Southern Sunshine by Natasha Madison

Epilogue Two

Reed

Seven Years later

"I think he’s out,” I say, walking out of our son's room and looking over to see that it’s seven o’clock.

"Did he whine?" Hazel asks, walking to the fridge, her hair wet from the shower. “He usually likes to nurse to go to sleep." In the past seven years, I’ve fallen more and more in love with my wife. I put a matching wedding band on her finger the week after we found out we were having a boy. With Sofia in the middle of us, we said our vows, and it’s been blissful ever since.

"In one month, he’s already taken over everything,” I say, sitting down on the stool with my head hanging. “Why is it so much harder than Kaine?”

"Maybe because he knows we aren’t having another child, so he’s going to make sure we stick to our guns." I laugh, thinking of our son Denver. He came into the world with a roar and never stopped. He came out with his nights and days screwed up, and we just got him figured out, but now he's decided that sleep, in general, is overrated.

The front door opens, and we both look over to see our thirteen-year-old daughter coming into the house. She has grown up to be even more beautiful than I can explain, making being a father to a girl so much harder. “Is he finally sleeping?" She stops, and Harlow also stops behind her.

"Should we even be talking?" Harlow asks, looking around. "I don’t want to wake him."

"He should be out for at least an hour," Hazel says, closing her eyes. “I fucking hope."

Harlow laughs now. “Okay, kiddo," she tells Sofia. “Give me a hug. I’ll be gone this weekend."

Sofia walks to her and gives her a hug, turning and walking to her room on her tippy-toes.

"Are you really going to that wedding?" I look at her as she walks to the kitchen.

"What am I supposed to do?" She sits down next to me. “I made a promise, and a promise is a promise."

"I don’t think you need to keep a promise you made to an ex-boyfriend," Hazel says. “An ex-boyfriend you still love."

She rolls her eyes at Hazel. “I don’t still love him. Besides, I got an invitation. If I don’t show up, he’s going to know it bothers me." She pushes off the counter. “I’ll go to the wedding, show my face, smile, and wish him well." She shows us the smile she'll use. “See? Fine." She turns on her heels and storms out of the house.

"This is not going to be good," Hazel says.

"You can say that again." I shake my head. “Nothing about that was good." I get up and walk over to her, kissing her on her neck.

"He’s not going to know what hit him," Hazel says. "What do you say we go and nap?"

I grab her hand and head to our bedroom. “That has to be the sexiest thing you’ve ever said to me."

I’m about to fall onto the bed when I hear the grunting of our son. “Oh, look, our little ray of sunshine is up," Hazel says, making me laugh.

She’s helped make me whole. She’s helped me be the best man I can be. Seven years ago, I thought I had it all until I saw what I was missing. “Love you,” I say for the hundredth time just today.

"Love you more." She smiles. “Forever."

Are you ready for The Southern Wedding Series?

Harlow

I promised him I would be there for the best day of his life.

Not thinking I wouldn’t be the one standing next to him.

But here I was attending the love of my life’s wedding day.

I smiled when I saw him and pushed back the tears that wanted to come out.

This was his day and I was going to fulfill my promise.

Travis

It was supposed to be the best day of my life.

But the second I got up, things started to fall apart.

Kitchen just caught on fire.

Flowers were from a funeral.

My bride-to-be just had an allergic reaction leaving by ambulance.

Oh and my ex-girlfriend just walked in the church.

They say you have to see the signs when they are right in front of you.

Maybe she was just mine to have.

Mine To Have