Page 96 of The Bartender's Baby

With my family.

EPILOGUE

NATE

It was a usual Saturday afternoon at Imagination Station with the packs of children shrieking and sprinting all over the damn place.

ButthisSaturday was different.

Because this Saturday, my son waswalking.

“Look at ’im! Look at ’im!” I gestured wildly at my almost one-year-old as he toddled toward me, one unsteady step at a time. Liam, Jude, and Dylan, with Bennet in his arms, watched.

I stayed crouched down on my haunches, hands out and waiting for him. “Yeah, buddy! You got it!” He grinned at me, drool running down his chin. “That’s it!”

With one last step, he threw himself at me, and I caught him, laughing. I held him up, circling around, winning delighted screeches, before facing my friends, puffing out my chest.

“You see him go?” I crowed, proud motherfucking papa. “Gonna be a track star.”

Dylan smirked, his baseball cap pulled low enough that his nine-month-old could grab at it.

“What?” I asked, setting George back on his feet so he could take another few steps, this time holding on to my fingers.

“I just can’t believe it,” Dylan said, his eyes on his son, voice quiet.

I led Frogger toward the bench so we could sit down. “What?”

“You.” Liam stretched out his long legs in front of him. “You went from literally grimacing about being here to being the first one to arrive every time we meet.”

I shrugged, tapping my hand on the bench. “Somebody’s gotta save our seats.”

Next to me, Jude chuckled. “Yeah, you’re the president of the Single Dads’ Club.”

I nodded, proud, but raised my hand when a thought crossed my mind. “We never did take that vote on our new name. Married Dads’ Association.”

“Why do we need a vote?” Dylan asked. “That’s just what it is.”

I frowned at him. “Says who?”

“Says all of us since that’s what we are,” he said, sweeping his hand out.

Technically, Jude wasn’t married, but he was headed that way without question. They only wanted to wait until their new house was built.

After Dylan and my sister were married last summer, Liam and Kennedy had taken a quick weekend trip to elope, while Tabby and I had made it official this past May with a small ceremony at the town hall and a reception at Tabby Cat. Of course.

In the months since the wine bar and bistro had opened, it had earned rave reviews. Collin’s food was top-notch, and he even started working with Brooke to have fresh seasonal produce delivered. A win for everyone.

Tabby had been immediately hired after her graduation, flourishing in her career and as a mother. Though she was a big-time corporate accountant, she still found time to handle my books, and I found time to eat her out for breakfast almost every morning. A win for everyone.

A small group coming through the doors of Imagination caught my eye, and I turned to see a man who I’d become familiar with after the fire. "Hey, Captain," I called out, George still wobbling on his feet beside me. "Didn't expect to see you here."

Captain Stone, the firefighter who I’d spoken with multiple times, met my hand for a shake. “Hey, uh, Nate, right?”

I lifted George up into my arms. “Yeah. Good to see you.”

He swept his gaze over me and my son. “I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”

“Me, too. And thanks again for everything you did.”

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