All Consuming
Page 28
“How about we make those plans together?” she asked.
He smiled down at her, and she lost herself in that look of warmth and love in his eyes.
“I like that idea a lot.”
She laid her head on his chest and knew that right here was all she would ever need.
EPILOGUE
TWO YEARS LATER
Kal snuck into the kitchen to grab a beer, then turned to watch the melee that was his living room.
This place was a madhouse.
Then again, that’s how the Donovans rolled. Especially these days when they all got together as a family. It was general mayhem and he loved it.
Kal was glad that he and Hannah had talked it out and agreed on a bigger house. Not only did they want to have more kids soon, but they knew they were going to need a lot of space whenever the whole family came over. So the oversize family room had been the best choice. Not that they hadn’t argued about houses for at least three months before they’d decided on this one. And, okay, this one had been Hannah’s favorite. Oliver loved the pool out back, plus there was plenty of yard space for a dog, which they’d gotten almost immediately. Lucy, their golden retriever, was out back running amok with Jackson and Becks’s dog, Edgar, the two of them having the best time. And now that the entire Donovan clan had expanded as much as it had, Kal knew this house had been the best option. He had a feeling there’d be more family gatherings at all their houses over the warmer months.
Plus, Kal really liked having a pool.
It was their turn to host Christmas Eve this year, and as Kal looked around, he realized how much had changed in a couple short years.
Jackson and Becks had added to their family by fostering three kids, all siblings. Jose, Grace and Mirai were now a part of the Donovans. Wild hellions all of them, too, and the whole family adored them. The older two were fourteen and Mirai was eleven, and they kept Jackson and Becks on their toes, but God, it was great to see those kids thriving with foster parents who loved them. He couldn’t imagine Jackson and Becks ever giving those kids up. Official adoption plans were already in the works.
Dad was currently carrying eight-month-old James in his arms, showing him all the lights on the tree. James was the spitting image of Rafe, except he had Carmen’s eyes. Carmen’s grandfather, Jimmy, was here tonight as well, along with his wife, Felicia. Jimmy was doing better than ever these days, which made Kal really happy.
Even Hannah’s mom had found love again with Nate Anderson, a local painter, her brunch date who’d turned out to become the second love of her life. They’d gotten married six months ago in a simple garden ceremony. Kal hadn’t seen Paige this happy since before Hannah’s dad had died. Both he and Hannah were so thrilled for her.
And his parents had become the happiest, most doting grandparents to all the kids, including Oliver. After Kal and Hannah had gotten married last year, and Landon had finally agreed the best thing for Oliver would be for him to legally give up his parental rights, Kal had petitioned to adopt Oliver. It had taken long conversations with Oliver about the whys and hows of it, but he loved that boy, and Oliver loved him, too. Kal wanted to make sure that it was what Oliver wanted as well. But now Oliver was going to be a Donovan forever. His son. Just the thought of it made him smile. It probably always would.
“What are you doing?” Hannah came over and put her arms around him.
“Just admiring the view.” He looked out over the family, watching as they all enjoyed one another, the food and drinks, the kids.
“I know. It’s like a miracle, isn’t it?”
He put his arm around her. “Sure is. Did I mention to you how lucky I am?”
She tilted her head back and smiled. “Every day. But I’m the lucky one.”
He turned to look at her. “Yeah? How do you figure that?”
“Because I went to our ten-year high school reunion, and managed to snag the hottest, kindest, smartest guy there. Who ended up loving me, marrying me and becoming the father of my children.”
He pulled her close and hugged her. “Aww, babe. Thank you.”
Then he drew back. “Wait. You said children.”
She smiled wide. “Yes. Children. Plural.”
He looked down at her belly, then back up at her. “We’re pregnant?”
“Well, I don’t know if you are, but I definitely am.”
He’d already been filled with so much joy he could hardly contain himself. But this? This was . . . damn. Almost more than he could take. He picked her up in his arms and twirled her around the kitchen.
She laughed. “Put me down.”
He did, then he kissed her.
“We have to keep it a secret for now,” she said. “Just between us.”
He nodded. “Okay. But can I tell you that I love you?”
“Every day. Every hour, if you’d like.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’ll do that.”
He was going to be a father—again. Oliver was going to be an amazing big brother. He was growing up so fast. Becoming smarter, kinder, and utterly amazing every day.
Kal couldn’t wait to see the new life he and Hannah had created.
He sighed and smiled and put his arm around his wife as they reentered the family fray.
Jaci Burton is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of the Brotherhood by Fire series, the Boots and Bouquets series, the Play-by-Play series, the Hope series and the Wild Riders series, and the coauthor of several anthologies with Lora Leigh.
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