Page 39 of The Love Comeback (Glaciers Hockey #3)

Epilogue

Ella

Two Years Later…

“Okay, we’ve got this.” Chandra pats my back as she takes in the sight of the decorated table. “It looks amazing.”

I nod, taking in the adoption sign. “He’ll love it.”

“Yes, he will,” Mom chimes from a few feet away. “I’m glad you and Kade decided to adopt Colton. I know it means the world to him.”

My eyes land on the photo beside the cake—the one where Colton’s grinning with pancake batter on his cheek and Kade’s in the background flipping breakfast like it’s a sport.

That was the morning everything shifted. The morning he asked the question that changed all of our lives.

It was just a regular Sunday, just the three of us. Colton was still in pajamas, curled up at the kitchen table, his hair sticking up in every direction as he devoured his pancake.

He’d looked up to Kade mid-bite, fork in hand, and asked, “So… now that you’re married, if you adopted me … would that make me yours?”

My heart caught. Kade froze at the sink, dish towel in hand.

“You’re already ours,” Kade said, his voice steady but soft.

“But I want it to be real,” Colton said after a pause. “The papers. The name. All of it.”

I’d walked over, knelt beside him, and said, “Then we’ll make it real, sweetheart. As real as it gets.”

I smile at the memory before turning back to Mom.

“It’s the easiest decision we’ve ever made,” I tell her.

“And Kade and I will make sure he never forgets Katie and Brett’s legacy.

” I let out a breath, feeling an overwhelming sense of emotion.

We’ve already celebrated Colton’s adoption, just the three of us.

Today is about celebrating with everyone we know and love.

“Yeah, and this gives us a chance to celebrate you and Kade, too, since, you know, you had to run off and elope instead of letting us see you walk down the aisle in a white gown.” Mom’s memory is on point today, and I smile even though she’s picking on me .

“You got to see pictures,” I say, shrugging. “We just couldn’t wait for some huge wedding. Eloping in Mexico was right for us, and I’m so glad we did. It was amazing.”

“Oh, I’m sure.” Chandra giggles. “I bet it was a beautiful oceanside wedding—and Colton was there, so that’s all that matters.”

“Yeah, but he was busy looking for sharks,” I add, just as my stomach churns with nausea. I catch my breath, my hand flying up to cover my mouth. This secret has been the toughest one to hide.

Even from Kade.

“I’ll be right back,” I say, trying not to lose my breakfast. I pick up my pace, jogging to the bathroom off the main dining room where the table is set up. I push the door open and rush to the toilet, dropping to my knees in my dress. I lose everything I’ve eaten this morning.

I sigh, reaching out and hitting the handle to flush it down. When I lean back, I startle, noticing my mother standing in the doorway. “Sorry,” I say quickly. “Breakfast just didn’t settle right.”

“Uh huh,” Mom hums, stepping in and closing the door. “I think there’s something you’re not telling me. I might have some memory issues, Ella Louise, but I am not stupid. I know the signs… How many weeks are you?”

I breathe in deeply. “Um, I’m eleven weeks. I found out when we finished the adoption paperwork for Colton, and I didn’t want to tell them. I thought it would be fun to surprise them with the announcement at the party.”

“I bet it’s going to be a girl.”

“What?” I grab for a tissue, wiping my nose.

“I think it’s a girl,” she repeats. “I know Colton hasn’t stopped talking about getting a baby brother, but I bet it’s going to be the cutest little, brown-eyed baby girl in the entire world. Kade and Colton will be absolutely smitten with her.”

“Well, I had no idea you were a psychic.” I giggle, shaking my head at her. “But we’ll know soon enough. I opted to get the blood test that tells me the gender. I haven’t looked at it yet, though. I’m planning to hand the envelope to Colton and Kade today.”

“No gender reveal party?”

“I think it’d be more fun to do this way,” I say with a smile. It took some extra planning to make it all work, but honestly, I think Colton will love getting to be the one who reads the gender.

Especially if it’s a boy.

“You know your family best,” Mom hums, reaching out and pulling me into a hug.

She squeezes me, though not too tightly, and then plants a kiss on the side of my head.

“I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become.

You’re an amazing wife to Kade and an amazing mother to Colton.

I know how happy Katie would be to see you in this role. ”

I nod, swallowing past the lump in my throat as the tears start to roll down my cheeks. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too.” She gives me one last squeeze and then releases me.

Kade’s voice carries through the house. I straighten and wipe the tears from my cheeks. This has been the hardest secret to keep from my boys, and now that it’s time to share it, I’m bursting at the seams with anticipation.

“Mom!” I hear Colton’s voice above all the others as I exit the bathroom. “Where are you?”

I step out into the hallway, just as Colton pops his head in the opening. “Hey honey, I’m right here. Are you okay?”

He gives me a huge grin and then comes running to hug me. “I made the school hockey team!”

“Congratulations!” I wrap my arms around him and kiss the top of his head. “I’m so proud of you.” As I release him, Kade appears, mirroring Colton’s excitement.

“I take it he told you?” Kade heads toward us, his expression full of pride.

“He did,” I say, ruffling Colton’s hair. “It’s something to be proud of.”

“Yes, it is,” Kade confirms, wrapping an arm around my waist. “It’s all that hard work he’s put into it.”

“I agree.” I reach up and peck Kade’s cheek. I breathe in his familiar scent and then pull away to usher them into the dining room, where the crowd of our closest friends and family gathers for the celebration.

I press my hand to my belly, the anticipation building like a pent-up breath.

Colton wanted forever, and we gave it to him.

And today, I get to tell him—he’s getting something else he asked for, too.

Kade

My heart soars as Colton opens the gifts that family has brought for him. My parents are all smiles, and Nate and my new sister-in-law Mallory stand hand in hand. Valerie and Aaron aren’t far behind. The team also files into the back. This is a big day.

And Colton needs to see just how much we all love him.

Near the back of the room, Colton’s grandparents from his dad’s side watch quietly, hands clasped, smiles soft. They flew in from across the country for today—just wanting to be here to support their grandson.

We haven’t seen much of them over the years, but they’ve always remembered birthdays and holidays, sending postcards with handwritten notes. When Ella called them to share the news about Colton’s desire for adoption, they didn’t hesitate.

“We know we’re not part of his everyday life,” his grandfather said. “But we’d like to be there to honor the moment. And his parents.”

Colton slipped away from the group earlier to give them each a hug.

His grandfather pulled him in with a quiet, “Brett would be proud,” while his grandmother cupped his face and said something that made his eyes shine.

I didn’t catch the words, but I caught the weight of them.

Love. Loss. Gratitude. It was all there.

They don’t say much, but there’s a quiet steadiness in the way they’re here—present, supportive in their own way. The kind of presence that doesn’t ask for anything but somehow gives everything that matters.

Family comes in layers. Past and present. Joy and memory. And somehow, today, it all fits.

Colton was family to me before I signed the adoption papers, and honestly, he was family to me before I ever put a ring on Ella’s finger. However, now it’s official.

And I couldn’t possibly be any happier.

“Congrats.” Nate slaps a hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze as Colton begins to open up his last present.

“Thank you,” I say, looking over at him. “Congrats to you, too.” I nod toward Mallory, who’s now almost eight months pregnant. “Won’t be long until your little girl will be here. ”

“Can’t come soon enough,” Mallory groans, rubbing her back. “I swear I have more back pains than a one-hundred-year-old lady. It’s absolutely ridiculous.”

“Well, it’ll only get worse,” Addy says, holding Benny, she and Blaze’s baby boy. “And then finally, when it happens, you start to find yourself missing the moments of pregnancy.”

“Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to happen for me,” Mallory mutters. “If anything, I just think that I’ll be lucky to make it out of this thing without any permanent damage.”

“Oh, there will definitely be some of that.” Addy giggles and then squeezes her little man tightly. “But it’s totally worth it.”

I smile at the two of them, my mind filling with the image of Ella and a baby wrapped in blankets.

We’ve been not not trying for almost a year now, and nothing has come of it.

I’m still trying not to get my hopes up, and Ella and I have already decided that we’ll consult with a doctor next summer if we can’t get pregnant.

“Everyone.” A voice catches my attention, and I look up to see Ella standing at the front of the dining room. “I have one more announcement I need to make before we start dishing out the cake.”

I furrow my brow in confusion.

Did someone park in the grass again?

Do we really need to repeat that lecture to everyone?

“ Oooh , I’m so excited.” Valerie squeals from behind me—and subsequently, Ella shoots her a warning glare .

Okay, this is weird.

“I need Kade and Colton to come up here.” Ella’s gaze finds mine, and she waves me over.

I keep a smile on my face, but now I’m really confused. “Okay, honey.”

“Right here,” she tells Colton and me, gesturing for us to stand directly to the side of her. She turns to face us. “I have something for the two of you. Kade will open the first envelope.” Ella fishes two out of her sweater pocket. “Colton, you will open the second. Deal?”

“Deal,” we both say in unison. I glance down at Colton, who looks equally as confused as me. He clearly is not in on whatever his mother has planned.

“So, I go first?” I say, taking the small envelope from her hand. It’s the size of a greeting card, though I don’t totally understand why she would be getting me a card since this day is about Colton.

But okay.

I carefully open it, realizing that it’s not a card at all. It’s a photo. I pull it out, my heart instantly jumping in my chest as I take in the sight of the tiny little bean on the ultrasound picture.

“Is this…” My voice trails off as the emotion building in my throat cuts off my ability to speak.

“Yes,” Ella says softly. She meets my gaze. “I wanted to make it so special for the two of you, so I decided to wait until the party. ”

“Wait…” Colton’s voice drops. “Is that … is that a baby ?”

“It is,” I choke out, handing the picture to Colton. I struggle to maintain my composure as the tears fill my eyes. I reach for Ella, pulling her to me. “We’re gonna have a baby.”

“We’re gonna have a baby!” Colton explodes with excitement, holding out the picture for everyone to see. The whole room bursts into applause, and Colton wraps his arms around Ella and me. “I’m finally getting a sibling! This is the best day ever .”

“We’re not quite done,” Ella says, her voice cracking with emotions. “There’s still one more envelope to open.”

“What’s in it?” I pull away slightly, but still keep my arm around Ella. “Another picture?”

“No,” Ella answers and then turns to Colton. “The gender of the baby is in the envelope, and since you’re the big brother, I think it’s fair that you get to know first.”

I squeeze her waist, touched by the thoughtfulness she’s put into this, and plant a kiss on the top of her head.

“Go ahead,” I urge, squeezing his shoulder with my free hand. “Open it.”

Colton takes a deep breath and turns to Ella. “Do you know what it is?”

“No,” Ella says, a big smile growing on her face. “You’re going to be the very first to tell us.”

Colton nods, and his demeanor takes on one of importance. He straightens, then opens the envelope as carefully as I did mine and pulls the card out. His eyes widen, and he looks up at me.

“What is it?” My heart pounds.

“I can’t believe it.” Colton immediately starts to cry. “This is the best day of my life.” He swats the tears away, and I can barely contain my composure as the need to know builds in my chest.

“What is it?” Ella’s voice breaks.

Colton looks up at us, tears streaming down his face. “A girl. I get to have a baby sister.”

I pull him into me, breaking down in tears myself. “You’re right. This is the best day ever.”