Finding Ronan’s Heart by Melanie Moreland

Epilogue

Beth

The Following Spring

Ilooked in the mirror, lifting my eyes to my about-to-be mother-in-law. “Cami,” I breathed out. “It’s so beautiful!”

She smiled as she smoothed her hand over the skirt of my dress. “You are beautiful,” she corrected. “You make the dress that way.” She beamed at me. “Ronan will love it.”

It was unusual and perfect. The white lace top with long sleeves led to a graceful billow of tulle in shades of white and grays. I was a walking cloud. The dress was gorgeous, designed by Cami, who understood exactly what I was looking for and sketched out my dream dress right before my eyes. The first time I tried it on, I was speechless.

Today, I was enraptured. My hair had tiny pearls and glistening beads woven into the curls. My feet were encased in the lowest heels I could find.

Behind me, Paige smiled, her dress of muted blue suiting her coloring. Lucy wore a lacy dress in bright blue, which she loved, although her shoes with glittering bows were more fascinating to her than anything. Gracie and Ava wore pretty dresses in different shades of blue to complement them. I called my wedding party the colors of the sky. Weather was the whole theme.

Ronan chose a classic black tux to wear. Liam, Paul, Jeremy, and Evan were in gray. The flowers we chose were all my favorites, adding bright pops of color everywhere.

I met Cami’s warm green gaze—so much like Ronan’s, it made me smile. “Is he here yet?” I asked.

She touched my cheek in a maternal gesture. “Liam says he was ready to go at dawn. They kept him busy, but they arrived over an hour ago. He’s as impatient as you are.”

I felt tears threaten, as they had all day. I was happy—ecstatic—to be marrying Ronan. But the shadow of missing my parents on this day hung over me, and I couldn’t shake it.

Cami took my hands. “I know you’re missing your mother and father.” She smiled in understanding. “I’m not sure you realize how many mothers and fathers adopted you when you fell in love with my son. We are all here for you. Aiden and I are proud to have you join our family. We know your parents would be so proud of you. Of how you have raised Evan. We think the world of you.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

She pressed a small box into my hand. “We would like you to wear these today. Consider them a welcome to the family gift.”

I gasped at the pretty earrings inside the box. The swirl of tiny emeralds and diamonds glittered in the light.

“We know you aren’t much for jewelry, but we thought you could wear them on occasion. I know you love Ronan’s eyes, so I thought the emeralds would suit.”

“I’ll wear them all the time.”

She laughed. “I’m quite sure my son will gift you many pairs over the years, but these can be your first Callaghan gift.”

I met her gaze. “Your son is the best gift.”

She hugged me. “And you are his.” Then she pulled back, dabbing at her eyes. “Oh dear, let’s get you downstairs before I start blubbering all over you.”

“Thank you, Cami,” I said sincerely.

“You’re welcome, Beth.” She kissed my cheek. “Welcome to the family.”

* * *

Ronan stood proud and tall at the end of the short aisle, the darkness of his tux making him more handsome than I thought possible. Liam, Paul, and Jeremy stood beside him, smiling. Gracie, Ava, and Paige walked up and took their places, and Lucy slowly meandered behind them, carrying a basket of flowers. She couldn’t toss them since we didn’t want Evan slipping, but she was happy to hold the basket of daisies. At the end of the aisle, she stopped, looking at her mother, then veering directly to Liam, who chuckled, bent, and lifted her into his arms. Everyone laughed, including me. There was no doubt she was a daddy’s girl, and Liam loved it. The papers were official now, and he was legally hers, even though in his heart he had been right away.

Evan was beside me, his shoulders straight. We would walk slowly, him using a cane, but he was insistent it was his job to give me away. He was much stronger than he had been when we moved here, working diligently with Ronan and Aiden.

“Are you ready?” I asked quietly.

He glanced at me with a smile. His face had matured, and he was getting taller and beginning to fill out. He looked more like a young man now than a kid. “Are you?” he asked. “If you’ve changed your mind, we could run, but I suggest you ditch me if you want a shot. The big guy is fast.” Then he winked. “And you’d miss a really good party.”

We shared a chuckle, knowing how true that was. This massive, blended family knew how to throw an amazing event.

“No, I’m good.”

“Whew,” he breathed. “Ronan’s got a line on a retired Lego Death Star set. I don’t get it if I don’t get you to the altar.” He gave a thumbs-up to Ronan, who returned the gesture with a big grin.

“Well, heaven forbid, I stand in the way of a Death Star. I guess we’d better get going,” I deadpanned. “The sacrifices I make for you…”

He grinned. “Love you, Beth.”

I squeezed his arm. “Love you.”

Then, slowly, we walked toward my future.

* * *

Two Years Later

I woke up leisurely, stretching. The breeze lifted the curtains, the scent of the water and the voices coming from the beach below making me happy. I sat up, looking around the room. The house had changed a lot in the past two years. Empty, plain walls now held memories, captured on film and hung on warm-colored palettes. Deep navy, brilliant greens, and warm taupes made the house cozy. Comfortable furniture filled the spaces, and the kitchen was stocked with every cooking implement I looked twice at.

I walked to the window, looking down at my favorite sight in the world. Evan and Ronan jogging together.

That was the biggest change of them all.

Through hard work and determination, Evan had overcome his injury. He walked slower than some, a slight hesitancy to his gait, but he did it without any walking aids. He had worked and pushed—Ronan, Aiden, and all the family encouraging him. Gradually, two crutches became one, then he used a cane, and finally, he walked unaided. He had grown as well—taller, filling out, his appetite rivaling that of any of the Callaghan boys. He smiled all the time, happy in life. Port Albany had been good for him. A fresh start—and he had blossomed.

Ronan had made sure we knew the three of us were in this together. He never left Evan out of anything. He was Evan’s brother, his father, and his best friend, and I adored him all the more for being so. After we were married, Ronan sat Evan down and asked if he wanted to change his last name to Callaghan. Evan asked him why, and Ronan was honest.

“I don’t want you ever to feel less than. You are a part of this family.”

Evan had hugged Ronan. “I do feel part of it. My last name doesn’t change it. I don’t want to leave my parents’ name in the past.”

Ronan nodded, satisfied. I knew if Evan ever changed his mind, Ronan would be happy to help him.

More laughter drew my attention back to the window. Ronan was teasing Evan, calling after him as Evan moved away from him toward the girl sitting on the rocks.

Jenny’s red hair gleamed in the sunlight, and she held out her hand for Evan to take. The two of them began to walk, their heads close together. She was still his best friend as well as something more. She now lived with her mom and Theo in a house on the property. Ronan had been right when he’d told me he was certain that Theo was interested in Anne on a personal level. It hadn’t taken long for them to become a couple. Reid and Becca adored her and Jenny, and soon, Theo and Anne were married and there was another child for everyone to love. Evan was ecstatic that his best friend was around all the time, and as they’d grown the last couple of years, so had their feelings.

They sat and talked to us, as well as Theo and Anne, this past spring when they acknowledged how they felt. We set ground rules, reminding them how young they still were, and they had so far been very good about sticking to the rules.

At least for now. I had a feeling that might change.

Bentley and Maddox laughed all the time about Jenny and Evan, saying that history was repeating itself. I had a feeling they were right and Evan had already found his soul mate, the same way Addi and Brayden had years before. I supposed time would tell.

I got ready and headed downstairs. I brought coffee outside, finding Ronan on the deck, sitting at the table. I kissed him good morning and sat next to him.

“Deserted again?”

He chuckled. “I don’t have red hair and a blossoming set of—”

I held up my hand. “Do not even finish that thought.”

He laughed. “Whatever. He stares at them all the time.”

“I’m sure you did at his age too.”

He dragged my chair closer. “I still stare at yours.” He leaned over and pressed a kiss to the top of my breast over my heart. “They are spectacular.” He leered with a grin.

I had to laugh at him.

“Incorrigible.”

“You love it.”

“I do. I love you too.”

His smile was tender. “I know.”

For a moment, we sipped our coffee, watching Jenny and Evan on the beach. They were standing at the water’s edge, talking, focused on each other. I sighed in happiness, and Ronan rubbed my shoulder.

“Okay there, little bird?”

I nodded. “Busy week at work.”

“Lots of storms this week.” He peeked up at the blue sky. “We’re done for a bit, though, right?”

“Yep, clear skies for the next while.”

He still loved it when I talked “clouds.” I had taken a job at a small research center in Niagara, and he enjoyed hearing me talk about work. He also loved it when I played “weather girl” for him. Which was exactly what had gotten us into the situation I found myself in right now.

“I have a present for you.”

His verdant green eyes lit up. “Oh yeah? I love presents.”

I chuckled because that was true. He was like a kid on Christmas every time he got a gift—no matter how small. Especially from me since he knew they were just for him. I had a feeling he would really like this one.

I reached into my pocket and held out my hand. “Close your eyes.”

He did as I asked, eager and anxious.

I dropped the fluffy ball into his hand. “Guess.”

He touched it gingerly, frowning in confusion. “Yarn?”

“Nope.”

“Lint?”

I took a deep breath. “Open your eyes.”

He did, staring down at the puffy mound in his palm. He picked it up, studying the white and gray ball of fluff. “You made me a cloud?”

“You guessed it. I made you a cloud.”

“Huh, it’s a little cloud.”

I waited, but he didn’t say anything. I should have given him more coffee.

“Yes,” I said. “It’s a little baby cloud. I thought you’d like to have it until the other one shows up.”

He looked up, confused. “You made two baby clouds?”

“Well, I’m hoping there’s only one.” I laid my hand on my stomach. “This time.”

I saw the moment he caught up with me. His eyes grew round, and his expression became joyful.

He dropped to his knees in front of me.

* * *

Ronan

It took me a moment to realize what Beth was saying.

Baby cloud.

Baby.

My wife was pregnant.

I was out of my chair and on my knees in front of her quickly. I laid my hand over hers on her stomach, joy coursing through my body. I felt more alive in that moment than I had ever felt.

“A baby? You’re—we’re—pregnant?”

“Yes.”

“Beth,” I breathed out. I lifted my gaze to her tear-filled eyes. “Are you okay—is everything okay?”

“Yes. I saw the doctor yesterday, and he confirmed it. I’m about six weeks along.” I lifted my eyebrow teasingly. “You got all excited over the cumulonimbus clouds I was describing that night on the deck. Your hands and mouth started a different kind of storm.”

I grinned at the memory. “Obviously, my cock got in on the action. I think he was trying to hide from the storm.” I leaned up and kissed her. “He does like cuddling inside you.”

Her eyes softened. “Well, now your child is cuddling.”

My child.

Was there a more beautiful set of words?

“Is there a chance there is more than one?” I asked, tracing my hand over her skin.

“He only heard one heartbeat. But I have an ultrasound booked. We’ll find out.” She cupped my face. “How would you feel about that?”

“I would love it.”

“Then I guess we’ll find out.”

I gathered her in my arms. “Thank you. My parents are going to be ecstatic. There will be seven by the time our baby is born, including Evan and Lucy—they’re beating Bentley and Maddox now.”

Liam and Paige had had a daughter named Shannon less than a year after they got married. Then last month, Paige had given birth to another daughter, Erin. He had an entire houseful of women around him, and he loved them all deeply. Liam took a lot of ribbing about keeping Paige pregnant all the time, but he accepted it good-naturedly, claiming she never kept her hands to herself. She was unabashed in her passion for her husband, and I loved seeing my brother so happy.

Paul and Diane had gotten married not long after us and now had a son. Jeremy and Kim married last year, and she was expecting next month.

And Ava—well, that was a story. She had recently gotten married and was still in the honeymoon phase. Her husband was well liked by the family, and although it took a while, he had warmed up to them. It had been a roller coaster of a ride.

But that was her story to tell.

For now, Mom and Dad had lots of grandkids of all ages to keep them busy. Sandy and Jordan loved having them around, claiming they “kept them young.”

I picked up Beth and sat her in my lap, gazing over the water. I kept her close, laying my hand on her stomach, knowing our child was growing, safe and sound and already loved, under my palm.

“Evan is going to be a big brother slash uncle,” I murmured. “The age gap is bigger than yours, at least.”

She chuckled. “There we go with the whole complicated, ‘I married your sister, who is kinda like your mother, and I’m your big brother/daddy’ thing. This family,” she snorted. “Canadian rednecks are what you are.”

I laughed. “You’re one of us, woman.”

She laughed again. “I guess I am.”

Then she became serious. “He’ll love it, though,” Beth assured me.

“He’ll be a great one. Brother, uncle—whatever it is. Bruncle. Our kid will be lucky to have him.”

She grinned. “Here he comes.”

“Can we tell him?” I asked.

“Just family. Immediate family,” she amended. “I want to get past the first trimester. But I don’t think we can keep it from him.”

“Can I tell him?” I asked eagerly, holding up my baby cloud. “I want to use this.”

“Sure, Daddy, you do it.”

Daddy.

That, I decided, was the most beautiful word of them all.

And in that moment, I found the final part of my heart.