Page 106 of Their Forever Daddy

“I know because he’s been pushing us together since you arrived. Hang on.”

Pulling away, Edie jogged up the stairs. When she returned a few moments later, she was holding what looked like a photograph. “Here.”

Jesse took the photo from her hands, emotion clogging her throat as she stared down at the two of them, wet from a dip in the lake and laughing like they didn’t have a care in the world. “I remember this day,” she whispered, running her fingers over the faded picture.

“I found it in my t-shirt drawer not too long after you first showed up. I kept shoving it to the bottom, under all my clothes, but every time I opened the drawer, it was on top again. To be honest, it was a little forward for Ken, and it freaked me out a bit. But… I think it was his way of telling me to give you another chance. That we belonged together. He never hated you, babygirl, because all that man ever wanted was for me to be happy. And you make me so fucking happy I can hardly stand it.”

A sob burst from Jesse’s chest as she threw her arms around Edie. Daddy joined them, wrapping them both up in his arms as she cried the happiest tears she’d ever cried in her life.

Eventually, the tears dried up, and Edie insisted they head into town for breakfast before she got cranky. Jesse let herself be herded out the front door and down the steps.

But when they got to the car and Daddy tried to open the door, a fierce wind whipped up, slamming the door shut. And as it danced around them, warmer than the early April weather should have allowed, she grinned up at the bright blue sky above her and waved goodbye to Ken.

Ten years after Jesse Walker left Lost River, she was finally getting the happily ever after she thought she’d left behind her. And it was worth every second of the wait.

Epilogue

Five Years Later

* * *

Edie

* * *

“Mommy! Where are you?”

Seated at a picnic table in the backyard of the house she’d once called her own, Edie grinned and shook her head at her babygirl’s antics. “Outside, baby!”

The back door flew open and a moment later three Little girls spilled out onto the patio, a tiny white dog hot on their heels. Jesse, Carly, and Taylor were all giggling madly, and Edie shared a knowing look with Matt.

Their girls were up to something.

Rising from the table, Matt snagged his babygirl around the waist, spinning her around in a move that had her laughter turning to delighted shrieks as she wiggled against his hold. “What are you up to, babygirl?”

Carly’s gasp of outrage was so over the top, Edie had to choke back her laughter. “Daddy! Why do you always assume the worst of me?”

“Maybe because he knows when you’re getting into mischief,” Ian teased from his spot in one of the chairs nearby.

“We are not getting into mischief!” But Taylor’s protest lost some of its effectiveness when she giggled and slapped a hand over her mouth in an attempt to smother the sound.

“Y’all are the worst liars.” Rubbing a hand over her just-barely-noticeable baby bump, Ginny shook her head. “I really should start giving lessons.”

Beside her, Rex laid a hand on the back of her neck, one dark eyebrow raising. “And what exactly have you been lying about, princess?”

“Nothing, Daddy,” she replied, her tone overly sweet. And judging by the way Rex’s eyes narrowed, he’d picked up on it as well.

He leaned down to whisper something in her ear, too quiet for the rest of them to hear. But Ginny’s eyes went wide, and her cheeks turned the same shade of red she’d been after their honeymoon to Fiji.

“Where are Noelle and Dom?” Taylor asked in an obvious attempt to change the subject.

Before anyone could answer, the back door swung open again and Noelle burst through at a surprisingly fast waddle, with her Daddy behind her holding up a pretty white casserole dish. “Macaroni and cheese has arrived! The party can finally begin!” Noelle declared, striking a dramatic pose.

Leave it to Noelle to be as sassy as ever when she looked like she was ready to pop at any moment.

Edie blinked back tears at the sight of her. All her babies were having babies. Matt and Carly had started the ball rolling and now had two of their own, with talk of a third soon. Right smack between their two was Taylor and Ian’s son, and now Noelle and Ginny were going to be popping out their own little miracles within a few months of each other.

And despite living on the other side of the country, Edie hadn’t missed a moment of it. Having not just one but two extremely wealthy partners came in handy for jetting from coast to coast for special events like weddings and births. She’d gotten to hold every single one of her honorary nieces and nephews the day they were born, and so far she’d only missed one birthday party because she’d been on-site with Jesse in Montreal for the movie she’d just finished filming.

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