He kissed her forehead.“Me too, honey.Me, too.”His hand stilled on her arm.“There’s just one problem.”
She stiffened.“What’s that?”
“Bray Slater...Slater?I mean, I’m honored you gave him my last name as his middle, but if it ends up being his last name too, that’s not going to sound so good.”
She tilted her face up to Brick.“I would love for him to have your name.That means a lot.”
He kissed her forehead.“I hope you like the name too—because Natalie Slater has a nice ring to it.”
She stared.“Y-You want me to take your name?”
He laughed.“Baby, I want you to be my wife.Will you marry me?”
She gasped and wrapped her arm around his neck.“Oh my gosh.Yes!Yes, of course.”
His arm clamped against her bare back, and he pressed his lips to her hair.“Good.I hope you know how important you both are to me.”
She kissed his bristly cheek, then his firm lips.“Thank you, Brick.For being everything we ever wanted and needed...and more.”
They still had a lot to figure out and work at.But that was part of life.His new life.And he’d love and cherish every minute with the woman and son of his dreams.
EPILOGUE
Natalie stuck thesilver candle in the shape of the number three on top of the chocolate construction-themed cake, which waited on the kitchen counter.The chatter of their friends in the dining room mixed with Bray’s eager squeals.He knew dessert was coming.
“Oh my word,” Suzan said, clapping her hand to her cheek.“Bray’s going to be so excited.”Tears shone in Brick’s mom’s eyes, making Natalie weepy herself.
In such a short time, they’d become a loving family.Suzan had rained more love and quality time on Bray than Mary ever had.The two had instantly connected, and Bray was always asking if Mima would be going to the park or watching a movie with him.
The last two and a half months had been a whirlwind.They’d moved from Detroit to Seattle a week after receiving the news that Shelby’s death had been accidental.Brick had made the process of moving less painful.As Natalie and Keetan had been common-law partners for ten years, she was entitled to their furniture and the proceeds from the sale of their house.
None of which she’d wanted.
She’d let Keetan’s mom take the items that were important to her, and they’d donated the rest.Brick had located Bray’s bedroom furniture at a local thrift store.Shockingly, Keetan hadn’t sent it to the dump—probably because doing so would have resulted in a fee.Lucky for them, no one had taken the crib, dresser, and rocking chair he’d had his whole life.
Brick had also found pictures and other personal items stowed in a garbage bag in the garage.The memory of him finding those sentimental things made Natalie’s heart ache.She’d felt both relief so strong and anger so blinding.
Selling the house had been tough.Part of her didn’t want a dime of Keetan’s money.Didn’t want any attachment to him at all.But as a result of the life insurance policy Keetan had taken out when she moved in with him and the proceeds from the house, she’d been entitled to over a million dollars after paying out the mortgage.
A million dollars she hadn’t come to terms with claiming until last week.Brick had insisted that she at least invest the funds so they could grow some of it for Bray’s future.
Suzan picked up a stack of paper plates.“I’ll take these into the dining room.”
Brick came into the kitchen and slid his arm around her waist—which he did every time she cooked, did dishes, or otherwise had her back to him.She chuckled and tilted her head so she could see his face dipped over her shoulder.
“He’s gonna love that cake.”
She grinned.“I know.He’s obsessed with heavy equipment right now.”A twinge of regret hit her.She hated that they’d had to wait two weeks to celebrate his birthday.But with the move to Seattle and now house shopping for a bigger space, life had been crazy.
But the good kind of crazy.
With Keetan, she hadn’t been allowed to work.He’d never wanted her around other people, to make friends, or have her own money.She’d been okay with staying home with Bray—in truth, she wanted to continue to do that.
But now that she was free in so many ways, she could let herself dream.Plan things for herself, maybe pick up a job or start a business—heck, the possibilities were limitless.But her son’s years of being a child weren’t, so she was going to enjoy every minute with her baby as long as she could.
“Momma, Daddy, CAKE!”Bray called from the dining room.
“Patience is a virtue, my dude,” Zain said playfully.
