Are You Ready? (Everlasting Ink #3)

Epilogue Briar

I knew the minute Forrest slid the ring on my finger that I didn’t want to wait to get married. I wanted to start the rest of our lives together. The following Monday, I contacted a lawyer to start the adoption process. The process for a stepparent to adopt is three to four months on average.

When the girls each handed Forrest an envelope, on Christmas morning with the paperwork he would need to sign to start the process, I’d never seen him smile like that. In fact, the smile has not left his face since that morning.

It could have something to do with the fact that we’re in Vegas for our wedding. When I started looking for places to get married, Vegas was always a top hit. When I saw they had a children's museum and other fun things for the girls to do, I was set. We considered Gatlinburg, but I wanted a place that had something for everyone.

I chose Vegas.

And here we are.

We decided on a New Year’s Eve wedding. We’re starting the new year off right as a family of four. Sure, it’s cliché to get married on a holiday, but it feels right, so we’re going with it. Besides, that gives us an excuse to celebrate extra hard every New Year’s Eve, not that we need an excuse, but we’ll have it, anyway.

“It’s my understanding the groom wants to say a few words,” the officiant announces.

I give Forrest a curious look, and he just smiles and releases my hands, pulling a piece of paper out of his back pocket.

He scans the crowd. Then his eyes lock onto mine. There is a very important person missing today, and well, I have something I need to say. He clears his throat and begins to read.

“ Mr. Pearce,

“My name is Forrest Huntley, and today, I’m marrying your daughter, Briar. It’s painful to admit that I finally know what it’s like to miss someone without ever meeting them. Although we’ve never met in person, you live on through your daughters and your granddaughters and now through me.

“I want to take this opportunity to say thank you. Thank you for raising such a strong, loving, incredible woman. Meeting Briar has changed my life in so many ways. I knew my life was incomplete, but I didn’t know what I was missing until Briar and the girls walked into my life. They are everything I never knew I needed.

“Loving your daughter is an honor and a privilege and I promise you all four of your girls will be safe, loved, and cherished with me. You heard that right. Brogan is my new sister, and I vow to you that I’ll watch over her too. We’re all a family now.

“We’re missing you deeply, especially today, but we know you’re here in our hearts. Your legacy will live on through all of us. I’ll be sure to remind River and Rayne how much you liked to fish, and that the fish bite better on the Ashby River when it’s raining. I’ll show them, all of them, what it means to have a man love them and support them no matter what, just as you did for Briar and Brogan. I’ll carry that torch for both of us .

“Today, we stand before our family and friends and vow to love each other until death do us part. It is also my vow to you to honor, love, and cherish all four of your girls. Their hearts are safe with me.

“Your son-in-law, Forrest”

I’m sobbing. I can’t see Forrest because my tears blur my vision. I can imagine how awful I look with my eyes red and my face blotchy, but I can’t find it in me to care. This man, my husband, he’s the most incredible loving man I’ve ever met, and for him to do this, to write that letter.

“Forrest—” My voice cracks.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” I lean in for a kiss, and the officiant rushes to pronounce us.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

“Fucking finally,” Forrest breathes under his breath before his lips capture mine. The girls giggle and our friends and family cheer.

Pulling out of the kiss, Forrest bends and scoops both of the girls up in his arms. I step into him and wrap my arms around his waist. “My girls,” he murmurs.

“Let’s celebrate!” Lachlan cheers.

“We’ll meet you all back at the hotel. They have a conference room reserved for us,” Forrest tells everyone.

“Daddy, what’s a cofence room?” River asks.

“A conference room is a big room with lots of tables and chairs and open space for us to dance and celebrate.”

“Sounds like a party,” Maddox says. He reaches for Rayne and plops her on his hip.

Lachlan does the same with River.

“You’re going to spoil them,” Briar warns, with no real warning in her tone.

“That’s the plan.” Maddox grins. “We’re taking the girls with us. We’ll meet you back at the hotel. ”

Before we can object, they’re leaving. That’s when I noticed everyone else has gone too. “It’s just us,” I say, turning back to Forrest.

“Remind me to thank them for giving me a few moments alone with my wife.” Forrest tosses me over his shoulder and takes off down the hall. We end up in the room I used to get ready. All my stuff is gone, so I know the ladies must have grabbed it for me.

“I love our daughters, but I need you.” He kicks the door closed and slides me down his body, only to lift me again. I wrap my legs around his waist as he pushes my back against the door. “I love you, Mrs. Huntley.”

My face hurts from smiling so much. “I love you too.”

“Thank you for this life, for our daughters. I have just one question.”

“What’s that?” I ask as he trails kisses down my neck.

“When can we have more?”

“W-What?” I huff out a laugh.

“More kids. I want more. The girls are going to turn five in a few months. We don’t want them too far apart.”

“You want more kids. Now?”

“I mean, I wasn’t going to do it here, but I’m game,” he says, reaching between us. His hand finds its way under my dress as he slips his fingers beneath my lace thong. “What do you say, wife? Want to make a baby with me?”

“Not here.”

“Fine, our hotel room then. We’ll call this practice or a warm-up.” He kisses me just below my ear, and I shiver at his touch.

“Everyone is waiting for us.”

“Fine. Emerson and Roman are keeping the girls in their room tonight with Lilly for a sleepover. We can start then.”

“Is that really what you want?”

“You pregnant with my baby? To give the girls a brother or a sister? Yes. That’s really what I want. ”

“Me too.” Just when I think this man can’t make me fall more in love with him, he does. I knew we both wanted more kids, but I never dreamed he’d want to start now.

“It takes time, right? Once you stop your birth control?”

“I think so. I mean that’s what they say.”

“So, we’ll leave those in Vegas.” He winks.

“Yeah, we’ll leave those in Vegas.”

He kisses me again, and I get lost in him.

“If I don’t stop, we’re not leaving this room.”

“We have a lifetime,” I remind him.

“A lifetime,” he agrees.

“It was beautiful,” Brogan says, resting her head on my shoulder. “I’m so happy for you.”

“I’m happy for us. We’re stronger than ever.”

“We are.”

“He can’t take his eyes off you.”

“We’re going to try to have a baby,” I admit.

“Really?” Brogan sits up and wraps me in a hug. “I love that for you.”

“Yours is out there, Brogan. It’s scary as hell, but it’s worth it.”

“One day.” She smiles, and I’m glad she’s open to finding love of her own.

“We’re heading up to our room. The girls and Lilly are losing steam,” Emerson says as she joins us.

“Thank you for keeping them.”

“Of course. The way my brother has been staring at you all night, it’s for their safety. We don’t need them scarred for life,” Emerson jokes.

“Mommy!” The girls come rushing over. “Daddy said we have to go now to spend the night with Lilly.”

“That’s right. You’re going to have so much fun. In the morning, we’re going to have breakfast and then we’ ll go explore.”

“Yay.” They hug me goodbye, and rush over to Forrest and do the same.

“I’ll see you later. Welcome to the family. Officially.” Emerson winks, and heads to where Roman, Lilly, and the girls are waiting for her.

“You ready to hit the town?” Maggie asks Brogan. She leans in and offers me a hug. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“Yeah, might as well see what the Vegas fuss is all about.” Brogan stands. “Just us?”

Maggie shrugs. “I think Maddox and Lachlan are venturing out too. But yeah, just us.”

“Be safe,” I warn them. “Call us if you need us.”

“I’ll call Monroe or Emerson.” Brogan smiles. “It’s your wedding night.”

My wedding night.

“I’m married!”

They laugh and give me another hug before leaving. I move to where Forrest is talking to the rest of our crew. Lachlan tugs me into a hug.

“You’re good for him,” he tells me.

“We’re good for each other.”

“Stop hogging the bride,” Legend complains, pulling me into a hug.

“My turn.” Monroe steps into a side hug because she’s holding their seven-week-old son, Kane. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” I bend and kiss Kane on the head. “He’s precious.”

“You need one,” Legend tells me.

“We’re working on it,” Forrest speaks up.

“My turn, and we’re out.” Maddox hugs me tightly, lifting my feet off the floor.

“Paws off, Mad,” Forrest grumbles.

“We love you!” Monroe waves as the four of them and baby Kane walk away. Forrest and I make sure we’re not leaving anything behind and head up to our room. Once there, I walk to the window and take in the view of the city that never sleeps. I hear him approach, and I turn to face him.

“Are you ready?” I ask him.

He tilts his head to the side. “For you? Always.”