Page 73 of Solitude

Beck hums, pulling me into the house and shutting the door. “I think I remember you telling me how lonely this place was actually.”

“It is.Was.” I hold his hands and purse my lips in thought. “I’ve lived in solitude for so long, and I think I still do sometimes… But even in the solitude, I’ve managed to find so much love.”

“Youdeserve all of the love and happiness life has to offer, Winnie.”

“So do you.”

Beck’s mouth quirks up. “I don’t think I would’ve found this much love and happiness without you, ya know?”

“What about hockey?”

“Hockey isn’t forever.” Beck pulls me closer, tugging gently on my hands as he splays a hand over my belly. “Eventually, hockey will end, but I’ll always have you. This love is different because it’s forever.”

Just like the last few weeks, tears gather in my eyes so easily, and I let out a shaky breath. “We’re going to be okay, right?”

He nods. No hesitation. “I can doubt a million things in life, but you’re never one of them.”

“I love you.”

“I love you more,” Beck replies softly, kissing me gently.

EPILOGUE

Five years later…

“Stevie,”I holler from the kitchen, smearing peanut butter and jelly on four pieces of bread before slapping them together and shoving them into the kids lunchboxes. “Please come get your shoes on!”

Jude has been sitting at the door with his backpack on, shoes on, and a book for the last five minutes, and when he sees me coming his way, he leans forward so I can unzip his backpack and shove his lunchbox inside.

I drop a kiss to his forehead. “Thanks, Jude.”

Stevie rounds the corner, skipping toward the pile of shoes in the entryway before grabbing the same pair of green and yellow rain boots she’s been wearing everyday for two weeks now. I can’t find it in me to fight her about it with everything else going on.

She’s wearing a red t-shirt, purple tutu, and now her rain boots.

God, love her.

Grabbing the brush from the counter, I come up behind her and quickly drag a brush through her brown, curly hair and secure it in a ponytail on top of her head. She lets out a blood curdling scream the entire time, and Jude continues to read his book from his place on the floor.

When I found out I was pregnant five years ago, my heart had dropped out of my ass at the thought of having a baby. Then a two weeks later, my doctor informed me there were two babies growing inside of my body, and I called Beck crying and cussing.

I’d never said the f-word before, and Beck was shocked to say the least.

By the announcement of twins and my language.

A boy and a girl. Our Stevie and Jude.

Sylvia tells me often how much the twins remind her of Ben and Beck when they were young. Ben has always been like Jude, quiet and reserved. Jude sits back and observes the scene, but he isn’t afraid to get in on the action when he’s ready.

Stevie, though? My wild child is just like her daddy.

She’s loud and sassy, into everything and defiant. She’s independent, opinionated, and bossy. She’s everything I always wished I’d been when I was younger, and now that I’m a mother, I love nurturing that side of her. Letting her know there’s nothing wrong with having a dominating personality as a woman.

Like night and day, my kids.

My phone rings and buzzes on the counter, breaking me out of my thoughts, and I grin when I see Beck’s name on the display.

“Hey, B.”

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