Page 54 of The Good Girl Effect (Salacious Legacy #1)

Jack

Two years later

“ I ’m so excited,” Bea says, bouncing in the seat next to me.

A smile stretches on my face as I reach across the back seat and take her hand in mine. She’s beaming as she wiggles in her seat.

I still can’t believe this is happening. Again.

I don’t know what I did to deserve a life like this. I didn’t know if I would ever find happiness like this again. I was consumed by grief for so long it felt like I was frozen in a block of ice for years. Camille came into my life and brought the warmth that thawed me.

When the car comes to a stop, Bea practically bursts out the door while it’s still moving.

“Slow down, Bea,” I say as I climb out after her. Chasing her up to the front door, I grab her hand and force her to walk slowly by my side.

“How do I look?” she asks with a giggle. She’s in a crushed red velvet dress with a white collar and a black beret. She’s been obsessing over today’s outfit for months.

“He won’t care how you look,” I reply. “But for the record, you look beautiful.”

“First impressions are important,” she says, and it makes me laugh.

As we make our way down the long hall, my own heart picks up speed. After so long, this is finally happening. The moment we’ve been anticipating for nearly a year.

When we reach room number 17, I press the door open slowly to ensure Camille is ready. I notice my sister first with bloodshot eyes as if she’s been crying. Then I nod at my dad, leaning against the wall, with my mother on one side and my youngest sister, Scarlett, on his other.

Then I find Camille. She and I make eye contact, and to my surprise, she looks nervous. My heart nearly explodes with love. To me, she’s never looked more beautiful.

“We’re ready,” she says before biting her lip.

In the chair by the window, my mom is sitting with her phone aimed at the door, ready to catch Bea’s reaction.

I push it open the rest of the way, and my daughter enters the room, cautiously looking around.

Then she spots the baby lying in his mother’s arms, bundled in a soft white baby blanket and knit yellow hat on his head.

Bea presses her hands to her face as she approaches him.

“Ready to meet your little brother?” Camille asks with tears in her eyes.

Bea nods.

My wife scoots over to make room, and I lift Bea onto the mattress beside her. Everyone snaps pictures as Camille sets the newborn in his sister’s arms. Bea smiles down at him like she’s never been happier in her life.

Again, my eyes find Camille’s. It’s like looking into the sun. She is so stunning in this moment, I can hardly take it. My wife. The mother of my son. The stepmother of my daughter. The glue that holds this family together.

There are times when the fear that I’ll lose her like I lost Em comes creeping back in. Thoughts that threaten to tear me away from this life, but I’ve grown stronger. I can handle whatever is thrown our way. I’ve crawled out of the darkness once. I can do it again.

But today is not that day. Today, there is nothing but light and love. My family is all in one room. My children are surrounded by love. What could be better than this?

Camille wraps an arm around Bea and snuggles her close to her side. Then she kisses the side of her head as Bea strokes her baby brother’s cheek.

“He’s so cute,” she says. “Tristan Laurent St. Claire.”

She’s been practicing his full name for weeks.

Laurent, of course, after Camille’s father.

“We’re going to be best friends, Tristan,” Bea whispers, making Camille blink tears down her cheeks.

When I hear a sniffle, I turn to find my own sister dabbing at her cheeks. “Don’t get too sentimental on me,” I say, but she simply rolls her eyes.

“Whatever. I am not,” she replies with a tsk .

“What’s wrong, Lizzie?” our dad asks. “You don’t want kids someday?”

“God no,” she replies before glancing back at Bea and the baby. “No offense.”

“None taken,” Bea replies, making everyone laugh.

Everyone snaps pictures and makes small talk for a while until Tristan starts to fuss. I take him from Bea’s arms, and she pouts when she realizes she can’t hold him anymore.

“We should get going,” my mother says as she places a hand on my shoulder.

“You four need some family time together.” As she looks down at my son, she gently touches his brows with adoration in her eyes.

“I remember the day you were born,” she whispers.

“It was just you and me in a hospital room like this one. I was scared out of my mind, but you turned out all right.” With a smile, she ruffles my hair like I’m still a kid.

Then she kisses my cheek. “Enjoy this moment because it goes by in a flash.”

“I love you, Mom,” I say.

“I love you too,” she replies.

After saying goodbye, Scarlett, Elizabeth, and my parents leave the four of us alone. As soon as the door shuts, I glance over at the girls on the bed. They’re cuddling and smiling at me.

“Scoot over,” I say. They quickly make room as I take a seat next to them with Tristan in my arms. When he cries some more, I hand him to Camille so she can nurse him.

Bea nuzzles herself under my arm, and I kiss the top of her head. It feels like the entire world exists in this bed. Everything that matters in the world is right here.

To think none of this would have happened if Camille had never opened that book.