Page 21

Epilogue

Two years later...

“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” Brenna asked. “You know you’re always welcome to stay with us. I’ve loved being with the boys, and they love Nick.”

Alice stood beside the second-hand SUV she’d purchased with the money Stan had squirled away in a savings account he’d never told her about.

Her sister squared her shoulders. “Now that Mom has passed, and I’ve finished my degree, it’s time I learned to stand on my own two feet.”

“You could do that here,” Brenna suggested, knowing her sister wouldn’t be swayed. “After all the years of trying to get away from my family, I’ve never been happier having them so close.”

“You have Nick. You two are always on the go.” She held up a hand when Brenna opened her mouth to apologize for being gone so much. “It actually worked out for me and the boys. With you and Nick out of the house more than in it, the boys and I didn’t feel like you were tripping over us.”

Brenna touched her sister’s arm. “You, Brandon and Luke were never in the way. In fact, I always looked forward to coming home to the little hugs.” She stared at the boys settling into the backseat of the SUV, rearranging pillows, blankets and toys they’d deemed necessary to entertain themselves through the many hours they’d be on the road over the next couple of days.

“They’ll miss their Aunt Brenna,” Alice said. “You and Nick can come visit Texas. Just give me a few weeks to get settled.” She drew in a deep breath and let it out. “New name, new home and a job.” She laughed. “I feel like I really am starting the rest of my life. Free of a marriage that should never have been, free of strict expectations, free of fear.”

Brenna smiled. “You’re going to be a great teacher.” She laid a hand on her flat belly. “Not that I want to change your mind when you’re so happy about a fresh start, but, I will miss having you around—especially in seven months.”

Alice frowned. “Why seven months?” She stared at where Brenna’s hand rested, and her eyes widened. “Are you…?”

Brenna nodded, a grin spreading across her face.

Alice’s frown returned. “And you’re just now telling me?”

“I didn’t know until this morning.” Brenna couldn’t stop smiling. “You’re the first person besides me who knows.”

Alice pulled Brenna into her arms. “I’m going to be an aunt? Oh, Brenna. I can unpack the car right now.” She pushed away from Brenna and turned to do just that.

Brenna grabbed her sister’s arm. “No. This is something you have to do. You need the fresh start. The boys need it, too. New names will help keep them out of the public eye and give you and them a chance to be happy.”

“But I’ll miss being near my niece or nephew,” Alice said, her eyes filling.

“We’ll visit,” Brenna promised. “I want this baby to know her cousins and her beautiful Aunt Alice.”

“Aunt Elise,” Alice corrected. “I’m still trying to get used to it. Thanks for getting me set up with a new identity. I wouldn’t have known where to begin. And I’m glad it’s so close to the name I grew up with. It’ll make it easier to adjust.”

“Elise Johnson sounds so much like Alice Jensen, you’ll have no problem.” Brenna tilted her head and studied her sister. “Elise suits you. It’s a beautiful name for a beautiful young woman with a full and happy life ahead of her.”

“Thank you,” Alice—Elise said. “I’m still not sure I should leave, now that I know about you. Does Nick know?”

“Know what?” Brenna’s husband appeared behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “Hey, gorgeous.”

“Hey, yourself.” Brenna leaned into his solid frame, her entire body glowing with her newfound knowledge.

Elise grinned and met Brenna’s gaze.

“What don’t I know?” Nick straightened and moved to stand beside Brenna, one arm draped around her waist. “What are you two cooking up?”

Elise snorted. “It’s not what we’re cooking up, it’s what you and Brenna have warming in the oven.” She winked at her sister.

Nick looked from Brenna to Elise and back to Brenna. “I’m not following.”

Elise gave Brenna a pointed look. “Are you going to tell him, or am I?”

“Tell me what?” By now, Nick was frowning.

Brenna cocked an eyebrow. “Cooking…warming…in the oven...”

Nick shook his head. “Still not following. You don’t cook.”

Elise rolled her eyes. “Oh, for the love of?—”

“You’re right. I don’t cook.” Brenna grabbed Nick’s hand and laid it across her belly. “But would the words bun in the oven mean anything to you?”

His brow scrunched together even tighter and then finally exploded in a wide, astonished stare. “Pregnant? You’re pregnant?” He waited for her to respond.

She should her head. “No. We’re pregnant. We’re going to be parents.”

“Holy hell, Brenna. Are you kidding?”

She laughed. “Ask me that in seven months.”

“I’m going to be a father,” he whispered. Then louder, he shouted, “I’m going to be a daddy.” He wrapped his arms around Brenna and swung her off her feet. When he set her back on the ground, he kissed her hard and loud. “I’m going to be a father.”

He turned to Elise and hugged her, too, kissing her on the cheek. “I’m going to be a father.”

She laughed. “Yes, you are.”

Nick stopped and stood stock-still between the two women, his smile sliding from his face along with all the blood. “I’m going to be a father,” he whispered and sank to the ground.

Brenna knelt beside him. “It’s going to be okay.”

“I know,” he said. “It’s going to be better than okay. I just can’t believe it.”

Brenna ran her fingers through his hair. “Breathe, Nick.”

“I’ve never been a father before,” he said.

“You’ve had great practice with Brandon and Luke. You’re going to be so good with a child of your own,” Elise said.

Nick pushed to his feet and pulled Brenna into his arms. “I almost lost you two years ago. You’ve given me your love and now... a child.” He held her close, his strong arms around her. “I’m the luckiest man alive.”

Tears swelled in Brenna’s eyes. “You’ve given me even more. Acceptance, confidence and more love than I could’ve imagined.” She smiled up into his face as tears spilled down her cheeks. “I love you, Nick. And I’ll love our child because it will be a part of both of us.”

Elise sighed. “I know this is your moment, but I really want to be in on this hug.”

Brenna laughed and brushed away her tears. She took a step backward.

Nick held out an arm, and Elise, who’d been through so much, fell into their hug.

Moments later, Brandon and Luke, seeing the hugging happening, scrambled out of the backseat of the SUV and joined them.

Brenna’s heart was so full she didn’t know how it didn’t explode in her chest.

She had it all. A man who loved her and all her scars, a sister who had loved her all her life and two wonderful nephews who would be great cousins to the baby growing inside her.

Life truly didn’t get better than this.