by S. Herrera
Emmy is supervising her younger siblings and cousins by sitting in a lawn chair in the middle of all the action. Her little sister Madison is right next to her, trying to act like her but desperately wanting to play.
They have all grown up so quickly, it's hard to remember a time when they were small, or even a time before they were around.
“Mommy, Mommy!” Lucy, our daughter, comes running up the stairs of the deck. I crouch down so that I can catch her when she throws herself into my arms. “Easton won't let me and Bella chase Grace around the yard.”
I hold onto her tightly and stand with her in my arms. “Oh, sweet girl. He is just trying to be a good brother. You wouldn't want Easton chasing Jude around the yard, would you?”
“No, I'd kick him.” Her pout quickly turns to a scowl at the thought of her little brother.
“Exactly. So why don't you and Bella just chase each other.” I lower Lucy down until her feet touch the ground. She barely has time to yell out, “Yes, Mommy!” before she is halfway down the stairs.
My heart warms and my cheeks hurt from smiling as I watch her run back to her cousins. Easton, Bella, and Lucy are all six. Charlotte and Everly were pregnant at the same time, giving birth only two months apart, the month before we went to Ireland and the month after. But Lucy, she came to Wyatt and me a little differently.
While in Ireland, we eloped in a private and mostly symbolic ceremony on the Cliffs of Moher. With the view of the sea and waves crashing in the background, it was a gorgeous dream come true. Then, we spent the rest of our time in a romantic little inn on the cliffside.
Of course, when we got home, our friends and family were happy for us, but also insisted we have a ceremony at home. They helped us plan a small, legal ceremony at the cabin a few weeks later. Though we still celebrate the day we eloped in Ireland as our anniversary. It will be six years next week.
It wasn’t long before we started to discuss the possibility of kids and growing our family. My outlook on being a mom had changed while watching my nieces grow, but I just knew that I wasn’t going to become a mom the traditional way. When the topic of adoption came up, Wyatt was on board right away. We both felt like it was what we were meant to do.
We started the long process, and almost immediately after we finished, we were blessed with Lucy. She was two years old, a sweet little girl with mousy brown hair and green eyes. And though she isn’t our blood, she has all our best qualities. Lucy is fierce like her mama and loyal like her daddy.
Her little brother came to us two years later as a newborn. Jude is Lucy’s half-brother, and we were thrilled when our adoption agency contacted us, asking if we would be interested in taking him in. Of course, we jumped at the opportunity to give Lucy a sibling. It was just a bonus they share the same birth mother.
Jude, with his blue eyes and dirty blonde hair, is our sweet little monster. He is running all over the place causing trouble one minute, then asking for cuddles the next. Having him from birth was a very different experience than we had with Lucy, but we wouldn’t trade it for the world. We’ve decided to stop at two for now, at least until Jude and Lucy are a bit older.
“Earth to Sawyer.” Everly says, coming up beside me bouncing and rocking their son Beau on her shoulder. “What are you thinking so hard about?”
“Just how lucky we are to have our families.”
“Yeah. We sure are, aren’t we?” She cradles a half sleeping Beau in her arms and stares down at him with such admiration.
Beau wasn’t supposed to happen. My brother and Everly were done after having three girls, the last one being Bella, a mini-me of my brother. She gives them a run for their money every single day with her lack of filter and stubbornness that knows no bounds. But little Beau had other plans. He was meant to be in this family, and they couldn’t be happier with the addition, even unexpected as it was.
Charlotte walks out onto the deck holding a pink and purple birthday cake decorated with ponies for Grace. “Isn’t that a lovely view?”
I follow her eyes to where the guys are standing around the grill with beers in hand. Knox is flipping burgers and warning Bella not to throw another water balloon at Madison.
Just then Grace runs up to Wren and he bends down, letting her place a plastic tiara on his head. He couldn't be happier.
This is his first season not playing baseball. He retired this last year right after his team won their second World Series. As much as he loved baseball, he has always loved Charlotte—and now their children—more. He said it was time to be home every night with his family, and now works at the agency with me and Knox.
And then there's Wyatt, my husband. The man I never thought I deserved. The man that changed my entire life and gave me two beautiful children.
Jude is asleep in Wyatt's arms, his sweet little face pressed to his dad's shoulder without a worry in the world.
I wouldn't trade this life I've been blessed with for anything else. It's the happily ever after I never thought would be mine.
I have to make two trips, packing sleeping kids covered in dirt and frosting inside the house. When we got back from Ireland and discussed starting a family, we bought a house in the same neighborhood as Knox and Everly. Which was also the same neighborhood as Wren and Charlotte.
Over the years we have stayed very close knit and get to raise our kids together the same way our parents did. We might not be in our small hometown, but we visit our parents often.
I pack Jude upstairs and place him in bed while Sawyer tucks Lucy in. Then I watch from the doorway as she comes in and places a kiss on his forehead. Tucking the blankets up tight around his shoulders. Whispering promises of Star Wars in the morning if he stays in his bed all night.
Just a few weeks ago Lucy taught her little brother the right buttons to press to turn on his favorite movies. Since then, Sawyer has woken up nearly every night to the TV blaring and Jude sitting on the couch watching his movie.
She turns around, coming toward me, and I step out into the hallway as she leaves the door open just a crack. I grab ahold of her hand and lead her downstairs to the kitchen. Pulling out a glass and her favorite bottle of white, I pour her a glass and grab myself a beer. Leaning forward and resting my elbows on the island, I wait.
This is our nightly routine, meeting in the kitchen, having a drink and catching up with each other. Sometimes it's wine and beer, other times it Diet Coke.
“I love you.” Her words are so soft and loving, that I pop my head up to look at her.
“I love you, too. Is everything okay?” My wife is always telling me that she loves me, but there is something in the way she is looking at me.
She laughs in response to my worry. “Yes. Everything is perfect. You and I have created this wonderful life together, and I just can't get over it. And I hope that I never do. I want to wake up every day with you and wonder how I got so lucky.”
Coming around the counter, she wraps her arms around my waist, hugging me tightly and resting her head against my heart…exactly where she belongs.
Sawyer Coleman was never supposed to be my girl, but I made her mine all the same.
THE END
acknowledgements
I would like to start by saying THANK YOU for taking a chance on me as a new author and reading my first series. I hope you have fallen in love with this crew as much as I have and are happy with how the series ended.
Delaney – My ATTA…if it weren’t for you, this book might have never happened. This book has been a true labor of love and I am so grateful that you have been with me every step of the way. You understood how important it was that Wyatt & Sawyer’s story was told just right and pushed me to make it the best it could be. Thank you! I would never trade our whiskey nights and coffee fueled workdays for anything.
You win!
A big thanks to the husband, I know this book had me keeping crazy hours, and I appreciate you for your patience… Because this our life now. I said the same thing last time, bu
t this really is our life now… Thank you for being so supportive of my dreams, even when that means that you have to do the dishes!
To my family, thank you so much! Without you and your support none of this would be possible. It means everything to know you guys are behind me!
Helena – I love your dedication to the series and all your feedback, especially where Wyatt & Sawyer are concerned. Thank you for loving my characters and all of your support! I love having you on my team!
Alicia – I’m grateful for your support! You’ve been with us the entire way and I will always appreciate you!
And to the rest of my ARC team, thank you! You guys have been wonderful!
Kate –Thank you for allllll the things. Especially another gorgeous cover!!!
Juliana – Thank you for making the inside just as pretty as the outside. You take things to a whole new level and I’m in love!
Beth – Thank you so much for working with me and my schedule for this book. And for introducing me to all of the wonderful authors in our group!
A BIG thanks to Anything Bookish!
about the author
S. Herrera developed a love for books early in life, reading anything she could get her hands on. Since then, her love grew to include a passion for writing her own stories. Growing up in small town America and marrying her high school sweetheart helped give her some inspiration to pen her first series, Always, Maybe, Never.
S. currently resides in Oregon with her husband, two daughters, and three dogs. After a typical day of wrangling kids, folding laundry and making dinner, you can usually find her reading or writing with a cup of tea or the occasional glass of whiskey because sometimes life just calls for something stronger.
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