I was pretty sure I’d heard it, anyway. But now I couldn’t be certain.
“Love?” I asked, my eyes finding Ty again and zeroing in on his smiling face. “Did you say…”
“Love,” he repeated, bringing a smile to my lips. “I love you, Grace. We all do.”
“We do,” Cody said. “I love you, Grace.”
“And I love you, too,” Jaeger added, reaching out to rub my leg through the thin hospital blanket. “More than my life. More than anything.”
I didn’t know what to say. All around me, their smiling faces beamed back at me. Even Nana seemed really happy.
“These men love you, Gracie. You’re so lucky to have them.”
“I love you, Ty,” I said. “And Cody—I love you, too.” My eyes drifted over to Jaeger. “I love you, my love.”
My eyes were heavy again, but I knew it was okay this time. I just needed some rest. They would keep me safe while I slept.
It turned out that doctor was right. And so was Nana. I really was lucky.
Lucky to have these brave, sexy, amazing men in my life. Lucky to have my grandmother’s wisdom.
Lucky to have love.
Epilogue - Grace
One Year Later
It was still strange to walk in the front door of the clinic and not see Jenny’s face smiling up at me from the reception desk.
Then again, out of all the things that had changed in the past year, a new face at the desk was a relatively minor one.
“Good morning, Dr. Black,” New Jenny said, smiling sweetly as I stepped inside the waiting area. “My goodness, I think little Emily gets bigger every time I see her.”
“Good morning, Rebecca,” I gave a little wave as I cradled the sling that held my daughter close to my body with my other arm. “And she’s two months old today, in fact. But yeah, she’s already so much bigger than the day I brought her home. Funny what a difference a couple of months makes.”
“It sure is,” she nodded. “Oh, and Dr. Blaine was asking for you just a few minutes ago. Shall I page her for you?”
I shook my head as I walked toward the door that led to the back. “No worries. I’ll find her.”
I had barely made it to the hallway before Jenny popped out of the office—my old office—with a big grin on her face.
“Hey, Grace,” she said, though her eyes had already gone to the baby sling strapped across my chest. “And there’s the most beautiful little girl in the world,” she cooed. “I swear, Grace, she already looks just like you.”
“Does it make you want another one, Dr. Blaine?” I asked, tossing her a wink. “It’s still so strange to hear Rebecca refer to you like that when I walk in,” I said. “But I have to admit that having you as a partner feels just perfect. I think this is the way it should have been all along.”
“I agree,” she said, nodding. “Maybe if I hadn’t taken eight years to earn that four year degree.”
I laughed and shook my head. “The important part is you did earn it. And you’ve more than earned your spot here.”
It was true, too. Jenny had worked her butt off to get to where she was now, and I was so proud of her. Taking her on as a partner had been one of the best decisions I’d made. Business had nearly doubled, and not only had we rebuilt and expanded the kennel—another part of the business that had paid for itself ten times over in just the past year—but we’d been able to add on a whole new wing to the clinic.
The framing was technically the only part of the new set of exam rooms and offices that had actually been built so far, but we were still on budget and on track to have it completed by the end of summer.
And if the next couple of months went by as quickly as the past two had, the new wing would be open for business before we knew it.
“I hope you’re hungry,” Jenny said, ushering me into her office. “I made a lasagna last night, and I brought tons for lunch. I can even send some home for the guys when you leave.”
“Oh my God, you’re going to be their new favorite person,” I said, laughing. “And then they’ll be begging me to make lasagna for the next week, so thanks for that.”