Page 20 of Guarded By the Lumberjack
"Wife." I tell her, letting the word bear the full weight of my intentions. "And our children."
"You want kids, Cal?"
"Want 'em with you. Want 'em with you like I never knew I could want a thing."
Hope, or maybe something more like relief, eases her features back into that pretty smile I like so much that I'm planning on making sure it stays there permanently.
"Kinda hoping I knocked you up earlier," I whisper against her ear. "But just in case I didn't, I think we should give it another shot."
This time, Penny doesn't mention the lights at all.
Epilogue 1
Two Months Later
Penny
Harlan had his pilot fly us back to Moonshine Ridge in the helicopter. A helicopter that Calvin tells me costs tens of millions of dollars. But Harlan's not giving up any information about where he got a budget like that.
We caused quite a lot of drama when the thing landed in the high school's practice football field.
For once, the old biddies of Moonshine Ridge have gossip worth gossiping about.
Fortunately, none of that includes any bodies found in the forest on the Paradise Point side of the mountain; thanks to Harlan's men.
As for me and Calvin, things are every bit as good between us as they were when we started out. Better, in fact, without constantly looking over my shoulder, afraid of who might be there.
From what we've learned, my stalker wasn't your ordinary keyboard warrior-- he and his friends liked to act on their delusions. I wasn't their first target, but I will be their last.
We put my house on the market after moving me out. It was a bitter sweet goodbye, but I'm happy for this new beginning with Calvin.
The ring on my left hand sparkles in the sun shining through the kitchen skylights. I really ought to take it off while I'm making the lasagna, but I'm still too excited to see it there.
Almost as excited as I am to see Calvin's face when we get to dessert... if I can wait that long.
I wash my hands, careful to get every trace of cheese and sauce off the two-carat center stone and out of the nooks and crannies of the intricately engraved band.
Calvin wanted to get a me a bigger stone and I had to laugh at him, trying to explain that I actually wanted towearmy engagement ring!
What I did let him spend his money on was outfitting this amazing kitchen with every tool and gadget I've ever drooled over having, and clearing and leveling half an acre of his property so I can continue my gardening.
Although, I did hand my social media and grief support group over to someone else to manage. I'm still active in the community, but from a greater distance. One behind a carefully constructed privacy network so my sexy ex-SEAL husband can stay retired.
After putting the pan of lasagna into the oven and setting the timer, I open the refrigerator and peek into the box of cannolis that I had Phoenix custom make for me.
Cooking is my passion and while I might be able to turn out a decent cake from a box of mix or a couple pans of chocolate chip cookies, pastry is beyond my skill set.
So I went into town and talked to our local source for all things bakery-- who happens to be married to one of Calvin's employees-- and told her what I wanted.
A dozen custard-filled little burritos of deliciousness nestle together in their box, carefully placed in the vegetable drawer where Calvin isn't likely to find them.
Phoenix went above and beyond my expectations, carefully lining each pastry with pink or blue ganache before filling them with custard colored to match.
My husband rarely misses anything and I'm sure the pink and blue desserts are going to be his favorite part of tonight's meal.
...actually, I'm sure I will be.
Epilogue 2
