EPILOGUE Part 2 - Eight Years Later

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Ding dong! I ring the doorbell.

Michelle is bouncing by my feet excitedly, her chubby cheeks stretched wide as she grips the present tight with her stubby little fingers. Landon smiles down at her fondly and I can't help but melt at the sight. I love how good he is with her, daddy's little princess. It quite reminds me of my relationship with own father before his passing. Landon even French braided her dark brown hair before we left, quite well, might I add. He's learned a lot these past years. 

"What's taking them so long?" Jamie, our six-year-old, grumbles, as impatient as ever. He looks like a miniature Landon, with his gray eyes and dark hair. He's going to be a handsome man some day. I just hope he won't break too many hearts.

 A loud crash sounds from inside my brother's massive house. "Just a moment!" Sophie's voice carries through the door. After a few seconds the door opens, Sophie's blue eyes twinkling at us. She's wearing a pale blue summer dress, looking as dazzling as ever, though a little flustered.

"Hi! Come in!" she beckons and we all crowd in. "The twins are... um, they were just here..." she looks around, frowning.

I spot a broken vase on the floor and grin. That must have been the crash. "They causing mayhem again?"

Sophie grimaces and wipes at her forehead. "As usual. I seriously don't know where they get the energy."

Landon laughs and ruffles Jamie's hair. "Tell me about it."

Jamie frowns up at him and rolls his eyes. Yeah, he may have gotten that from me.

"Well, anyway" Sophie braves a smile. "Welcome."

"Where's Grayson and Carter?" Jamie asks, looking around.

"At the moment?" Sophie sighs. "Probably upstairs. Boys!" she hollers toward the stairs.

"I'm gonna go find them" Jamie holds up the present he's carrying and heads toward the noises.

"Mommy?" Michelle jumps on her feet again, tugging at my shorts.

"Yes, honey?"

"I wanna give the present, too."

"Well, go find them, then," I encourage her. She looks around the foyer, biting her lip shyly. "Jamie, take her with you."

Jamie grabs Michelle's hand and starts dragging her to another room, his eyes scanning the space.

"Just follow the noise!" Sophie quips after them, and just then we hear another loud crash from upstairs. She sighs.

"Where's Nate?" I ask once the kids have disappeared upstairs.

"In the kitchen" Sophie starts leading us there. "Giving finishing touches to the cake."

As we step into the huge gleaming kitchen, my eyes are immediately drawn to an impressive three-tier strawberry cake sitting on the counter. It looks delicious.

Nate appears from behind the cake and comes to give me and Landon hugs. "How are you all?"

"Good," I grin against his shoulder. "How is everything here? Close to a mental breakdown, yet?" I joke.

"Close," he winks. "did I hear something breaking?" he turns to his wife.

She nods, "A vase. I actually have to go clean that up before everyone else arrives."

"I'll do it" Nate smiles at her and leaves us.

"Auntie! Landon!" I'm suddenly attacked in the form of two eight-year-olds. They hug me tight and I return it, then they turn to Landon and he high-fives them.

"Grayson, Carter," I smile down at the identical twins. They have Sophie's beautiful blue eyes and Nate's dark hair. They're handsome little boys.

"Thanks for the gifts," they grin up at us, white rows of teeth gleaming. Landon had picked them some car video game and a few Hot Wheels, since they are obsessed with cars right now.

"You're welcome," I smile.

Suddenly their eyes dart to the door and widen. I frown and hear loud footsteps coming closer, as if someone is running.

"Gotta bounce!" Grayson yells and grabs his twin before they ninja somersault themselves out of the second exit out of the kitchen. Just when I'm about to ask what's going on, Jamie bursts into the kitchen, holding a Nerf gun.

"Where did they go?" he pants, his eyes darting everywhere.

"We ain't no snitches" Landon grins at him, shrugging his wide shoulders. Jamie pauses for a second, then nods seriously, after which he runs back out of the room.

"Landon!" I playfully slap his arm.

"What?" he asks me innocently.

Í don't answer, just shake my head smiling.

"Jamie!" Michelle's soft voice calls in the living room and Landon, Sophie and I follow the noise.

"Stop!" Michelle is running after the boys, holding a small Nerf gun of her own. I arch my brows.

"Nope!" Jamie looks behind his shoulder at her, easily dodging her sloppy shots.

"But I can't hit you when you move!" she wails, looking frustrated, trying to keep up with her shorter legs. I stifle a laugh, whereas Landon just full-out laughs.

"That's the point!" her brother rolls his eyes at her.

"Here, I'll help you" a grinning Nate appears out of nowhere and lifts her on his shoulders before racing after the boys. Michelle giggles and we can hear her shouts of victory from several rooms down.

The doorbell rings and Sophie goes to let the guests in. Aunt Melissa and Luke walk in followed by uncle Rick and Emma.

"Hi!" We all exchange hugs and then get out of the way when Sophie's side of the family starts trickling in. The twins get out of the game for long enough to greet everybody and then they run off again, taking their cousins Lily and Liam with them. The kids run around shooting the foam bullets at each other while us adults gather in the large backyard for coffee and cake. It's a nice sunny day and it doesn't take long for the kids to follow us outside.

"No shooting around the table!" Sophie yells at them when one foam bullet almost hits my coffee cup.

"Sorry mom!" Jamie, the culprit, shouts as he runs by. Distracted, he's too late in noticing Michelle, who has dropped her gun and is bent down to pick it up. Trying to avoid running her over, he swerves and tumbles right into the swimming pool. He shrieks in surprise as he hits the water, splashing water on the twins, who burst in laughter.

Jamie, who only looks refreshed after his dive, gets out of the pool and stands there like a wet dog. Michelle can't help but giggle as she watches him dripping water everywhere, and he scowls at her.

"Come on" Nate is trying hard not to laugh, "let's get you in some dry clothes, yeah?"

Jamie nods and disappears inside with him, and the rest of the kids seem to think that was a good way to finish the game as they crowd us around the table, sniffing out the sweets.

When Jamie is back in the twin's clothes that are too big on him, Carter and Grayson cut the cake.

"Daddy?" Michelle sits on Landon's lap with her arms around his neck.

"Yes, my sweet little munchkin?"

"Can I have two more cookies?" she holds up two of the fingers, smiling sweetly at her dad.

"Isn't your tummy full already?" Landon looks surprised, considering she's already had some cake and muffins.

She shakes her head, giving him a sloppy kiss on the cheek.

"Fine" Landon gives in, smiling down at her. "But just the two." She's going to have such a sugar rush it's not even funny. But it's a special occasion, after all.

"Yay!" she claps her hands and reaches for two of the biggest cookies in sight, both bigger than the palm of her hand. "I want those. Yummy cookies!"

I can't help but smile as I look at her stuffing her face with the cookies, crumbs sticking to the sides of her mouth as Landon holds her. I'm one lucky lady.


The end

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Thank you to everyone who's stuck with this to the end! <3 I can't believe it's done! :D

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