Justice Falling (Falling #3)(79)
Camille flew out of bed and into my arms. She wrapped her legs around my waist and sat in my lap. “I love you, Nathaniel Walker. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me or Tanner. We will wear your family name with such pride.” She kissed me for all she was worth. I pressed my arms to her back, surrounding myself with the thing that made me the happiest man on earth.
Epilogue
One year later…
I stared at the wedding photo of Nate, Tanner and me. It sat in a position of honor on my desk at Jensen Construction. Thinking back to that day six months ago filled me with incredible joy. Our Caribbean cruise ship wedding was utterly magical. Nate and Tanner wore matching tuxes, as promised, each with a dark eggplant colored vest and tie. Jin wore a stunning strapless, purple tea-length gown that matched. Collier looked handsome in a similar tux standing as best man. The helm of the cruise ship was decorated with hydrangeas and a white metal arch was fashioned with ribbon and filled in with giant bursts of sunflowers. Hank walked me down the aisle wearing a dark grey suit with a lavender tie. I could have had Tripp walk me down but I didn’t want Marcus to feel slighted. Besides, Hank had been there for me from the very beginning and we shared a deep care and respect for one another. The same way a father and daughter would, even though he was only eleven years my senior.
The sky had been a pristine blue and the ocean waters calm as we vowed to love, honor and cherish one another all the days of our lives. We added a section to the ceremony where Tanner officially accepted Nate as his father. We signed our marriage certificate and Tanner’s adoptions papers in front of God and everyone.
All the people we loved and cared about were in attendance. The Jensen’s, the Stone’s, Dean and Oliver and my two brothers, Tripp and Marcus. Nate’s family flew in from England.
After the ceremony, we spent ten days with our friends and family cruising along the Caribbean islands. After the ten days, everyone went their separate ways, and Nate and I spent an additional week in Jamaica for our private honeymoon. It was the first time in five years I had been away from my son, but Jin and Tripp assured me they had it covered. We received text messages and funny pics of Tanner daily. My brothers and I had gotten to know each other pretty well. Marcus had another year of college, but kept in touch. He had a lovely girlfriend he was smitten with and planned to marry one day. When school was over, they agreed to move to New York to be closer to Tripp and me.
Tripp still lived in London’s condo and offered them a home with him. He said he hated being in the apartment alone.
Tripp and I were now the best of friends. We lunched every Wednesday and he attended family dinners every Sunday night at my home with Nate. Dinners were a standing invitation to whomever could make it. That included Collier, London, Emma, as well as our extended family of friends; Hank, Aspen, little Hannah, Dean, Oliver, Jin and Zach. Tanner adored Hannah and treated her like his cousin. We left it that way. In my world, friends were the family you chose.
“What are you still doing here? Let’s go get the kids,” Hank said as we closed up the office. It was our usual routine. We entered the private elevator. Yep, I had been upgraded to special status and now had use of the private elevator. It felt incredibly “Mission Impossible-esque” to have my own code. I entered the number and pressed the button to go down to the fifth floor. We exited and pressed another few buttons on the door outside the office. Security in this part of the building had been expanded. Oliver wouldn’t have it any other way.
As we entered, several squeals could be heard. Hannah toddled over to her father, arms open wide as she gibber-jabbered. Drool escaped her mouth in a long string of slime as Hank scooped her into his arms. “How’s my Hannah Banana today?” Hank asked as he peppered her face with kisses. She slobbered and held her Dad’s neck, smacking his face repeatedly. Her golden blond hair curled around her neck and ears. A bright red bow held up a tiny bunch of curls, reminding me of Pebbles from the Flintstones.
A whoosh hit my side. “Mommy!” Tanner hugged me tight then brought his ear to my belly. “What’s my baby doing in there?”
I leaned over and hugged my son. “Sleeping.” He concentrated on my stomach and frowned. “My brother sure sleeps a lot.” He sighed and his little shoulders slumped. From behind me I heard two more voices.
“Hey, Precious, I thought I was picking up our guy today?” He hugged me and kissed my neck, nibbling a little. The spark sent chills down my spine to settle heavily between my thighs, softening my sex, making it wet and ready to be taken. He growled into my neck. “I know that look. Don’t make me take you to the nursing room to shag the shite out of my wife.”
“Please do,” I murmured back, my need building stronger with each second. Damn hormones were insane. I wanted him morning, noon and night. A few times the past few weeks I’d begged him to meet me at the apartment for an afternoon delight. He always obliged. Such a good husband.
“Later, love.” He kissed me one last time, gave the baby belly a rub and crouched to hug Tanner.
Aspen must have entered behind him because she had Hannah on her hip and was talking to Jin about weaning Hannah off nursing and switching to cow’s milk. Above Jin’s head, the sign AIR Bright Children’s Center sparkled. I smiled widely, truly enjoying how life came full circle.
When Aspen had Hannah, she and Hank couldn’t bear to be away from their daughter, but neither of them would agree to leave their job. The issue of a nanny was born. Oliver suggested they open a daycare instead. Nate came up with the idea of hiring Jin as the Director for the center. She had spent the last year going back to school getting her certifications and was ready when the center opened. I loved seeing Jin so content.