Page 32 of Marked By The Grouchy Grizzly

This is more than I ever expected out of life.

I don’t need anything more than this.

My mate, my child, my family—this is more than I ever dreamed possible.

Dad winks at me. “You do realize she’s going to be running everywhere soon, right?”

I laugh, holding Angelica close, breathing in her baby-soft scent. “Let her. I’ll always be here to catch her.”

Lainey reaches for my hand and intertwines our fingers. Her eyes are shimmering with love and happiness.

I’m glad my grouchy days are over. Being a lover definitely beats being a grump.

“The burgers!” Magnus shouts as he walks back out.

“Oh shit!” I gasp when I see the smoke billowing out of the barbecue. I hand Angelica over to my girl and rush over to the grill.

“What’s going on out here?” Magnus asks, looking confused as I flip the burnt burgers.

“Angelica just took her first step!” Mom says proudly.

“Ah, I missed it!” Magnus says, frowning.

Lately, I’ve been feeling like I’m taking first steps too.

Opening myself up. Letting myself be happy. Enjoying the world.

I take another step deeper, feeling gratitude for my wonderful loving family.

And nothing—not even a burnt hamburger—can ruin it.

EPILOGUE

Lainey

Fourteen years later…

I’m trying not to laugh as I watch Julian getting frustrated. He’s attempting to conduct a fly fishing lesson on how to tie a hook to our four crazy cubs, but no one is listening. Angelica is on her phone, our twins, Michael and Liam, are wrestling in the water, and our youngest, Nathan, is pulling off his clothes, about to turn into his little grizzly bear.

“Don’t,” Julian warns as Nathan pulls off his pants. “You’re going to scare the fish away.”

“But this is boring,” Nathan whines. “Why can’t we catch the fish with our bears? It’s more fun that way.”

Julian looks at me and I shrug. “Don’t look at me,” I say, laughing. “This was your idea.”

We’re at his favorite spot on the river, where it goes around a bend and the sun hits the clear cold water just right so it sparkles like diamonds. It really is gorgeous, but the kidsare in no mood for an old man’s sport. They have endless energy to burn.

Michael throws Liam down, but he pulls him down with him and they both crash into the water. They’re fighting over a fishing lure. I don’t know why. They all look the same to me.

“Can you guys—“ Julian shouts, but the boys go underwater before he can finish.

He looks at Angelica who is busy typing on her phone so fast her fingers are blurring. “Can you put that away?”

“Just a second,” she says, not looking up from her screen. “I’m just sending a text real quick.”

“You’ve been on it all day.”

No answer.

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