Page 44 of Rathgar

I let that warm feeling float through my heart and flow outward, until I’m practically glowing with it.

Iris looks up and catches my eye, hands covered in fruit juice. She waves brightly, plastic knife still in hand. “Hey Mommy!”

I step into the kitchen and join her at the table, looking at all the cute little shapes they cut out of the fruit. “Hey sweetheart,” I say, kissing the top of her head. “Having fun?”

“Yeah,” Iris says. “Oh! I made this one for you.” She offers her closed fist and I hold out my hand. It’s a piece of watermelon cut into the shape of a heart.

And here I thought my heart couldn’t be any fuller.

“Hearts are for people you love. And I love my mommy.”

“Thank you so much. I love it.” And I wrap my arms around her, still unable to believe this is my life. From abandoned and pregnant the first time around to a house and a family full of love.

I look at Rathgar and he’s resting his chin on his hand, eyes glazed over with the same sort of blissful peace mine are. “How long were you standing out there staring?” He says with a grin. “Thought you could sneak up on us, huh?”

I chuckle and wrap my arms around his neck. “What can I say? I’m happy. And you two looked so cute together.”

Rathgar makes a mock pout, which is even more adorable given his gruff, scarred face. “I’m not cute.”

“You are when you’re with Iris.”

He crosses his arms, but finally relents with a huff. He embraces me back and whispers in my ear. “You better not tell anyone else about that, though. I have a reputation, you know?”

“Whatever you say, you big teddy bear.”

Rathgar snorts and shakes his head. “What am I going to do with you?”

An idea sparks to mind, and because he’s sitting down I can actually reach. “Kiss me.”

And as our lips seal together, we wordlessly promise one another a future. A family.

EPILOGUE

RATHGAR

“Dada, look!” Iris points into the water with the kind of pure, innocent wonder only a child can have. A long, red fish sweeps through the clear water and brushes against her leg, spouting up bubbles to the surface. “It tickles!”

“I think they like you — look, there’s another one!” This time a pale white fish with golden stripes swims toward us. Seaweed and smaller fish float through the impossibly clear water, seemingly unperturbed by our presence. Ever since seeing fish at the lake nearby our house, Iris has been wanting to see them more up close.

Today’s her birthday, and I promised I’d take her here, to the Crystal Sea, where fun and friendly fish swirl through the cool waters and colorful plants thrive both above and below water. It was a bit of a trek, but the look on her face makes it all worth it.

“Wooow!” Iris cries as one of the bigger fish flicks its tail and actually jumps out of the water for a split second. “Dada, did you see that? It’s flying!”

I cross my arms and revel in the warm sun, watching Iris splash and play in the shallow waters. It’s a perfect day for a refreshing swim, and the fact that it’s Iris’s birthday makes it all the more special.

“All right, you two!” Janie calls from back on shore. “Lunch is just about ready. Come in and dry off so you can eat.”

“Aww,” Iris groans, the cutest little pout on her face.

“We can play more after we eat, okay?” I take her hand and lead her back to shore. The feeling of her soft, small hand in mine is not lost on me. How did I get so lucky?

I never thought I’d find a mate. Never thought I was cut out for that kind of thing. But then Janie and her little girl crashed into my life — and into my heart. Every day with them is a blessing, and our new daughter Luna keeps us on our toes.

As we wade to shore, I see the little one on Janie’s hip, breastfeeding while she reaches to keep the blanket from flying away in the wind. She’s still so young, but already she’s got fine, dark hair and her mother’s eyes.

Iris runs to the blanket first, dripping everywhere. I grab a towel and throw it over her while I gather her up in a hug. “Gotcha!”

“Ahhh, Dada!” She screams, wriggling in my grasp. I ruffle the towel over her body and hair. When I’ve got most of the excess water off, she looks up at me with ruffled hair and a flushed, pink face. She says she wants to go play some more, but I know after she eats she’s going to fall right asleep.

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