“For the time I punched you. It never should have happened.”

“Based on the limited information you had at the time, I think it was warranted.”

He didn’t reply to that. Instead, he chose to switch up on me.

“Owen, I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for us. I wouldn’t have recovered to what I am today without your help. And… you brought my baby girl home.”

“She came home for Austin. For you and Harriot.”

“It may have begun that way. But she stayed for you.”

A certain acceptance bloomed in my chest. Having that confirmation from Phil meant a lot.

“Thank you,” I said with full sincerity.

“No, thank you for taking care of my family, son.”

Son? I shifted to the side so he wouldn’t catch the water gathering in my eyes. I knew I failed when Phil squeezed my shoulder in reassurance, then left me to rejoin the party, giving me some reprieve.

I took the out and walked alongside the lake when the sun caught on a small trinket buried in the shallows. Dropping to one knee, I submerged my hand and came out with a ring—not just any ring.

Before I could react, a gasp sounded from behind.

My head spun to find Alexis staring down at me with awe, her wedding ring gleaming between my fingers.

Without a word, I opened her hand and placed the band in the middle of her palm. Her fingers closed over the treasure immediately.

“It always belonged to you,” I said, the insinuation so much deeper than the words.

Alexis dropped to her knees before me, getting on my level. She then ran a finger along my jawline, her touch light, like she was caught in a trance.

“I love you, Owen Ivans.”

“Thorne.”

“Thorne?”

“I love you. I love Austin. I love us. I want to create a family, with you and our boy. Let me take your name, baby.”

A single tear dripped down her cheek as she gave the one confirmation that ever mattered. “Yes.”

My hands cupped her precious face when I pressed my forehead to hers. “Be mine forever?”

“Forever, Owen Thorne.”

Then, I sealed that vow with a kiss.

Forever.

Epilogue 2

ALEXIS

Six years later…

Owen and I entered the medical convention with an air of excitement. It had been months since we’d had alone time together, and we were making the most of our getaway.

Both our parents had volunteered to look after the kids. Austin was in the double digits, a surly eleven-year-old who was too cool for his parents. When that happened, I had no idea. But no matter how old he was, he was always my little boy.

I was proud of the person he was growing into. Austin had a strong sense of justice and was the best older sibling to his four-year-old brother, Adam, and two-year-old sister, Olivia—who ran court in our house.