All or Nothing at All(112)

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you, too."

And she smiled as her husband slipped the ring on her finger and finally claimed their happily ever after.





epilogue




Tristan sat on the front porch and sipped his red wine. Cal and Dalton flanked him, with Dalton drinking a Raging Bitch and Cal nursing a snifter of expensive whiskey. Darkness blanketed the lawn, and the thick woods were alive with singing crickets. Stars exploded from the sky. The sounds of feminine chatter drifted in the air from the open door.

"Things are good," Dalton announced.

Tristan grinned, still a bit surprised at the depth of happiness that had settled inside him. Since Sydney had accepted his new marriage proposal, his life had shifted. A lightness he'd never truly experienced before poured through him. It was as if by finally letting himself open up, he'd discovered a new strength and joy he'd been keeping himself from.

A soft voice echoed in the wind, caressing his ears.

"I'm proud of you, my son."

He sent back his own message, knowing she heard. "Thanks, Mom. I love you."

Cal stretched out his legs on the battered wicker table that should've been replaced years ago. "About time things worked out for all of us. It's been a long journey."

"And it's not done yet," Tristan added. "We're getting a new member of our family."

"Sydney's pregnant?" Dalton asked, leaning forward in excitement.

"Not yet. We're hitting the rescue shelter tomorrow to get Becca a dog. I finally convinced Syd."

His brothers laughed. "Nice work," Cal said. His eyes burned suspiciously bright as he reached in his back pocket and pulled something out. "But I may have you beat on this one."

Tristan frowned, taking the paper and unfolding it. "What's this?"

"Initial adoption papers. Morgan and I are adopting a baby girl from China."




 

 

Tristan clapped him on the back, loving how his older brother was fighting back emotion. "Dude, congratulations. We're so happy for you."

"Thanks. It's still a long road, but we're going to be patient and have trust. In the meantime, we'll spoil our new canine nephew or niece. And Becca, of course. Morgan loves being an aunt."

"So does Raven," Dalton added. "Guess it's time for my news?"

Cal and Tristan waited.

"Gonna ask Raven to marry me tomorrow. I have the ring. Got the whole setup. Al's going to help me do it at My Place, since that's where it all started for us."

Tristan gave his brother a half hug. "Congrats, it's about time. We've all been waiting for this."

"You sure she's gonna say yes?" Cal teased.

Dalton groaned. "Dude, don't make me more nervous than I am."

"Let's just make sure she doesn't do a Grease revival at your wedding," Tristan added.

As if they'd heard the conversation, Becca's giggle echoed in the night air, followed by Morgan's, Raven's, and Sydney's.

"I think Mom would've been happy," Dalton said quietly. "I know it may sound silly, but sometimes I hear her talking to me. Especially when I look at the stars."

Tristan nodded. "I hear her, too. And I think she would've told us the same thing. That she's proud of us."

"Me too," Cal said. "We found our way back to each other and found the women we love. Doesn't get much better than that."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

They shared a glance and clinked their glasses together.

Then they all settled back on the porch for a long time in comfortable silence.