Epilogue
S
pring came early to Wolf River. The air was clear and clean. Tulips, red and yellow and pink, pushed through the sun-warmed soil in Lucas and Julianna's backyard. Purple pansies and white petunias wrestled for space in the beds, rose bushes heavy with buds promised a spectacular display in the next few weeks.
Just in time for the wedding, Maggie thought dreamily, letting her head rest on the back of Julianna's wicker chair while she stroked baby Nathaniel's downsoft hair. At four weeks, he had already outgrown his newborn clothes, unlike his sister, Nicole, who was nearly as dainty as the day she'd been born. They shared the same thick dark hair, but Nicole's skin was paler than Nathaniel's, her eyes blue to her brother's dark brown.
One boy, one girl, not two boys like Lucas and Julianna had thought. Maggie smiled, remembering the
pleasure and pride on Lucas's face as he'd made the announcement at the hospital.
Julianna sat in the chair beside Maggie, gently rocking a sleeping Nicole in her arms. Babies and spring went together perfectly, Maggie decided. With the wedding set in two weeks, she calculated that if she got pregnant within the next two to three months, she and Nick would have their own spring baby.
And considering Nick's enthusiasm for the project, Maggie thought with a rush of heat, they would no doubt be successful. They'd have a girl this time, she thought with a smile. A little sister for Drew. She was certain of it.
The big wedding had been Nick's decision, though secretly she'd always dreamed of having one. When she'd married Richard, the ceremony had been simple, no nonsense, much like their marriage itself.
But nothing was simple with Nick. Everything was bigger than life and brightly colored, and their wedding would be no exception. The church. Family and friends. A garden reception here at the Blackhawks'. She still had to pinch herself that it was really happening, that she'd quit her job in New York, that a moving van was already on its way with her things from her apartment there.
That she was really marrying the man she'd loved more than half her life.
She glanced at the ring of her finger and smiled. Mrs. Nick Santos. The sound of it floated like music through her mind.
Another sound caught her attention: Drew's distant laughter. Her smile widened. It had been a little awkward trying to explain to Drew that Nick was his daddy, his
real
daddy, but children were more accepting,
less interested in details than results. The only thing that mattered to him was that they were staying in Wolf River, that he had a new daddy he loved, and that they'd be moving into a house, a real house with a big yard he could play in and big trees he could climb. Between house hunting and wedding plans, the past four weeks had flown by, and she only hoped the next two would do the same.
Like native warriors returning from the hunt, they emerged from the woods, Drew and Nick and Lucas, proudly sporting their catch of silver trout on a string.
“Mom, look what Daddy and I caught in the creek,” Drew yelled excitedly. “Uncle Lucas says we're gonna clean 'em out here, so we don't make you and Aunt Julianna sick at the sight of blood and guts.”
“How considerate of Uncle Lucas.” Julianna shifted a softly whimpering Nicole in her arms, then grinned at Maggie. “Looks like you're all staying for a fish fry.”
Maggie grinned back. Julianna and Lucas had accepted her and Drew from the beginning, brought them into their family without question, without judgment of the past. Maggie felt that she'd not only found a friend in Julianna, but a sister, as well.
The front doorbell sounded and Julianna groaned. “It's Mrs. Waters from the Women's League. She was going to pick up a quilt I made for the bazaar next week, but the woman could talk the ears off a beagle. After that night I had with these two darlin's, I'm just not in the mood.”
When Julianna started to get up, Maggie waved her back down. “Let me talk to her. If you're going to feed my men, it's the least I can do. If I'm not back in an hour, though, send out the rescue party.”
“Bless you.” Julianna rocked an increasingly fussy Nicole. “The quilt's on the dining room table.”
Maggie was cooing softly against Nathaniel's soft temple when she opened the front door. But it wasn't Mrs. Waters standing on the doorstep. Not even close.
Killian Shawnessy.
Eyes wide, all Maggie could do was stare at him. She hadn't seen him in at least ten years, but it was Ian, all right. His dark hair was shorter, his shoulders wider and chest broader, his handsome, angled face tanned. He wore aviator sunglasses, but she could see the fine lines at the corners of his eyes when he smiled slowly.
“Ian,” she breathed his name on an exhale.
“Well, if it isn't little Margaret Smith,” he drawled. “Nick told me you'd changed, but he didn't quite capture the magnitude of that understatement.”
Maggie blushed, then leaned to the side and looked behind Ian. He glanced over his shoulder and raised his brows. “Looking for someone?”
“Only the trail of swooning women.”
He grinned at her, then nodded at the baby. “I know Nick works fast, but I don't think even he can speed that process up. I take it this is Lucas and Julianna's?”
She nodded. “This is Nathaniel. Why don't you come in and meet his sister?”
He followed her to the back porch, where Julianna stared at him with the same wide-eyed astonishment.
When she was finally able to catch her breath, Julianna jumped up and gave him a hug. “Ian Shawnessy! Is that really you? When in the world did you get here?”
Maggie could have sworn that the sudden rosy color
on Ian's cheeks was a blush, but when he glanced down at the baby in Julianna's arms, his face seemed to pale.
“Uh, a little while ago.” He stepped back, kept his eyes on the baby as if it might attack. “I'm renting a cabin up on the river.”
“Maggie and I have to go tell Lucas and Nick.” There was a wicked light in Julianna's eyes as she looked at Maggie, then at her daughter who'd started to cry. “Here, Nicole, sweetie, say hello to your Uncle Ian. Mommy will be right back.”
Before he could protest, Julianna thrust her daughter into Ian's big arms. Eyes wide, he opened his mouth, but couldn't quite get the words out. Maggie winked at Julianna, then followed suit by placing Nathaniel into Ian's other arm. He turned white, and the look in his eyes was sheer terror.
“Hey...wait...come back....” He sounded as if he were choking.
“You are an evil woman, Julianna,” Maggie said, laughing as they ran to get Lucas and Nick.
“I'm paying him back for not showing up at our wedding.” She glanced over her shoulder and giggled. “Imagine a big, grown man terrified of a couple of little babies.”
“Think there's any hope for him?”
“There's always hope.” She grinned. “Look at Lucas and Nick.”
“Look at us what?” Lucas came up from the side of the creek, a bucket of fish in his hand. Nick, with Drew on his heels, was right behind.
“We have company, boys. The last of the bad boys has returned.”
Nick and Lucas looked at each other in bewilderment,
then slowly grinned. “Shawnessy,” they said together.
“In the flesh.” Julianna looked toward the back porch. She could hear both babies crying now. “But you better hurry. He might pass out while he's holding our son and daughter.”
A strangled cry for help drifted from the house. With a whoop, Lucas headed for the house, Julianna right behind him. Nick started to follow, then stopped, scooped up Maggie in one arm and Drew in the other. He swung them around until Maggie was breathless and Drew dizzy with laughter.
The intensity in his gaze as his mouth caught hers, and the fierce, possessive kiss brought a burning moisture to her eyes.
“Damn, it's good to be home,” he murmured against her lips.
Maggie smiled as they walked back to the house. She couldn't have agreed with him more.
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Mystery man Killian is back! Don't miss his
story, KILLIAN'S PASSION, available next
month from Silhouette Desire.