Wrapped Up in You Bonus Content
Extended Epilogue
Pierce
Roughly Eighteen Years Later
“Hey, Trent, this visit is long overdue, but as I’m sure you’ve seen, I’ve been a little busy.”
I sit on the grass in front of the headstone and get comfortable, unsure of how long this visit will take. After the first time Kelsie and Jordan brought me to “meet” Trent, I’ve been coming back whenever I’m in the city.
Some might think it’s weird that I’d want to visit a man’s grave I’ve never met, but I look at it differently… The fire that took Trent’s life is what led Kelsie and Jordan to me. I hate that he’s gone, but I feel so blessed that by some miracle they ended up in Christmas Valley. And for the rest of my life, I get to be here on Earth with Jordan and Kelsie, while Trent is forced to watch from above. I just need him to know that even though they’re with me, he’ll always be a part of them—especially Jordan.
“As I’m sure you know,” I continue, “Jordan got married last month. I wanted to hate him, but Blake’s a good guy. I truly believe he’ll treat her like the princess she is.” I glance around and when I don’t see anyone, I lean in and add, “But don’t worry. I’ll continue to look after her and protect her. She might have taken his last name and moved in with him, but she’s still our daughter.”
“And that’s never going to change.” Jordan sits on the grass next to me and grins a watery smile. “I thought I might find you here.”
“More like you searched my location on the phone.”
“Hey, you guys are the ones who always insisted we share our location.” She nudges me playfully. “You can’t get mad when I use it too.”
“I didn’t know you guys were back from your honeymoon.”
Jordan met Blake during her senior year of college. Blake proposed the day of their graduation, and I’m not gonna lie, I thought she’d tell us she wouldn’t be coming home.
Instead, she sat us down and asked if there was any room on the ranch for them. She told us they’d love to help run the ranch since my brother is ready to retire and my nephew moved to the city. Plus, Blake grew up on a farm not far from Christmas Valley.
My parents had planned to hire a manager, so they were ecstatic for Jordan and Blake to want to learn the ropes.And of course, they offered to pay for them to build a home on the property.
They were married a couple of weeks ago and then took off for their honeymoon. I knew they were due back soon, but I didn’t realize they were already back.
“We arrived earlier this morning, and I came looking for you. Works out well,” she says with a small smile. “I planned to come talk to my dad as well.” She nods toward the headstone, and I wonder what she needs to tell us. It must be big for her to drive out here.
“I know I’ve said it before, but thank you for loving me.” She glances my way and her glassy eyes have me pulling her into my side.
“You never have to thank me for loving you, Princess. Loving you, your mom, and your brother is as easy as breathing.”
Unfortunately, when Kelsie gave birth to Josh eight months after we were married, there were complications, and she was forced to have a hysterectomy that would prevent us from having any more kids. Instead of focusing on the negative, we thanked God that she and Josh were okay and that we were blessed with a family of four.
“So, what did you come all this way to tell your dads?” I ask curiously.
“I wanted you both to know”—she turns her body so she’s facing me—“that you’re going to be grandfathers. Blake and I are expecting a baby.” Her hand goes to her belly, and her expression looks like a mixture of nervousness and excitement. “It wasn’t planned, but…” She shrugs.
Sure, she’s young, and they’ve only just started their journey, but isn’t that how life works?
“Sometimes the best things in life come from the unplanned,” I tell her. “Look at you, your mom, and your brother. I wasn’t expecting any of you, but you three turned out to be the best part of my life.” I take my hand in hers and squeeze it. “And I have no doubt that this baby will be the best part of Blake’s and your life.”