that he’s happy.”
“Let me make a few calls,” he offers after a long silence.
While we wait for the sheriff to call back, I contact Fitz Everhart. He used to be Henry’s personal lawyer. We need someone who can handle the adoption for us since I can’t do it. He agrees to take over.
After I’m done with the calls and I explain our plan to my brothers, things become tense. We’re all anxious because no one wants Carter to leave. Leyla is glued to the baby. If this doesn’t work, I’m not sure what we’re going to do. She’s in love with this little boy.
It isn’t until the next morning when we hear from the sheriff. He arrives at the house with two teenagers. Well, they are eighteen. They are from Happy Springs and attend the University of Oregon.
“My parents don’t know anything about the baby,” the mom says.
“My mother would kill me,” the poor kid says, terrified. “What if she finds out?”
“No one should find out,” the girl presses. “You have to promise that no one will know we’re his parents.”
“We promise to keep the information between us,” Leyla promises. “If you allow it, we’d love to become his parents.”
They agree to sign the adoption consent forms. Fitz is on Facetime, explaining to them what they have to sign and their rights. Both choose not to have an open adoption, but if Carter wants to meet them, we can reach out to them.
“Would you like us to pay for the medical expenses,” I offer.
The guy shakes his head. “We only ask that you raise him like he was yours. Be a good father to him.”
“It’ll be an honor to do it,” I promise.
The sheriff clears his throat and says, “I called Child Welfare and explained that the parents came back for him.”
After they leave, I walk to Leyla and notice she’s crying. “He’s ours,” she sniffs.
I nod and say, “Congratulations.”
“We’re parents,” she mumbles, whispering sweet words to the baby and then handing him to me. “Congratulations, Daddy.”
Taking the baby in my arms, I cradle him. “I promise to love you no matter what.” His little hand touches my cheek, and I fall in love even more with him.
Epilogue
Pierce
Leyla and I don’t want to wait to get married, but we want to do it right. She asks Sophia for help. That woman is one of the most efficient people I know. It’s such a shame that she doesn’t want to step down from being the CEO of Aldry’s Sweets and step up to be my assistant.
In two weeks, she helps Leyla organize our wedding. It’s a crisp Saturday morning when I’m fixing my tuxedo—which matches the one Sophia ordered for Carter. I’m not sure how she pulled this off, but it’s perfect and a little surprise for Leyla. We’re all in Beacon’s house getting ready.
“It feels like the thing I never did when I finished college,” Mills says.
“What is that?” I ask.
“While I went to play hockey, all my friends were off getting married and being in each other’s weddings,” he explains. “This is the third one this year. And don’t forget, Henry and Sophia are doing it all over again once we’re free.”
“Obviously, you are next,” Henry jokes.
Mills glares at him but doesn’t say anything because Arden is with us. Having kids around is a blessing, but it limits our comebacks tragically.
Henry receives a text, looks at us, and says, “They are ready. Let’s go.”
The ceremony is taking place by the new dock. That’s where Leyla and I have spent our time healing and falling in love all over again. Vance built a simple wood arbor. Sophia had it decorated with peach roses, white lilies, peach miniature carnations, and white stock flowers, accented with pitta negra, dusty miller, and green echeveria succulents.
Carter is asleep in my arms, and he looks dashing in his tiny suit. Nyx is heading to the arbor at the same time. Nate, her non-boyfriend, as I refer to him, walks by her side.
“Thank you for coming,” I say when I catch up to them.
“Oh God, he’s adorable,” she says, looking at Carter. “I’m so happy for you guys. This is what you should’ve done years ago. I shouldn’t have agreed to do a half-assed wedding.”
I shrug as if telling her, I fucked up, but I’m fixing my shit.
The explanation is lengthy and belongs to Leyla and me. The regrets were washed away by the storm, and today we’re starting anew.
We all take our places, and when