Page 81 of Carnival Shadows

Alice joins us, sinking into a chair with an exhausted sigh. “Jack’s got more energy than a nuclear reactor today.”

“Takes after his father,” I smirk at Lars, who grins and shrugs.

Eden returns to me, and I pull her into my lap, spreading my fingers over where our daughter grows. We already know it’s a girl, though we’re keeping the name to ourselves for now.

“Aurora!” Eden waves as she approaches with drinks and more snacks. Aurora and Gage are the only ones without kids or a baby on the way. Still, they seem content spoiling everyone else’s children rotten.

The afternoon sun beats down as Gage flips burgers on the grill, his face exposed for once. I never thought I’d see the day—the man who terrified countless visitors in our haunted house now makes silly faces at the kids.

“Uncle Gage! Can I have mine with extra cheese?” Emma bounces on her toes beside him.

“Coming right up.” He winks at her, and my chest tightens at how far we’ve all come.

Eden shifts in my lap, pressing back against me. “Remember when you thought he’d never adjust to family life?”

“To be fair, none of us seemed the type.” I kiss her neck, breathing in her familiar scent only today it’s soaked in river water.

The food draws everyone to the tables we’ve set up. Plates clatter, and voices rise and fall with laughter and conversation. Nash tosses a roll at Colt’s head when he makes a terrible joke, and Sofia scolds them both like misbehaving children.

“Your daughter’s doing somersaults again,” Eden murmurs, guiding my hand to a spot where I can feel the movement.

“Takes after her mother—always putting on a show.” I smile against her hair as she elbows me playfully.

Ty raises his beer. “To family—the ones we chose and made.”

“To family,” we echo. I look around at these people who started as colleagues, became accomplices, and ended up being everything I never knew I needed.

I watch Colt and Nash help Flora from their truck, her belly even bigger than Eden’s. Seven months later, neither of them cares which one is the biological father. They both dote on her like she’s made of glass.

“Need a hand?” Nash steadies Flora as she navigates the uneven ground.

“I’ve got her,” Colt growls. They’ve found their balance, these two. Their possessiveness of Flora has mellowed into something that works for all of them.

Cade’s stretched out on a blanket with Lily curled against him, their daughter Emma building a sandcastle nearby. Never thought I’d see him so settled, but fatherhood suits him.

Aurora passes by with a tray of drinks, Gage’s eyes following her every move. Those two still act like newlyweds, though they’ve been married for over a year.

“Phoenix, put the laptop away,” Tilly scolds, bouncing their fussy daughter. He reluctantly closes it, but I catch him checking his phone. Some habits die hard.

Lars and Alice are helping Jack build what looks like a moat around Emma’s castle. Both kids are covered in sand and pure joy. Alice’s belly is just starting to show with their second.

Sofia’s perched on Ty’s lap, little Anthony asleep against her chest. My old friend has never looked more content, though he runs the carnival with an iron fist.

“Room for one more?” Flora waddles over to where Eden sits.

“Always.” Eden pats the chair beside her. “How’s the nursery coming along?”

“Ask these two overprotective idiots,” Flora jerks her thumb at Colt and Nash. “They’ve repainted it three times because the shade of yellow wasn’t ‘quite right’.”

Nash shrugs, unashamed. “We want it perfect.”

“It will be,” Colt says firmly, his hand resting on Flora’s shoulder while Nash takes her other side.

I watch Eden’s face light up as she talks with Flora about their pregnancies, her hands gesturing animatedly. The setting sun catches her hair, turning it to fire. Three years ago, I considered this kind of peace a weakness. Now I know better.

“Your girl’s going to be running this place one day,” Ty says, standing beside me. “Between Eden’s brains and your... particular skills.”

I smirk. “Let’s hope she gets her mother’s charm instead of my temperament.”

---