Page 108 of Moonlight & Matrimony
“Be my guest,” I say with a shrug.
Luca: I was aiming for New Year’s.
Paige: WAS?
I pull up the photo of the ultrasound I saved on my phone. Taking a deep breath, I send it off to the group chat. Luca squeezes my hand. It’s still a bit early to share the news, but this is my family. The ones I chose, not the ones that were given to me, then promptly left me behind. I don’t want to wait.
Cara: OMG
Dean: Congrats y’all.
Miles: Hell yeah! I’m $50 richer.
Cade: On a technicality.
Liam: I’m don’t think the bet is valid if the couple in question jumped the gun.
Miles: Buzzkill
We lock eyes across the truck, bursting into a fit of laughter. In the last week, something shifted for the better. It feels like we’re finally standing on solid ground. There’s still a modicum of uncertainty around where we go from here, and we still need to talk about that concrete slab out at Whispering Oaks. But beneath the unanswered questions is a love I didn’t know my heart needed.
The car is still idling in the driveway as Luca intertwines our fingers. “Let’s go get our girl,” he says. Backing out just as swiftly as he pulled in, Luca drives us out to the cabin to find Rylin.
“Eight weeks is still very early. I don’t want to tell Rylin until we’re safely in the second trimester.”
“Whatever you want, sweetheart. I’ll follow your lead.”
“Ok.” I let out a sigh of relief. I’m so used to having to tread carefully with Austin that the easy relationship with Luca is a shock to my system. But it feels good to know we’ll both be navigating unfamiliar waters for the next 8 months. I need to get used to having a true partner and sharing the load, and Luca needs to tamp down his protective instincts and try not to treat me like spun glass while also learning about pregnancy and fatherhood. We’re a perfect match, as far as I’m concerned.
A wave of gratitude washes over me, not for the first time. If this life has taught me anything, it’s that maybe you can’t have it all, but you can haveenough. And right now, enough is everything to me.This life is everything to me.
Epilogue
Luca
? Forever - Noah Kahan
Ariot of nerves courses through me as I stare over at my very pregnant wife, her stunning red gown pulled tight against her bump as she cradles our daughter. The sun is setting, casting a golden glow over the park as Paige waves me over to the large oak tree. She directs us into several positions, mimicking our wedding photos from almost a year ago.
So much has changed in the last seven months. Rylin attends weekly therapy sessions masked as riding lessons with Evelyn and she’s thriving. She doesn’t talk about her dad, and we don’t push her to. Austin is exactly where he belongs — in the past. Everything we’ve accomplished since his death is a testament to the hard-fought journey and the strength it took to get to this place of peace and contentment. Ivy and Rylin have taught me that even when people leave, the right ones will always find their way back.
“Give me a second. I need to change my memory card,” Paige says. And that’s my cue.
As Ivy smooths down her gown, paying no attention to me, I take that moment to drop onto one knee. The clicks of Paige’s shutter sound off behind me as I glance up at my wife.
“Luca, what are you doing?”
Rylin squeals in the distance, and Ivy’s eyes crinkle with her gorgeous unrestrained smile. The scars are still there, but we’re healing, and fuck, is it beautiful to watch her bloom.
“I want to do it right this time. I want to do this, not out of some deep-seated need to keep you safe, but because I love you wholly, completely, and relentlessly. I’m not perfect, but I believe we can be perfect together, if you’ll have me. Ivy Jo, will you marry me… again?”
Ivy cups my cheeks, kissing me softly so as not to smudge her red lipstick. “Yes,” she says, her voice a little choked. I slide a smaller band of diamonds onto her finger above the family heirloom that rests there. “Fourth time’s a charm, I guess.” A chorus of laughter erupts as I reach my hand into my pocket and turn to face my next task.
“And you, my little bug. You’ve held my heart in the palm of your tiny hand from the moment you sat down on my tree swing. I can’t imagine my life without your light guiding the way. Rylin Jade — will you be my daughter?”
“Does that mean I can call you daddy? Just like my sister?”
Fuck, I swore I wasn’t going to cry. I look around at our gathered friends, not a single dry eye — though Miles is clearly doing his best to hide behind his aviators.
