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Epilogue
Seven Years Later
Ryan
“Dad, we’re going to be late again.” Mason pushed an inked hand through his short, red hair, his blue eyes bouncing to the stairs and then back to me where we stood by the front door, waiting to leave.
“Women take time to get ready, Mace. You know that.” I leaned against the door, looking over my oldest son. His bright blue, graduation gown was hanging off his shoulders, his cap was in his hand, and he was dressed in a pair of tan khakis and a button-up shirt. He had turned into a man overnight.
“Jeremy, stop touching my hair!” Kennedy screamed from upstairs followed by her brother’s laughter. He bounded down the stairs in a pair of jeans and a button-down shirt.
“What happened to the pants Mom bought you?” He shrugged and stood beside Mason.
“Didn’t like them.” I rolled my eyes and waited for the girls. Nicky was outside walking Tucker, too busy being glued to his phone to notice that we were late.
Kennedy danced down the stairs a few minutes later, her red curls bouncing with every step. Her green eyes were heightened with a light dusting of makeup. My heart stopped. She was growing up just as fast as Maddi, and I wasn’t ready for that.
“How do I look, Daddy?” She twirled in front of me and then rushed forward to wrap her nimble arms around my stomach.
“Like a princess, sweetheart.” She grinned, showing off her braces. She then fell into conversation with her twin. “Ames, we’re going to be late!” I hollered, cupping my hands around my mouth to gain her attention.
“Don’t rush me!” she screamed back, and Mason started pacing the hallway.
“We’re going to be late for my graduation. At least our names are called last.” Out of all my children, he was the absolute worst at handling stress.
Nicky threw open the front door, and Tucker barged through, just about knocking Kennedy off her feet in his rush to get to his water bowl. “Tuck!” she huffed in annoyance, straightening out her dress and scowling at the panting dog.
“Charlie just texted. He said they’re five minutes away from the school,” Nicky informed us, leaning against the door, his face still glued to his stupid phone.
“They’re going to be there before us!” Mason threw his hands up, looking to me for help.
“You sound like a woman. Relax, man. It ain’t cool.” Nicky pocketed his phone and grinned at his older brother who took a step forward.
“Watch it, dimwit. I have enough time to beat your little punk ass.” Mason walked out of the house, knocking Nicky’s shoulder on his way who stumbled back with a glare.
I finally heard the subtle click of heels on the wood upstairs and knew the women we were waiting for had finally finished getting ready. Looking to the stairs, I watched my oldest daughter take them first, her brows furrowed in concentration as she took each step slowly in the monster heels she insisted on wearing for her twenty-second walk across the stage.
Like Mason, she was dressed in a formal, white dress that brushed the floor with every step. It heightened the color of her red hair, making her look like something out of a mythical forest. She reached the last step, and her blue eyes latched onto mine, a wave of nervousness flashing in them.
“What do you think?” She did a mini twirl like Kennedy, and her red lips curved into a smile.
My little girl is all grown up.
I had to clear my throat, swallowing back the emotion. I tried to stop the thoughts of her leaving and finding a man who she would love more than me. Behind the makeup, I saw the little girl who came to me every time she fell. I saw the girl who used to climb into bed with Amber and me during thunderstorms.
This whole moment was surreal. It couldn’t be real. She couldn’t be graduating high school already. It felt like just yesterday that I was teaching her how to ride a bicycle.
“You’ve turned into such a beautiful, young lady.” Her smile widened, and she blinked away tears.
“You really think so?” I closed the distance between us and pulled her into my arms. She hugged me back just as tightly as she did when she was eight.
“Have you seen your mother? Of course, you are going to be beautiful,” I rasped.
Amber’s light laughter reached my ears. I searched for her, and finally, I saw her at the top of the stairs.
She looked exactly the same as the day I married her. Her red hair was curled, her makeup accenting her vivid, green eyes. Her black dress hugged each and every one of her curves so perfectly.
Maddi stepped out of my embrace with a giggle and shooed her siblings out of the house, muttering that they would be waiting in the car, but I couldn’t take my eyes off my gorgeous wife.
