Page 34 of Starry Night Kisses

epilogue

Evie

Three Years Later

“Everyone, we’d like to introduce you to Nova Marie Adams.” I prop my toddler on my hip, turning so everyone can see her.

Nova stares at them all with carefully guarded eyes the color of a tiger’s eye stone. At only three years old, the little girl has been through hell and back, losing her parents to a house fire only to have her relatives refuse to take her in.

Their loss is Eric’s and my gain. As soon as we met her, we knew she was our daughter. Our little supernova.

Nova turns and looks at me before sliding her eyes to Eric and reaching for him wordlessly. She’s a quiet and timid little girl, so we waited a few weeks to introduce her to our friends.

Eric pulls her into his arms, and she buries her face in the crook of his neck as Daphne walks over slowly.

“Hi there, Nova. It’s so nice to meet you. I have adaughter your age. Would you like to meet her?” Daphne coos softly.

Slowly, Nova nods, and Eric and I share a tearful glance.

Before Daphne can call for her daughter—who is sitting on Bree’s son, Liam’s, lap at the table, coloring—Rose jumps down with a gleeful, high-pitched squeal. “Santa is real, Mommy! Daddy, look! Santa brought me a late Christmas present!”

“A late Christmas present? What did you ask Santa for, sweetheart?” Henry asks her, casting a confused look in Daphne’s direction because I’m sure they got everything Rose requested on her list.

The little blonde skips over, her pigtails bouncing with each leap as she cries, “I asked for a sibling! Now I have a sister!”

Liam sarcastically calls out behind her, “Well, geez, little thorn. What? Am I not good enough for you?”

Eric kneels as Nova shyly picks her head up to examine Rose. I’m not even aware tears are streaming from my eyes until Daphne puts a hand on my back, rubbing it soothingly.

“Hi! I’m Rose!”

Nova looks up at me, then at Eric, before settling back on Rose. “I’m Nova.”

Rose launches herself at our daughter, pulling her into a tight hug. “We’re going to be best friends! Come color with me!”

Nova scrunches her little face as Rose pulls her toward the kitchen table.

Eric stands and wraps his arm around my waist, leaning in to kiss my temple. “If anyone can help her come out of her shell, it’ll be Roselyn.”

Henry comes to stand next to Daphne, mirroring our position as we all watch our daughters together. “They’re gonna be trouble when they get older.”

“Oh, trust me. They’re going to be troublenow,” Bree exclaims as she joins us. “You know I lost Rose for an hour the other day? She was hiding beneath Liam’s bed and refused to come out until he got home.”

I can’t help but laugh. Little Rose is obsessed with Bree’s son, and none of us can see her obsession letting up anytime soon. “Maybe she’ll direct her focus to Nova now.”

“She’s adorable,” Daphne says, looking at us with a sparkle in her eyes. “I’m so happy for you both.”

“We sure got lucky,” I sigh, watching Bree’s other kids say hello to their new pseudo-cousin. With every passing second, Nova seems to brighten, more sure of herself than I’ve seen her since we brought her home. “Look at her. She’s thriving. Maybe we should have introduced them sooner. Are we already bad parents?”

Eric turns me so I’m facing him. “Baby, relax. We’re not bad parents. Too muchnewwasn’t the way to acclimate her.”

“I know, I know, I just–”

“Evelyn, stop,” he gently commands. “You’re a great mother. Stop worrying.” He spins me aroundand wraps his arms around my middle, resting his chin on my shoulder. “She’s perfect, isn’t she?”

I watch Nova smile as Rose shares her coloring book. Her warm, golden brown eyes lift to meet mine, her smile widening as she waves at us.

There was a time when I never could have even dreamed this would be possible—that I’d be a wife again and a mother to an incredible little girl. My husband has made all my dreams come true, and brings new ones to life every single day.

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