Epilogue

                                    

                                          
January 
"This is the last one from the bedroom." I said to Ryan, handing him a box to load into the back of the moving van. 
"I thought I told you no lifting." He scolded, reaching to take the box from me. 
I rolled my eyes. "It's just socks, underwear and lingerie." I said. 
He raised his eyebrows. "What kind of lingerie?"
I laughed. "The naughty kind."
"You mean the kind I never really get to see because it doesn't stay on you long enough." 
"That would be it." I laughed
I then looked around my yard, at the For Sale sign at the end of the driveway. I was feeling a little bittersweet. This was the only home Mason had ever known. Although it was filled with a lot of bad memories, there were a lot of good ones too.
"Not having second thoughts are you?" Ryan asked, as if he could read my mind. 
I shook my head. "No. It's time to move on to my new life with you." I replied. 
When I had decided to put my house up for sale last month, something I had been thinking about for a while, Ryan had asked us to move in with him, and I happily accepted. My realtor had assured us the house would sell fairly quickly, and we actually had a buyer ready to put in an offer. 
"I can't wait." He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me to him for a kiss.
"Get a room you two." Bubba snickered, as he set a box down.
"Or just get married already." Mason teased, setting down another box. 
Before I could comment however, they were gone.
"That's not a bad idea you know." Ryan said.
"What? Getting a room? I'm all for that." I laughed.
"I mean getting married. Why not?" His face was suddenly serious.
"Ryan Michael, did you just propose?" My jaw dropped in surprise.
"That was bad huh? That wasn't how I planned on asking you." He laughed nervously. 
"I don't care. I accept. I don't need hearts and flowers and pretty words." I replied. 
His hand caressed my stomach, and the tiny, nearly unnoticeable bulge that was was there. Our little secret. We had made a miracle. 
Several months ago, I had gotten off of birth control. I wanted to give my body a break from the hormones, and as a woman going on thirty five, I was aware of the risks of birth control pills at my age. I was just going to let nature take it's course.
The doctors had said I was "highly unlikely" to conceive a child, but no one had ever said it was impossible. I was still a bit in shock. Last month, for Ryan's birthday, I gave him a small wrapped box. Inside of it was a positive pregnancy test. We laughed, we cried, we praised God. 
Because I would be thirty five when I delivered, my pregnancy was considered high risk, although I was healthy and I felt great, I was not taking any chances with this pregnancy. At first, I had drastically cut my hours at work, then last week, I had turned in my resignation, telling everyone I was going to be traveling a lot. I was preparing to be a full time mom, and now a NASCAR wife. 
"Can we tell them? Please." He begged. 
I smiled and nodded. We had been keeping it a secret, but we were now out of the first trimester, and we could breathe a little easier. "We can tell them."
"Finally. Then after that, I want you off your feet and to stop picking up boxes, I don't care how light they are." He scolded lightly.
"Is this what I have to put up with for the next six months?" I said with a laugh, but I secretly loved it. I loved how concerned he was and how excited. 
"Six months? Try lifetime. I'm in this for the long haul." He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my forehead.
"Are y'all just going to stand around and make googly eyes at each other, or are y'all going to get to work?" Shane asked with a grin, and he set down a large box. 
"Shane, gather everyone around please." I said to my brother. He looked at me kind of funny, but didn't say anything, just hollered at everyone to gather around.
Ryan spoke. "First off, we'd like to thank everyone for helping out today. We really appreciate it. We have an announcement we'd like to make."
"Let me guess. Y'all are getting married." Bubba said with a smirk.
"Well, that too." I said with a grin.
"We're having a baby." Ryan blurted our. The joy on his face was unmistakable.
"Dude. For real? I never thought I'd be so happy to hear a guy knocked up my sister." Shane said, making everyone laugh. He shook Ryan's hand, then hugged me tightly. "I'm so happy for you Kels. You deserve this. Both of you. Now go sit your ass down. We got this."
Everyone passed along their congratulations and well wishes, a lot of hug, handshakes and high fives going around.
"Ryan's really going to be my stepdad? I'm going to be a big brother?" Mason asked, eyes wide with surprise.
"All of it honey. How do you feel about that?" I asked, never really thinking about how much this was going to affect him. 
"I think it's awesome! Best. Day. Ever!" He exclaimed, hugging me tightly. 
Indeed it was. 
Since no one would let me do anything, I gave in and sat down on the swing with Riley. I placed an order for several pizzas to be delivered, and as I waited, I took a moment to survey my surroundings. I was really going to miss my front porch swing. Maybe I could get Ryan and the guys to put one up at Ryan's house. 
"What are you thinking? I can practically see the wheels turning in your brain." Ryan asked, sitting next to me.
"I'm thinking I can't wait to hold our baby. Sitting outside on a swing just like this. You and me. Mason and our crazy dogs running around. It's going to be perfect." I said, my eyes getting misty just thinking about it. Pregnancy hormones making me weepy.
"It is going to be perfect. I can't wait to go on this journey with you." He pulled me closer and kissed me softly.
Like Mason had said earlier, best day ever. But I knew the best was yet to come. 

                                     The End

A/N: I can't believe it's over. ***Sob****
This was the most emotional story I've written, and I fell in love with the characters, so I'm feeling a little sad that it's done. I want to thank everyone of you who has read, voted and commented on this story. I especially loved reading everyone's comments.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do next. Everything is crazy right now, and I hope that everyone is doing well, staying safe, staying healthy. That's the most important thing. I'm going to try and keep writing. I'm not sure how that's going to go. My head is all over the place, and I just don't have a lot of motivation right now. I'm hoping that changes, but until then, everyone take care.
XOXO Layla
A/N 2: Bonus chapter has been added.