Epilogue

“This is the first time in nine months these babies have been asleep at the same time,” Grant said, walking into the living room one November evening with a bottle of wine and two glasses. He set them down on the coffee table and walked over to the big fireplace, tossing on another log. The new wood popped and a burst of sparks scattered.

“Shhh. You’ll jinx it,” Liz said. She was sitting on the leather couch, reading a book, a furry throw tossed over her legs. The fire was crackling now, the room was cozy, and rain pattered on the new roof. Gizmo snorted in his sleep, curled in his bed by the fireplace, and Chloe, the white cat, snoozed on one of the bay window cushions. And the sexiest man on the planet was heading her way with a wicked look in his eyes.

“That’s a pretty fire,” Liz said as Grant came to sit next to her. “I love this house.”

“Indeed. Good thing Dottie decided a Florida condo was in her future.”

“It was nice of her to sell it to us. It’s perfect for our little family.”

“There’s enough work in this place to keep us busy until Julia and James are grown,” he said. But he was smiling.

“Well, we wouldn’t want to be bored.” She sat back and scooted next to him on the cushions, tired but so, so happy. “A lot has changed since the last time we heard it rain hard like this in this house,” she said.

Grant reached for her hand and held it, closing his eyes for a moment as he rested his head against the back of the couch. “Such as—I used to enjoy sleeping soundly. I fear I’ll never experience a full night of rest again.”

“Do you have any…regrets? Like cutting down your travel?”

“Not one. If it weren’t for you, I never would have discovered how much I enjoy writing books and having an office right here at home.”

Liz looked at her husband. His hair was rumpled and he looked a little tired. She smoothed down his hair and assessed him for a moment.

“What are you staring at?” he asked, cracking open an eye.

“The baby drool on your black T-shirt. It’s very…sexy.” She leaned over to give him a kiss, but he grabbed her by the waist and flipped her to the couch.

She was pleasantly pinned under his weight, the big muscles of his arms caging her head. Suddenly he was wide awake and looking at her like she were dessert.

“There’s just one thing I need to tell you,” she said.

“What is it?” he asked, looking concerned.

“I wouldn’t trade all this exhaustion for the world.” She worried about him sometimes. He’d changed his travel schedule dramatically, but continued to do special reporting projects. But the exhaustion was real, and she couldn’t help thinking how much his life had changed in the past year.

His gaze turned tender as he smoothed the worry lines from her forehead. “Elizabeth, if you’re wondering, you and our children have brought me more joy in this past year than I ever thought possible.”

“I love you,” she whispered, running her hand down the shadowy roughness of his cheek.

A little rustle came from the baby monitor. One of the babies stirring. “I do have one small request, though,” he said.

“What is it?”

“Can we please make love before someone wakes up? And before I fall asleep?”

“We’d better hurry.”

He kissed her slowly on the lips, taking his time, savoring every second. “No hurrying. I want to enjoy every second of you. And by the way, I love you, too.”

Then he kissed her and showed her how much.

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