The cheers and applause barely register as Jack lifts me off my feet, spins once, and sets me down. He presses his forehead to mine.
“You’re my wife,” he murmurs, his voice filled with wonder.
I smile, heart full. “And you’re my husband.”
Lori whoops from the side. “Finally!”
Henry smirks. “About damn time.”
Linda sobs joyfully and clutches Robert’s arm. “My boy is married!”
Jack chuckles. “Well, no turning back now.”
I grin and wrap my arms around his neck. “I wouldn’t want to, even if I could.”
EPILOGUE BETH
Jack hovers. Again.
I adore my husband, but if he doesn’t stop fussing over me, I might actually scream.
“I can carry bags, Jack,” I say, already halfway out of the car. He’s at my side instantly, intercepting the grocery bags before I even touch them. His green eyes sweep over me, protective and vigilant, as if pregnancy has turned me into a ticking time bomb.
“You’re pregnant,” he reminds me, dead serious. “You shouldn’t be lifting heavy things.”
I set a hand on my belly. “Pregnant. Not made of glass.”
He ignores my protest and carries the bags inside. I trail after him, rolling my eyes hard enough to see last week.
This is our new rhythm. Since the pregnancy test turned positive, Jack has become a full-time bodyguard. It’s sweet. It’s suffocating. Sometimes, I want to remind him that being pregnant hasn’t erased my ability to function.
Still, I can’t stay annoyed. His heart’s always in the right place.
By the time I reach the kitchen, he’s already halfway through unloading the groceries, lining up apples and carrots like he’s prepping for battle.
I lean on the counter, watching him. “Most husbands don’t treat grocery storage like a competitive sport.”
He glances over, grinning. “Most husbands aren’t lucky enough to be married to you.”
I snort, but my heart gives that helpless swoop. I wish he didn’t know the effect he has on me.
He shuts the fridge and turns toward me, his eyes softening. “Sit down, sweetheart. You’ve been on your feet all day.”
I surrender and claim a kitchen stool, rubbing my belly in slow circles. He notices, and his whole face softens. He steps closer, covering my hand with his.
“I still can’t believe it,” he says, voice thick. “We’re going to be parents.”
I pet his cheek. “Sometimes, it feels like a dream.”
He kneels and kisses my belly. “Hey, baby,” he whispers. “It’s your dad. Just so you know, I already love you more than anything in this world.”
My throat tightens—hormones, maybe, or just Jack being Jack.
He lifts his gaze to mine, and the whole world seems to narrow to just the two of us. “And you,” he says quietly. “I love you, Beth. More than I ever thought I could love anything.”
Tears prick at my eyes. “I love you, too.”
He grins and kisses me, then stands. “Let me make you something to eat.”
