A Second Chance

23. Epilogue

I blushed at his words, as I always do.

"You know what would be better?"

"What?"

"A decent night sleep where my bladder isn't used as a ball." I scowled.

Ryan held me closer as I turned to the bank, watching the kids.

Willow loves being a big sister and I'm taking it before she becomes a teenager, before the phase of her ignoring us all kicks in.

Jett was a surprise though. Not long after our little getaway five years ago, I discovered I was pregnant.

Ryan was ecstatic. Then protective. He did everything for me, even when it annoyed me. We moved in together and before Jett was born, we got married.

Ryan constantly jokes that he is staying for the food I cook and I know he is kidding, but I also know it's a lie most days too.

I love him, so much, more than I ever did with Connor.

Willow still talks to her dad, but it's rare. She gave him another chance so many times, but by the time she was nine, she gave up. Connor had no interest in his daughter and after many nights of Ryan and I comforting her, she made the decision that she didn't want to see him again.

They do talk though, rarely on social media, but I see the comments and she ignores them mostly.

"How are you doing?" Ryan asked me softly, his breathe on my neck.

"I'm happy." I told him, tearing my eyes away from the kids to Ryan.

Ryan smiled widely and I can see he is also happy. "I love you."

"I love you too." I mumbled back, kissing him. The cold water surrounding us as his hands rubbed at my stomach.

"Maybe later, while the kids are asleep, we can go for a hike?" He whispered and I was curious.

"A hike? You wouldn't let me cook lunch or serve Jett's lunch." I teased, wrapping my legs around his waist.

Ryan stared right in to my eyes. "A hike." He waggled his eyebrows and then it clicked.

"Oh, a hike." I smiled mischievously. "Oh... can't you last four days without... hiking?"

"Baby, I can't last five minutes with you near me." He chuckled. "Besides, if I remember correctly, you wanted some last night but we didn't hike."

I grinned at him. "I promise, when we get home, we can hike to your hearts content." I kissed the tip of his nose.

"I'll hold you to that." Came his dark tone, making my heart jump.

I sighed in content. I'm happy. I have my family that I always wanted. It may have started out with the wrong person, but now I have found the right person.

"Mum! Dad!" Jett screamed from the bank. "I wanna swim too!"

"Put his life vest on, Willow." Ryan called out.

"Really? I never had one on for Will when she was that age." I smirked at Ryan.

"I wasn't around then, otherwise she would have worn one too." He growled back.