Page 129 of Rebel Heart
Everything simply came to me.
Of course, that might have been because I’d finally found the one thing that I’d needed to give me the things I’d never be able to get on my own.
Beau had changed my whole life. And even though it had never been his intent for things to turn out the way they had, there was not a doubt in my mind that he was the happiest of all.
Because he had us. He had a family that loved and cared about him as much as he did for us.
And the love he gave was endless. Unconditional. Genuine.
Every time I looked at him, my body warmed, and myheart beat a little faster. There was nobody in the world like him, and I was so lucky to have him.
“Ro’s turn?”
I tore my attention away from the heartwarming sight in front of me to the sweetest one sitting beside me. “Not yet, baby. Daddy’s teaching Wilder first. Rowan is next.”
My two-year-old son had the patience of a saint. I wasn’t quite sure where he got it from, because it certainly wasn’t me. I often joked with Beau that it must have come from him, considering he wasso much olderthan me and had been willing to wait that long to find the woman of his dreams.
Wilder lived up to his name. At four years old, he’d already shown his tendency to follow after me. I thought it might drive Beau crazy, but he loved it. Embraced it.
“Look, Wild,” Rowan said, pointing to where his brother was getting his skateboarding lessons from their dad.
“Yes, Wilder is skating with Daddy.”
We’d been doing this for a while now. Beau didn’t care if either of our children made a career out of skateboarding, but he wanted them to know how to do it. He wanted to have something that was special between them. Every day, he proved just how much it mattered to him to be a good father. And every day, I was beyond grateful that he’d chosen me—us—to build this life with.
“Vic, Vic, Vic.”
At Rowan’s chant, I shifted my attention to the parking lot and saw Vic, Talon, and Jamie making theirway over to the skatepark. Three men who’d stepped up to be uncles to their best friend’s children.
Sure, our children weren’t lacking for family with the Westwoods, but I loved that these men were in our lives the way they were. It was genuine. It was proof that family wasn’t always blood, but the one you built. And they’d been precisely what Beau needed in his life.
“You want to go see Uncle Vic?” I asked.
Rowan was already getting to his feet. Since it was the beginning of May, most children were still in school. That meant we had the park to ourselves.
So, with a clear path to some of his favorite people in the whole world, Rowan took off. I couldn’t stop myself from laughing as he scurried across the park toward his Uncle Vic. The man who had been the last to come around when it came to settling down was the biggest softie when it came to Beau’s children. He loved them just like my brothers did.
After Vic scooped Rowan up in his arms, the guys made their way over to Beau and Wilder. My son was far too excited about showing off his newest skills on his skateboard. And like it was nothing at all, they encouraged him and began showing him more moves. Even Rowan got in on the fun.
It was at that moment, my husband took a necessary break and came my way.
“I didn’t know they were coming here today,” I told him.
Beau sat down beside me and grabbed a sip of his water. “Yeah, I told them we’d be here today, in case theywanted to stop by. The kids love it, and I’m guessing the guys do, too.”
“I’m glad. Rowan was ready to hop on a board, and there was no way I’d be able to help him now.”
A soft chuckle escaped from Beau as he placed his hand on my rounded belly. “How is our little lady doing today?”
“She hasn’t stopped kicking me all day.”
His hand rubbed back and forth. “Something tells me she’s going to be the one who makes us tear our hair out.”
I laughed, mostly because if I allowed myself to consider that very real possibility, I’d panic. I was just over six months along in my third pregnancy, and I couldn’t get to the end soon enough. I couldn’t wait to meet this little girl, to see how she’d change this family.
Leaning into his touch, I said, “And something tells me you’re going to love every minute of her shenanigans.”
Beau’s eyes sparkled, a gorgeous grin on his face. “I already love her so much. I don’t know how I keep doing it.”
