine? You’re fine?” I asked, searching her eyes for the truth. Natalie’s eyes always told me more than her words.

“Everything is perfect,” she gushed.

“So, this is why you’ve been so tired lately,” I asked, still trying to comprehend the news.

Guilt flickered through her expression. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you straight away.”

I ran my hands down her golden waves, taking in her beauty. “As long as you’re okay, I’m okay.”