Page 135 of Iris' Lying Eyes

“Iris?”

“Did you mean what you said?” I blurt, glancing at my finger, but the ring is gone.

My stomach swoops to my knees but before I can freak out, B pulls it from his pocket and stares at me with bright eyes.

“B?” I whisper as he stands and drops to a knee. No, he’s not . . .He is!

“Iris,” he says in his gruff voice. The one that says a thousand things all at once. Behave. Stop talking and listen. I’m here. I see you. Love. “Will you marry me?”

I’m too shocked to respond and only when he shifts uneasily before grabbing my hand do I slam my jaw closed. “Do you love me?” I blurt before dropping my gaze. Shit.

Laughing to cover my unease, I wave my hand, but he grabs my chin and stares into my eyes as he says, “I want you. No one else. Your sassy mouth. The way you won’t fucking shut up, even when you’re wrong. The way you fight with everything you have. When you’re here, with me,” he says, thumping his chest. “I can breathe. If that means love, then yes.”

Tears slip over my lids unbidden, and I grab his hand, saying softly, “Okay.”

His mouth creases into a brilliant smile, and I smile too before blurting, “I’m pregnant.”

He leans in for a kiss before pausing. I almost laugh when his jaw drops, but my heart melts when he grabs my cheeks, rasping, “Seriously?”

“Yes,” I breathe, but then he swings around and stalks toward the door.

“Wait. Where are you going?”

“To find a fucking minister. We’re getting married. Now.”

Bemused, I stare at the door before I smile and touching my cheeks, I marvel at the way they ache before I laugh. I guess I get my fairytale ending after all.

Epilogue

Smoothing my hand down my dress, I clutch my belly with a sigh. I know what I signed up for but fuck, I was hoping I never had to see the old sourpuss again.

At least this time, Babs can’t kick me out. It’s a small comfort but I might just have to pull up my formerly bitchy persona for a day. After all, I’m the Bruno’s wife and she’ll have to eat crow.

After announcing my pregnancy, we were indeed married quickly and quietly. Which is just the way I liked it although B seems to think we need to have a big shebang too. I’m content without one though. The people who matter to me were there and that’s all I care about.

It’s been a slow road with some though and I still struggle with Alice from time to time. Although she and Jig mended their rift, none of us know where Lorraine might have gone off to and I know this eats at Alice. The bitch broke her heart again and I see the questions behind Alice’s eyes that I’m not sure I have the answers for.

Now, I’ve spent the last six months finishing the house and prepping the nursery. In quiet moments like these, I still can’t believe that I’ve been given this gift but I sure as hell am not going to take it for granted.

Bastion almost fell out of his chair when we learned we were having twins but somehow it felt right the moment I heard it. Why shouldn’t it be two? I have more than enough love to give and I’m ready to hold my babies and keep them close.

“Baby?” Bastion calls out and with a smile, I say, “Here.”

He steps through the door and strides toward me before grabbing my cheeks and pecking me on the lips. There are many things I love about this man but his need to touch me when we’re together ranks pretty high.

Maybe he still has blinding moments of pure panic like I do before I come back down to earth and shake the stupid thoughts away. I know that I didn’t do any of this right, but I refuse to believe that I don’t deserve Bastion and the family we will have.

“How did it go?” I ask, searching his gaze.

His brows furrow and my heart drops before he shakes his head and says, “You don’t have to worry. I’ll take care of it.”

“But?” I whisper.

Pulling me close, he touches my belly and I smile. I would’ve thought this tough as nails man to be hesitant when it comes to our babies but its far from the truth. His fascination for the changes in my body leads to many a steamy encounter and his love is obvious in the way he dotes on me.

I know he’s still intent on finding Baby Girl and I love him for it, but if she’s happy, safe, loved, I don’t think I can bring myself to intrude. I guess we’ll cross that bridge when the time comes, if it comes. In the meantime, I still think of her every day and pray she’s all of those things.

We had a small ceremony for Sam and buried him on a cliff next to the sea. Bastion bought the property so I can go out there whenever I want, and we may someday build a home overlooking the vista. It’s too far to visit as much as I’d like but Sam is never far from my thoughts and I pray for him that he too is happy, safe, and loved in the ever after.

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