Sheriff’s Pregnant Ex by Leslie North

Epilogue

Caitlin glanced at the clock in Brian’s truck. She wished he’d drive faster. They were running late for the baby shower. How would it look if the guests of honor arrived late? She was sure Laura and Amy, who were co-hosting the party, wouldn’t mind, but it felt wrong to her. They’d put in so much effort not only for the shower itself, but also to make Caitlin feel welcome to the family and to the town.

And they’d been an enormous help in getting her business up and running. The tattoo parlor had opened two weeks ago, following a month of remodeling. In the days since they’d been open, business had been steady, and Caitlin felt optimistic that the tattoo parlor would be a success.

Laura had even come in and gotten a small tattoo of an ornate heart with her late husband’s name on it. Caitlin had thought it was sweet, and she’d enjoyed hearing Laura talk about Brian’s father while she worked on the design. It made her feel even more a part of the family.

She was less confident about her connection with her parents. She’d met her mother for coffee one morning and begun to forge a tentative relationship. Maybe that would work out, too. She hoped so for the sake of her baby, but if it didn’t, it wouldn’t prevent Caitlin from being happy.

A car whipped into the passing lane and cruised past them, honking its horn. Caitlin caught sight of the driver, a gray-haired granny, and laughed.

“You could drive faster, you know,” she suggested to Brian. “We’re running really tight on time.”

“They’ll wait for us, and I don’t speed, not even for you. I’m not taking any risks with your life or hers,” Brian insisted, with a glance down at her expanding waistline.

Just that week they’d found out that the baby was a girl, and Brian had been beyond excited. He’d made lists of girl’s names, and she’d noticed him searching online for ideas on how to decorate a girl’s bedroom. He was already talking about moving to a larger house so there would be space for a playhouse in the yard. She’d objected, saying it wasn’t necessary, but she knew they would move when he found the perfect house. He wanted the best for all of them.

If she didn’t already love him so much, she’d love him even more for that. He still took his work responsibilities seriously and he could be stubborn, but he was the best man she’d ever known. That had been true back in college, and it still was. She sometimes wished they’d been able to see then how perfect they were for each other, and not wasted all those years. But maybe they needed the time apart to truly appreciate how special their love was.

“We’ll be having a wedding to go to soon,” Brian commented when they parked in front of the ranch house. He got out and came around to her side of the truck and opened the door for her. He insisted on helping her, even if she didn’t need it.

“That’ll be fun.” Caitlin was looking forward to the event. “It should seem odd that Amy and Cal got engaged after only a month, but when you see them together, it seems so natural. I guess when you know, you know, right?” She stepped up on the porch to head to the door, but Brian stopped walking beside her, so she turned to him. What was going on?

“I’m glad you think so,” he said. “Because I’ve got something to ask you.” Brian dropped down to one knee in front of her and her hand flew to her mouth in surprise.

In the background, she heard Laura’s voice calling out, “Brian just went down on one knee, y’all.” Brian didn’t seem to hear it or see the faces of his family appearing in the windows, peering at them.

“Darlin’,” he said, his gaze steady on her face, “I don’t have to tell you that you’re the best thing that ever happened to me, but I’m going to tell you that I love you and I will until we’re old and gray. You’re the only woman for me, and I feel so lucky I got a second chance with you.”

Caitlin’s shock was wearing off, but she still felt absolute wonder. Could this be real? It seemed too good to be true—until he opened the ring box he’d pulled from his pocket and showed her what was inside. She gasped. Flowers, like the ones she loved, decorated the gold band of the diamond solitaire ring. It was breathtaking and perfect. Those little yellow flowers were a symbol of their love for one another, going back to the morning she’d left him the drawing in place of saying she loved him. He’d gotten that tattoo because he’d continued to love and miss her. She felt tears come to her eyes, happy tears. They’d loved each other for so long. Despite the time they’d been apart, in the end, they’d chosen each other. And she was going to keep choosing him for the rest of her days.

“I had this made special for you.” His face was so serious, which somehow made him absolutely adorable. “And I didn’t want to wait another minute to ask you.”

“Yes,” she said even though he hadn’t gotten around to formally asking her to be his wife. His care in selecting the ring said everything she needed to hear. “Yes, I’ll marry you. I’ll absolutely marry you. But you have to come up here so I can give you a real kiss.”

“My pleasure, darlin’.” He slipped the ring onto her finger before rising. He cupped her face in his hand for just a second as their eyes met and then he kissed her.

The kiss lasted until Brian’s family—her family now, too—poured out onto the porch to hug and congratulate them. Caitlin felt so welcome and loved, but there was no greater love than what she felt for Brian.

As everyone was going back in, she slipped her hand in his. She felt his warmth and the strength of his touch and knew that there was so much happiness yet to come for them.