Epilogue

Peyton collapsed onto the edge of the tub and stared at the words in front of her.

“Mom, open up. I’m going to be late for school and my favorite headband is in there.”

Peyton spied the purple and silver metal band Ryder had given their daughter for Thanksgiving. She grabbed it and slid it under the door. “Here. Ask your father to drive you to school please.”

“Umm okay. You sure you’re okay?”

“Yep. Fine, sweetie. Have a good day. Love you.”

She listened through the door until she was sure both Mel and Ryder had left. He would no doubt be back in record time and grilling her. She had at most fifteen minutes to prepare what she was going to say.

By the time he came back through the door she’d calmed herself down enough to make some tea and toast. Her stomach couldn’t handle much more than that.

He knelt beside her. “What’s wrong? What can I do?”

She burst into tears, no doubt a byproduct of the extra hormones she now knew were raging through her body. “I think you’ve done enough,” she said with a laugh.

He looked so confused and worried, wiping her tears with a napkin, even as she continued to cry and laugh.

“Peyton, you’re scaring me.”

She grabbed his cheeks and pulled him close for a kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“Do you think I might name one of the new cabins?”

“That’s what this is about?” He stood up and scrubbed his hands on his face, the beard he was growing not quite back to full mountain man. “I mean, sure, if you want. Nothing could probably be worse than Mel’s contribution.”

Peyton burst into laughter again. Their daughter upon hearing she could name a cabin had promptly decided on Apple Tart. Shelby had beamed when she heard.

“So what’s it going to be? The Best Laid Plans or maybe Peach Schnapps.” He laughed. “At this rate I wonder if anyone is even going to bother staying in them.”

“I was thinking ‘Nine months later.’”

“I’m not sure if…” His eyes grew round and he opened and closed his mouth, clearly unable to finish his statement. Dropping to his knees beside her, he placed a hand on her stomach. “Are you? Are we? Am I?”

She smiled. “I am. We are. You’re going to be a daddy again.”

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