Inflame

Epilogue Part 1

Kale

One year later

“BABY, HURRY up!” I call to the back bedroom, where Lucy’s getting ready. “Everyone’s going to be here in less than five minutes.”

It’s Jacob’s first birthday, and Lucy’s gone all out for it, even though the kid will never remember it, but according to her, she needs the memories and, well, the photos. The doorbell rings and I head to the door, quick to answer it since Jacob’s still down for his nap. I figure, just like he’s always done, he’s on his own time and he’ll make an appearance when he’s good and ready.

Opening the door, I see Branson standing on the other side, a huge-ass box in his arms. I take it from him and gesture for him to come inside. Lucy walks into the living room with a now awake Jacob in her arms, and she greets Branson, who leans down to give her a kiss on the cheek. Seeing his buddy Branson, Jacob leans into him, and I watch as Lucy transfers him into Branson’s arms.

“Just you today, Bran?” Lucy asks, and he pauses from tickling my son’s belly to look down at her.

“Yeah, just me. I couldn’t have missed this little guy’s first birthday,” he says, grinning as Jacob reaches up and grabs ahold of his ear. That’s my boy’s new favorite thing. Grabbing, pulling, tugging on anything he can get his hands on, and from the looks of it, Branson doesn’t seem to mind.

I finish getting things set up as Lucy and Branson catch up. After Jacob was born, Lucy was insistent that we go thank him in person, and they became quick friends—something that surprised pretty much everyone. But that’s Lucy. She knew a friend was all he needed at a time in his life when he didn’t have anyone. I’ll forever be thankful that he was there to comfort her when her water broke, and over the past year, I’ve come to consider him as a friend as well. He’s an honorary uncle for Jacob, and he doesn’t let more than a couple of weeks pass by before coming over for a visit. Jacob latched on to him, and although I was apprehensive in the beginning from everything I knew about him, Lucy’s made sure that Branson’s a part of the family. Now I don’t mind it one bit.

One by one, the rest of our friends begin to show up. Jace, Lexi, and their little girl, Maya, are the next to arrive, and Branson sets Jacob down so he can play. When Lucy got pregnant, I never would’ve believed my little guy would have playmates from my best friends, but life apparently decided to surprise us all.

Chaos ensues when Charlie and Knox arrive, each of them holding one of their two-month-old twins. Cade’s asleep in Charlie’s arms while Chloe’s squirming in Knox’s. Upon seeing them, Branson rises and takes his niece from his brother, settling back down on the couch, where he proceeds to bounce her up and down on his thighs as he discusses business with Knox.

Lucy flits around, greeting everyone and piling presents up in the corner where the ones from our moms are already waiting. I’m not sure why a one-year-old needs so many gifts he won’t remember, but I can’t question it because I know Lucy went a little crazy when it came to shopping for him herself.

It’s a whirlwind, as you can imagine, with a bunch of frazzled parents and multiple kids under the age of one. As much as Lucy tries to get him into blowing out his first candle, he’s more interested in sinking his grubby little fingers into the chocolate cake instead of trying to get rid of the flame. Finally, Lucy has to gesture towards the candle and ‘help’ him blow it out. Even though he didn’t help a bit, my boy cheeses like a loon when everyone starts clapping for him.

The rest of the party was chaotic at best. Jacob starting flinging cake around the room as soon as he got his hands on it and then began wailing when Lucy moved it out of his reach. It wasn’t until Branson lifted him out of his highchair and started bouncing him around the room that he calmed down.

“You’re a natural, you know?” I tell him as I approach the back window, where he’s pointing out things to my boy.

He turns to look at me, a rueful smile on his face. “I don’t know about all that, but this guy’s kinda my buddy. Not sure I’ll ever have any of my own. And that’s okay. I’m just glad I can be a part of his life, even if I don’t deserve it.”

I watch as Jacob rests against his shoulder, looking more than exhausted. “It’s not undeserved, man. You were there for Lucy when she needed you, and I’ll never forget that. You’re a part of our family now. Jacob loves you. Lucy loves you. I… I love that you suck at pool because your brother usually kicks my ass.”

He lets out a low chuckle, knowing that I’m right. “I appreciate it, Kale. It’s been a long damn time since I’ve been a real part of any family or had any real friends. I’ll try not to suck ass at it.”

At that moment, Jacob reaches up and latches on to Branson’s nose, effectively ruining the moment but causing him to laugh. Lucy slides in up beside me and I place an arm around her shoulder. Looking around the room, I grin, taking it all in. It’s been over two years since that damn explosion, and back then, if you’d have told me that this is where we’d all be, I’d have laughed and waved it off. Now? I can’t imagine any of our lives having turned out any differently.

After everyone’s gone, all the presents are put away, and Jacob’s down for the night, I head to the kitchen and pour us each a glass of wine, ready to decompress with my woman. She comes out of the bedroom and joins me in the living room, smiling at me as I hand her a glass, but instead of taking a drink, she sets it down on the coffee table.

“Who knew we were starting a trend when you knocked me up? Between Jacob, Maya, Cade, and Chloe, I feel more exhausted than I did when he was a newborn. It’s a shame Lily couldn’t be here. She’s a dream when it comes to entertaining the kids.”

She settles into my side on the couch, and I wrap an arm around her. “I know. Xavier sent his regards but said Lily’s having a blast down at the beach with his mom. After the latest disaster with Angela, they needed this vacation.”

“I know. I just missed them. That’s all. Thanks for a great party, Kale. Jacob’s favorite thing might’ve been the box Branson’s toy came in, but he still had a blast. We’re so lucky to have such great friends with kids he can grow up with.”

“Yeah, we are,” I agree. Leaning forward, I open up the drawer in the coffee table and pull out an envelope. “Hey, baby, there’s one more card that needs opening.”

As I turn to hand it to her, she pushes a small rectangular box into my hands. Cocking an eyebrow, I finger the box, wondering what this is. “As much as I love gifts, baby, you didn’t have to get me anything. It’s Jacob’s day.”

She turns the envelope over in her hands then looks up at me with curious eyes. “I could say the same to you. This is addressed to me, not him.”

“Then I guess you better open it,” I prompt as my heart begins to beat out of my chest. I’m anxious for her to see what’s inside.

Lucy turns the envelope over, and in a painstakingly slow fashion, she slides her finger under the top to open it. Her eyes widen when she pulls out a test with just one question and a Scantron so she can answer. I slide off the couch and kneel before her on the floor. Reaching underneath the couch, I pull out a thin, rectangular box and place it on the cushion next to her, opening it so she can see the contents.

Her eyes race to mine as she lifts the pencil out of the box, and I nod at the paper in her hand. “Life’s ultimate test, baby. All I need is an answer. All you’ve got to do is fill the appropriate bubble.”

As she gazes down at the Scantron then back up at me, her eyes dance. She takes the pencil and slowly starts filling out bubbles on the sheet. My palms turn sweaty the longer she takes, and my knees begin to ache as I continue to kneel before her. Finally, she sets the pencil back down in the box and holds the sheet out for me.

“All done, Teach,” she whispers seductively, giving me a wicked smile.

Snatching the paper from her hand, my heart swells as I look over the Scantron. Instead of just checking A for ‘yes’ or B for ‘no,’ she filled in all the bubbles necessary in order to spell out a big, fat ‘yes’ throughout the entire sheet. My eyes scan over the paper, and I grab the box out of my back pocket and set it on couch next to her, just like I did with the pencil box. This one, however, is square and small, and her fingers shake as she picks it up. When she opens it, she brings a soft hand to her mouth, her eyes racing to meet mine.

“Lucy Dawson, you’ve already agreed to be my wife, and all that’s left to do is for you to accept my ring. I love you, baby, and if you don’t become a Montgomery soon, Sprout and I are going to protest.”

I know it’s not the most romantic proposal, but it’s us and it makes her laugh, even as the tears well in her eyes. She picks up the ring and slides it on her finger before flinging herself into my arms.

“I accept your ring, even if it means I’m subjecting myself to a lifetime of foodie and garden jokes. I don’t even care. I love you, Kale Montgomery, and I’m with Sprout. This needs to happen sooner rather than later.”

She gives me a knowing look then gestures to the box she handed me earlier. After rising off my knees, I sit on the couch beside her, letting it rest in my lap.

“Open it,” she insists.

With trembling fingers, I slowly slide off the paper in true Lucy fashion, and she gives me a small scowl, which I return with a playful grin. Once the paper’s gone, I lift the small black lid off the box, and my breath catches at the contents inside.

“Are you freaking kidding me?” I ask, unable to mask my surprise.

“Nope. And if your timing’s right with the wedding, you just might get your Dawson. You know, if it’s a boy,” she says, smirking at me.

Setting down the positive pregnancy test, I pull her into my embrace, thrilled that she’s going to be my wife and even more thrilled to expand our family.

“We’re in this together, baby. No matter what. You’re my best friend. The love of my life. My future wife. You’re it for me, and that’s all that matters. Boy, girl—I don’t care.”

She grins up at me, lifting to give me a kiss, and as I cuddle on the couch with my fiancée, I realize that this is the life and I wouldn’t have it any other way.