Texas Temptation (Making a Family #1)

Epilogue

It was a mob scene. The fresh graduates streamed out into the crowd, looking for relatives and friends. The hot June sunshine beat down, causing those in the graduation robes to wish the ceremony had been held in December.

Jordan spotted Cade, easy to do when he was the tallest man in that direction. She waved, and he caught her eye, grinning over the crowd. In only moments, he drew near, carrying little Emma. Caleb walked proudly by his side. Amelia trailed behind, letting Cade do the work of making a way through the sea of people. She’d worn a frilly pink organdy dress complete with a broad-brimmed Southern belle hat to the ceremonies.

Cade reached Jordan first.

“Congratulations, Ms. College Graduate.”

He kissed her. Emma fussed, and Jordan reached out to take her in her arms and nuzzle her soft cheek. At two, she was a handful and wanted to get down. Jordan felt her slipping.

“No, you don’t,” Cade said, taking her back. “We’d lose you in this crowd. You stay with Daddy.”

Caleb hugged his mom.

“I want to go to college and graduate when I get big,” he said.

At nine, he was almost as tall as his mother. Compared to Emma, he seemed so grown up.

Jordan kissed his cheek. “And so you shall.”

“Goodness, what a crowd,” Amelia said, pushing through and hugging Jordan. “Are you feeling all right? I declare in this heat all I want to do is have a cool lemonade and sit in the shade. You weren’t the only pregnant graduate. Did you see those other two? I thought that gal with the dark hair might deliver on the stage she’s so huge.”

Jordan smiled and nodded, resting her hands on the swell of her stomach. Their next child was due in two weeks. She’d known it was cutting it close, and was grateful she had the chance to take part in the graduation ceremonies. It’d been a long time coming. She wished her Aunt Maggie knew.

“Are you ready to head for home?” Cade asked, his arm around her shoulders, steering her away from the heart of the crowd.

Home. The Everett ranch, where she and Cade had returned for their August first wedding five years ago. It would always be a magical place to live—because Cade was there.

He’d adopted Caleb shortly after their marriage, explaining to the young boy that his biological father was Cade’s cousin, which that made him and Cade related by blood, so now Cade was making it legal. He’d always be Caleb’s dad.

As he was to Emma, their precious baby girl born two years ago. And to the baby she was now carrying.

Cade refused to invite Sammy to family events since discovering his part in Jordan’s life. Sammy had given Cade’s name in Florida when on spring break to thumb his nose at his cousin and make sure no one could discover he’d skipped out when he was supposed to be in Texas. He’d gotten a kick out of playing the big honcho like his cousin. Only he’d never be the man Cade Everett was.

Few others in the family knew all the ins and outs, but those that did had welcomed Jordan and Caleb with open arms. The others had no reason to hold back. She had the family she so longed for.

As they settled in the big sedan, Amelia insisted she sit in back with Caleb and Emma. Cade glanced at his wife when they pulled away and crawled through the heavy traffic.

“I for one, am glad you won’t be making the trip to Dallas anymore. I worried every day you did.”

She patted his arm and smiled serenely. “I know, but I was careful every time. History won’t repeat itself.”

She knew he still worried about other drivers, fearing something would happen to his second family as it had to his first. Jordan did all she could to allay those fears. Only time would completely heal his fears.

And she hoped for another fifty or sixty years at least.

It was amazing, actually, that he loved her so much. In the five years they’d lived together, her own love had grown, as had Cade’s. She never suspected when knocking on the door in the rain so long ago that life would turn out so happy. Back then, all she’d wanted was the operation for Caleb’s eyes.

Now, she had more happiness than she could ever have hoped for. She had long ago forgiven Sammy. Because of him, she’d found her true love.

He looked at her, meeting her eyes, the knowing reflected in his.

“I can’t wait to get you alone,” he murmured for her ears alone.

“I’ll love that,” she replied, her smile as bright as the Texas sunshine.

Did you enjoy this story?

If so, you may enjoy AN UNEXPECTED MATCH , Book Two in the Making a Family Series.