Page 101 of Serenity Harbor

“I meant it, you know,” she said, a long time later. “I love you, Bowie. When I came back to Haven Point, I vowed I was done with men, that I was only going to focus on Gabi and the life I wanted for us together. But then you and Milo worked your way into my heart, and I realized there is more than enough room there for everyone.”

“Good,” he said, so much joy and tenderness in his eyes she nearly wept again. “Because we’re not going anywhere. I love you and I know I’ll love Gabi, too. I can’t wait to meet her.”

Of course she had to kiss him again after that. A long time later, she was in his arms on the sofa, both of them out of breath and disheveled.

“I love you,” he murmured again, and she knew she would never tire of hearing it. “When I moved to Haven Point, I never expected to fall in love, but from the moment I met you in the produce aisle at the grocery store, somehow I knew my heart would never be the same. You know you’re going to have to marry me, right?”

She stared at him, completely astonished. “M-marry?”

He shrugged against her. “Not tomorrow or next week but eventually. Gabi and Milo will have enough challenges to face in this world. They’re going to need both of us to help them do that.”

It wouldn’t be easy, she knew, emotions overflowing into tears as she kissed this man she loved with everything inside her.

Life wasn’t easy. But they could face those challenges together.

EPILOGUE

SERENITYHARBORHADbeen invaded.

Bowie stood in the doorway, taking in the chaos that had exploded in his backyard.

Children and dogs seemed to be everywhere, running, laughing, barking. Gabi and her cousins played a heated game of tag, joined by what seemed like every dog in town but was really only Rika, Hondo and Gabi’s cousins’ little pooch, Sadie.

At least thirty people sat in clusters talking or laughing, and more bustled in and out of the house carrying food to the long tables set up on the edge of his terrace while the delectable smell of perfectly charred meat wafted into the air from the vicinity of Bowie’s barbecue grill, where Ben, Aidan and Marshall fought over the tongs and chief grill master rights.

Katrina brushed past him carrying her delicious fruit salad, and he stopped her long enough to sneak a quick kiss. His wife of six months stole his breath every single time he saw her, and he loved her more than he ever believed possible.

“Hey! You’re going to make me drop this,” she exclaimed, though he saw her color climb and loved knowing he could still make her blush.

“I’ll take it. Where do you want it?” he asked.

“Thank you. Anywhere you can find room on the table.”

He headed toward the bulging table filled with potluck offerings and topped by a huge banner made by his sister-in-law Andie and her kids that read Congratulations, Callahan Family. Underneath it were all their names: Bowie, Katrina, Milo, Gabriela, all encompassed by a big red heart.

“Papa!” Gabi shrieked as she ran by, and he scooped her up and into his arms, this girl who had brought so much life and light and joy into his world.

She was the reason for this party, which was a celebration of their appearance that afternoon before a family judge where Bowie formally adopted her.

Katrina had gone through the lengthy, complicated process in Colombia the summer before on her own, though he and Milo—along with Debra Peters, who had become a cherished member of their family—had made frequent visits to see her, and they had all been together on the day Katrina finally brought Gabi back to Haven Point.

They’d considered rushing their wedding to expedite the adoption process. A married couple had an easier time of adopting than a single woman, and his position and financial resources wouldn’t have hurt. Things might have been less complicated that way, but Bowie had sensed Katrina needed to stand on her own, at least at first. Gabi had been hers from the moment Katrina met the girl, and Bowie hadn’t felt right about swooping in and solving everything for her, though his financial resources and Caine Tech influence had certainly smoothed the process the second time around.

“Are you having fun?” he asked Gabi now.

“Yes,” she declared, throwing her arms around him and hugging him tight. The whole world would be a much better place if every person had someone like Gabi in his or her life to keep things in perspective.

“Love you,” she said, kissing his cheek, and Bowie felt the sting of emotion that he didn’t bother to blink away.

This sweet little four-year-old girl had turned what had already been a pretty damn good life into something unbelievably beautiful.

“I love you, too, pumpkin.”

“Put me down now,por favor, Papa,” she said, her bossy tone brooking no argument. He laughed and complied. She wriggled to the ground and took off, running after Will and Chloe and the other children.

He watched them for a moment until he caught sight of another person he loved, Milo, sitting by himself on the wooden glider bench he loved, petting his therapy dog, Cooper, a big, calm golden retriever.

Bowie headed over and stood beside Milo. “You’re not playing tag with Gabi and your cousins.”

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