Epilogue

 

One Month Later

 

Ramsey left the office when he heard Rianne’s soft cries from the nursery. Gianna was still sleeping, the reason he had moved Rianne from her bassinet in their bedroom to the crib in the nursery on the second floor. Gemma and Felicity had come over two weeks ago to help decorate the room using a cupcake theme as a guide. Ramsey especially liked Rianne’s name in big, capital letters and pink polka dots on the wall by the crib. The curtains were sheer white with pictures of cupcakes on them. Her crib sheet was pink. Blankets pink. Even the walls were pink – same as Gianna’s bakery.

He walked down the hallway to her room, scooped her light-as-a feather body up into his arms and asked, “What’s wrong with daddy’s baby girl? Are you hungry?”

She cried louder. He was getting good at recognizing what her cries meant. The high-pitched, screeching one meant she was hungry.

“You’re ready to eat, aren’t you?” he asked, holding her securely against his chest as they descended the stairs, heading to the kitchen. “Shh…it’s okay, Rianne. Daddy’s gon’ make sure you eat.”

Her cries eased up when they were in the kitchen. Carson already had a warm bottle ready and waiting on the kitchen table.

“You must’ve heard her crying, too,” Ramsey said.

“I did, Sir…thought I’d make her a bottle for you. I know you need to get some work done.”

“I do, but the family comes first.”

“Of course.”

“And Rianne doesn’t play when it’s time to eat.”

Ramsey sat down at the kitchen dinette, cradled Rianne in his arms and gave her the bottle. That settled her.

“Looks like she has your appetite, Sir,” Carson said.

Ramsey chuckled. “You think so?”

“Yes. Look at her go. That bottle doesn’t stand a chance.”

Ramsey looked down at his daughter and smiled. The little girl was a part of him. A part of his legacy. A miracle. She was precious in his eyes, just like her mother.

Carson flipped a pancake then took cooked pieces of bacon from another pan.

“She’s going to be something else.”

“Yes, she is.”

“I’m glad to see Gianna up and about,” Carson said. “Yesterday, she told me she felt like she could go back to work.”

“She may feel like going back, but it ain’t happening.”

“I know I’m not going back yet,” Gianna said, standing at the kitchen’s entrance with her arms crossed. She was watching him. She loved watching him with the baby. There he sat big and strong, handling tiny, little Rianne with such tenderness. Such love. He’d formed a bond with her. “I love seeing you hold her.”

“I love seeing you, beautiful. Didn’t hear you sneak up behind me,” he said, looking at her. What a beauty...

She’s just gotten out of bed, had on a white robe – the kind you find at fancy resorts – with her hair up in a messy ponytail. She walked over to him, kissed his lips then looked adoringly upon their daughter. She pulled out a chair, sat next to him.

“I’ll take her,” she said, reaching for her. Holding her, she rubbed her back gently to burp her then proceeded to let her drink more of the milk. “I can’t believe it’s been a month already.”

“Me either, but I’m enjoying this time at home with you and Rianne.”

“I’m enjoying it, too. Beth is doing a good job at the bakery while I’m off.”

“She is. Maybe in a few weeks, we can take a drive over there just to see how everything is going.”

“Yes, and we can take Rianne with us so she can see the place where her mom and dad met.”

Ramsey smiled. “That would be nice.”

“Yep,” Gianna said looking down at the baby. She looked back up at Ramsey, holding his gaze. “It would be amazing.” She leaned forward, kissed his lips, her moans filling the kitchen.

“See, this is precisely the reason I can’t make pop-up visits,” Regal said stepping into the kitchen. “Y’all up in here ‘bout to start making cupcake number two.”

Gianna laughed. “We were only kissing, Regal.”

“That’s how it all starts, ain’t it?” Regal said. “I’m out. Ramsey, call me when you get your tongue back, bruh.”

“Regal, wait,” Gianna said, tickled. “Don’t you want to see the baby?”

“I’ll be back after y’all get done.”

“Regal—”

Ramsey chuckled.

“Is he really leaving?” she asked Ramsey right before the front door closed.

“Yep. Sounds like he’s gone. Now, where were we?” Ramsey asked, leaning forward, finishing what they’d started – an early morning kiss before breakfast.