AllFreeNovel
Share Us
EPILOGUE
JACKSON
5 Years Later
I can’t take my eyes off my wife. How she has gotten more beautiful over the years, I’ll never understand. She's smiling and watching our son on the little planes that go around in a circle.
Her hand travels to her stomach. The small bump is barely noticeable. It popped out quickly this time. Paisley loves being pregnant. That might be a good thing, since this is going to be our third boy, and I know she still wants a little girl. I’ll keep her knocked up as much as she wants. I’ll add a whole other floor to our home if need be. There’s nothing more sexy than seeing her belly swollen with our child.
“I think we’re going to head out.” My dad comes to stand next to me. I'm waiting in line to get Paisley another corn dog. She told me she was only coming to the fair for food. I was making sure that she got every bit that she wanted. I’ll stand in a thousand lines if it makes her happy. It’s the least I can do.
“All right.” I look around for my mom. She has my other son. Both of the boys are going home with them tonight. They enjoy spending time with their grandparents, and as much as I love my boys, I also enjoy spending time alone with my wife.
“Here you go, sir.” The young girl behind the counter hands over the corn dog.
“Thanks.” I drop a tip in the jar.
“Shit,” my dad mutters. My head jerks up, my eyes going straight to my wife. “Jackson.”
“Hold this.” I hand him the corn dog.
I swear, I can't be away from my wife for even two seconds without someone sniffing around her. The locals know better. Some of them are already watching, anticipating what will happen. They all get a kick out of it.
As pissed as I get, I can’t blame the fuckers. Paisley might love small-town living, but she still enjoys getting herself dolled up. She is more often than not dressed in strappy sandals or heels. Hell, her sneakers are typically covered in jewels or butterflies. My wife gravitates toward anything that sparkles or shines. I never paid attention to what people wore until her. It works for her, but everything about Paisley works for me.
I can see her trying to avoid the young man in cowboy boots who is attempting to talk to her. She glances around. I’m not sure if she is trying to find me in fear for the man's life or for me to save her. I’m sure it’s the latter. When her eyes land on mine, they widen. She knows exactly how this is about to go down. We have had more than a few incidents in Backwoods Brew. Even after I got her to quit that job.
I’m about to ask the dumb fuck if he doesn’t see the giant ring on her finger or the small bump on her, but my son beats me to it. He comes barreling in between my wife and cowboy boots. He’s only four, but you’d guess him to be six or seven. The kid is easily going to be my size.
He puffs out his chest, as protective of his mom as I am. I guess all of us Graysen men are that way.
“Princess,” I call out when I’m almost to them. Cowboy boots steps back, and his head swings my way. He quickly backs up another few feet.
“Sorry, man,” he blurts out before taking off. Paisley fights a laugh, not wanting to encourage my behavior, but I know deep down she eats it up. Thankfully. Growing up, my girl lacked the attention and love she deserved. I make sure I shower it down on her. There will never be another day in her life that she doesn’t feel wanted or loved. Not while I’m still breathing, anyway.
It amazes me that the way she was treated by her parents doesn’t stop her from having a pure heart. She could have given me the all-clear to destroy her family, but all she wanted was to be free of them. Since then, they haven't bothered her.
I know it must make her sad sometimes to think they’ll never have a relationship with their grandbabies, but that’s their doing. Having Luka back in her life also helps soften that blow. Luckily, my parents are able to fill some of that void for Paisley as well. She and my mom are thick as thieves.
“I had it, Daddy.”
“I know you did.” I rest my hand on his shoulder.
“Where is my corn dog?” Paisley’s bottom lip puffs out.
“I got it.” My dad hands it over to her.
“You saved the day.” She beams at my dad. I bite back a growl. My wife smirks at me before taking a giant bite of her corn dog.
“Are you ready to go, champ?” My dad holds his hand out to my son. “Your grandma is changing your brother, and then we’re going to head out.”
“Can we ride when we get home, Papa?”
“We can.” I'm not sure if Dad has ever told him no to anything.
I lean down and drop a kiss on top of his head. Paisley does the same. We both say our goodbyes, telling him we'll see everyone tomorrow for our weekly Sunday brunch. You’d think every Sunday is Thanksgiving with how much food my mom and wife make together. The two of them could spend all day in the kitchen. I understand how much Paisley loves it. Anything that is surrounded by family, she wants every part of.
I grab my wife and pull her to me. She has no idea how much she’s changed my life. Got me to pull my head out of my ass and come home. To realize what I had.
