“Well, she is!” I snap, meaning it with my whole heart. My shoulders fall as I stare up at him, the weight of everything pressing in on me. “She is. Right?”
He nods slowly. “Yeah, baby. That’s your little girl in there.”
“And you?” I whisper, throat tight. “Are you…”
“Yours? Yeah, Georgia. I’m yours.” Bending down, he ghosts his lips over mine. “For the rest of your life, so you better get used to planting roots. I’ve got a whole farm waiting for you to grow.”
“But only Archers grow on Honey Bea,” I breathe against his mouth, shivering violently, heart battering between us.
“Exactly.” And then he’s kissing me.
God, does he kiss me.
It’s fierce and tender, desperate and healing. My hands bury in his hair as he presses me into the clinic wall, pouring every unsaid word into my mouth. It’s a kiss that steals my breath, that strips away every doubt I’ve ever had. His body is solid and warm and home.
My soul sings and my heart shatters and remakes itself with every brush of his lips.
Someone clears their throat, and we reluctantly break apart, breathless, dazed.
“Good to see you again, Kade,” an older woman says kindly, wearing a white lab coat and a knowing smile.
He straightens, keeping one arm around me. “Nice to see you, Glenda.”
“Aurora’s fine,” she assures us quickly, like she knows we can’t stand another second without news. “It’s a mild bee allergy. We treated her with epinephrine and an oral antihistamine, and she responded well. Given where you live, I’d recommend keeping an EpiPen on hand, just in case.”
Relief makes my knees weak.
She glances between us, then rests her eyes on me. “Sorry, Kade. I haven’t met your wife yet.”
I open my mouth to correct her, but Kade beats me to it.
“Glenda, this is Georgia,” he says softly. “My everything.”
She visibly melts, and I get it. Kade has that effect.
“Well then,” she smiles. “Come on, Archers. Let’s go see your girl. Saw her outfit. Seems like she had a hell of a first birthday.”
My breath catches at the reminder, and Kade squeezes my hand, smiling down at me. “We’ve got a lifetime to make it up to her.”
My heart is still in my throat as I step into the room and lock eyes with our now much more aware daughter, who thrusts her tiny, chubby arms up at me with a drowsy, pained sob.
“Mama!”
And just like that… I know.
Every wish I’ve ever made has come true.
Epilogue One
My Ruination
Aurora’s fast asleep, her cheeks still rosy from the antihistamine and exhaustion. I check the monitor one more time, watch the steady rise and fall of her chest, and close her bedroom door with a soft click.
Then I just… stand there.
My hand’s clenched around the monitor, and I’m staring at our bedroom door like it’s a cliff I’m about to fall off.
She’s in there.
