“Wren,” he answered, winking at Kat.
“That’s so perfect,” I clapped my hands together. Sal had affectionately called Kat “birdie” for as long as I’d known them as a couple. No one could say how it started. It was just one of those things. It was perfectly fitting that they’d name their daughter after a bird.
It wasn’t long before it felt like the entire club was filling the room, everyone waiting their turn to meet the new arrival.
When Axel walked in, I beamed at him wanting to share this incredible moment with him.
“She’s so beautiful,” I announced proudly after he’d pulled me into his arms and kissed me soundly.
“Oh, yeah?” he grinned.
“Yeah,” I nodded. “Mad?”
“He’s with Ry,” he replied, his gaze turning to the littlest member of our extended family. “Look at that hair,” he chuckled.
“There’s a lot of it,” I agreed with a grin as Sal finally placed her in my arms. I’d been waiting, rather impatiently, since she’d been born.
“She looks so much like you, man,” Axel said, looking down at the tiny bundle nestled in my arms.
“You think?” Sal grinned, practically bursting with pride.
“She’ll be gorgeous just like her mama,” I winked over at Kat who was smiling tiredly at us all. “I think we should let these two ladies get some beauty sleep,” I added, noticing exactly how exhausted Kat looked. It was a lot of commotion after having just given birth.
“Good idea,” Sal nodded. “You’ll stay?” he asked Jill as she swept by checking on Kat.
Jill had been amazing throughout the whole birth and I didn’t blame Sal for not wanting her far. I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to convince her to move in.
“I’ll stay awhile longer,” she assured him, grasping his hand briefly with a warm smile.
She was completely in her element. I was so proud of her.
“We’ll be by tomorrow if you’re not discharged by then. Otherwise, we’ll bring some food by the house,” I told Sal, giving him a quick hug. He wasn’t typically much of a hugger but I couldn’t help myself. “I’ll buy some prepared food,” I added with an eye roll when I saw the look of apprehension on his face.
“Thanks, sis,” he replied, hugging me back briefly before turning his attention to his family.
I looked at Sal and marveled at how much he’d changed from the brother I’d caught glimpses of as a kid. He was still gruff and at times distant, I had no doubt that would always be the case to some degree, but he was also centered in a way I hadn’t seen before. He was happy from the inside out; he just showed it in his own way. Love had done that for him. It had done the same for me.
“Want to go home?” I murmured to Axel as he wrapped an arm around me.
“Yeah, baby,” he nodded. “Let’s take the bike. Someone can bring your car back later,” he added.
“Sounds perfect,” I replied with an exalted grin. I freaking loved that bike and the man who rode it.
“I think we should start the expansion project on the house,” I mused as we walked down the hospital halls toward the exit.
“Oh, yeah?” he cocked a brow.
I shrugged innocently, knowing my suggestion resonated with him. It meant my letting go of the past and moving toward our future.
He stopped me as we reached the parking lot, stooping to look into my eyes. “You lettin’ it go?” he asked.
I swallowed against the ball of emotion suddenly choking me. I wouldn’t ever fully get over the loss of my father and we still didn’t know who’d killed him. I still had a long road with my mother. But with Axel by my side, propping me up, I felt like I could do anything. The truth was that with the love of a great man I could do anything.
“Yeah, babe,” I grinned. “Now are you gonna take me for a ride?”
He licked his lips, his eyes perusing my form in a way that made my heart pound and knees go weak.
“We’ll take the long way,” he growled into my neck.
In so many ways, we had taken the long way around, but in that time, we’d come together far stronger than I’d ever thought possible. It was time to hold tightly to my man for whatever the future held and always remember to enjoy the ride along the way.
Epilogue
One Month Later
“Mom?” I called as I walked through our house. It was a bit of a disaster with the construction we’d started and I was ready to have my home back – well a bigger version of it anyway.
“In here,” her voice called from the nursery.
I found my son and mother sitting on the floor looking at books. Maddox squealed when he saw me, crawling over to be picked up. I scooped him up kissing his sweet neck and smiled.
“How did you two do?” I asked, tickling his belly.
“Great,” she smiled, rising to her feet.
Ever since that visit over six weeks ago, we’d been letting her spend time at the house. It was only recently we began leaving her alone with Maddox for any length of time. Maddox adored her and the feeling was mutual.
“Do you want to stay for dinner?” I offered as she followed me into the kitchen.
“I would but Sal wanted me to help with Wren for an hour or so tonight,” she shared with a bright smile.
I knew that was huge for her. My brother had been decidedly more cautious about letting our mother near his family. Slowly but surely, he was coming around as she proved on a daily basis that people could change. He knew it was possible since he himself had already proven that ten times over.
“That’s great. Give her a kiss for me. I’ll be over there tomorrow,” I replied as I tried to keep my slightly frazzled state under wraps.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
Hopefully.
“Yep,” I nodded far too quickly.
She didn’t press. Our relationship had dramatically improved to something far healthier than we’d ever had, but we still had a way to go.
I walked her out hearing my phone buzz from the other room.
Is he home yet?
Have you told him?
Jill’s persistent texts made me sigh with exasperation. It had been all of twenty minutes since I’d seen her.
I was also irritated with her constantly dodging my questions about her love life. Her divorce was in full swing, but she’d settled in comfortably in Hawthorne. She loved her job and had daycare for Mason. I wanted to see her have some fun.
Not yet
I typed quickly, setting my phone aside and beginning to make dinner while Maddox entertained himself with the Tupperware drawer. He was growing up so fast; he’d be walking any day. I couldn’t believe it.
Axel strode in as I was putting the casserole in the oven. He’d been spending more hours at the club as the guys worked to solve what the cops weren’t. There were no official answers about my father’s murder, but every day, it looked more and more like it had been the Black Riders. The consequences of that were daunting at best.
“Hi, baby,” his deep voice rumbled and he kissed my neck.
“Hi,” I replied, trying to hide my nervous energy.
“Hey, little man,” he greeted Maddox, scooping him up.