Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 37854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
There was silence and a sniffle.
“I … I miss my mommy.”
“Oh, sweetheart, I know you do. I know. I miss her too. Your mother was a wonderful person, and you know what I’ve been thinking?” he asked.
Dylan looked around the door to see Lake hugging Max tightly.
“I’ve got some pictures of her. I found them boxed up in the attic.” He reached behind him and pulled out a small stack of photographs that had a ribbon wrapped around them. “And I want you to have them.”
“This is my mommy.”
“Yeah, that’s your mommy.”
“Thank you.” Lake hugged Max back, and Dylan was so proud of his best friend.
“Okay, why don’t you go and show Raine these pictures?” Max asked.
“Will … will Raine by my new mommy?”
Dylan entered the dining room. “Raine will be whatever you want her to be, but she will never replace your mommy,” he said.
“Morning, Uncle Dylan,” she said, holding her hand up in a wave.
“Hi, pumpkin. When do you think breakfast is going to be here?” he asked. “I’m starving.”
Lake’s stomach chose that moment to grumble as well.
He chuckled and watched as she took off, heading into the kitchen. Turning to Max, he held out his hand. “Truce?”
“No, no truce. We’re friends,” Max said, taking his hand and pulling him in for a hug. “I love you, man.”
Dylan chuckled. “I know you love me. How could you not?” He stepped back and looked down at himself.
Max snorted. “No, I’m being serious here right now. Thank you for putting up with me. For helping me deal with my shit.”
“It’s what friends are for.” He gripped Max’s neck and pressed their heads together. “I promised to stick by you, and there is nothing you can do to get rid of me.”
Raine came through the doors and stopped. She wore an apron, and Dylan saw the ring on her finger, and he knew without a shadow of a doubt, his world was finally complete.
Epilogue
Five years later
“Uncle Max is crying again,” Lake said, coming into the kitchen.
Raine chuckled as she pulled out the cookies that had been baking. The scent of sugar cookies was heavy in the air, and so delicious. Lake had already agreed to help ice them while Max Junior stood at the counter, running his hands through the icing she’d made. She knew her son loved to play with the icing, and she’d made a double batch.
“What at this time?” Raine asked.
“The ending to a movie,” Lake said. “They got together and it was another happy ever after.” Lake rolled her eyes. “He tells me I’m gross for loving horror movies.”
Raine wrinkled her nose.
“What about Dylan, what’s he doing?” Raine asked.
“Taking pictures,” Lake said. “You know what he’s like. Always documenting Uncle Max’s emotions.”
She chuckled as Dylan came into the kitchen with a camera in hand and their daughter strapped to his chest. Dylan had decided to invest in the baby carrier and used it everywhere he went, including in the house.
“You know Max will be pissed if you keep on taking pictures,” she said.
“I can’t help it.” Dylan lifted his camera. “He looks so special. Besides, I’m documenting his experience.”
Max walked into the kitchen with their son strapped to his front.
Raine looked at both of her men with their twins, and she felt so totally complete. She didn’t think she could feel this happy, but Dylan and Max had entered her world and had shown her a life she never wanted to end. This was her family. Max, Dylan, their daughter, two sons, and of course Lake, who she felt was hers. One big happy family, for now, and for always.
The End