THE DADDY SPELL
Epilogue


                      

             Later that evening, Chad reveled in the opportunity to tuck the girls into bed.

“Love you Daddy Chad.” Lindy kissed his cheek.

            Boo lifted up for a hug, which he was more than happy to deliver. “I love you, too. Is Mom still mad?”

            “I don’t think so, but you have to promise me no running away again.”  Chad looked at each girl, trying to be stern, but failing.

            They looked at each other, grinned, then crossed their hearts. “We promise.”

            Chad tucked the covers around each girl, taking a moment to be thankful they were safe. After turning off the light, he left the door open and the hall light on. He stood for a moment to watch them. They were exhausted from their little adventure, so it wasn’t long before he could hear their deep breathing.

When his family had left, he and Robin had spent the evening with the girls, getting a bed set up in one of the spare bedrooms, so they didn’t have to sleep on the living room floor. He loved the girls dearly, but he wanted some time alone with her. Desperately needed it, in fact. She’d changed her mind awfully fast.

Walking into the kitchen, he found Robin sitting at the table, her head in her hands. Was she crying? His heart lurched. At the table, he got down on his knees and turned her to him.

“What’s wrong?”

“I thought I’d lost them. I’m still shaky. “  She dropped her hands and swiped at her tears. Her brown eyes were red-rimmed and swollen with fatigue. “And . . . I love you so much. I’m scared. This is different from Doc Potter and Lloyd. Way different.”  She fidgeted.

“I love you, too.”  He swept her hair from her face. “Nothing to be afraid of here. You’ve got me, for keeps. When do you want to get married?”

Since he was hoping for a smile, he was relieved when he saw one bloom in a small upturn of her mouth. The tears slowed. “You won’t leave me?”

Understanding where the fear came from now, he got to his feet and helped her from the chair and down the hall to the bedroom. She silently followed. “You see this bed?  It’s ours. Everything I have is yours. Everything you have is mine. My house and farm up against you and your girls. Priceless. Equal. Yours plus mine equals ours. Get it?”

She bit her lip, then smiled.

“So I ask you again, when do you want to get married?”

“You’re not disappointed that I asked you instead of the other way around?”

Chad laughed. “Grateful is more like it.”  

“Okay then. How about next week?”

He raised his eyebrows. “Hmm.”

“What?”  She looked stricken, like he was going to renege or turn into some kind of demanding monster. He was going to have to work on that.

“That’s not a lot of time to plan a church wedding with all the family and friends.”

“A church wedding?”  Her eyes widened.

“Yes. How about Christmas Eve?”

“Are you sure you don’t want to do basic and simple?”

“And deprive me of the pleasure of seeing you in a wedding gown?  I don’t think so.”

“Big wedding?”  She looked doubtful.

“Medium wedding. ”  Although if he knew his family and this town, there’d be no medium about it. He wouldn’t tell her that just yet.

Robin straightened, a pleased smile formed on her lips. “All right. Christmas Eve.”

He drew her into his arms, kissed her eyes, her nose, and then her lips. “And you are not staying in that house, in that neighborhood. Tomorrow, we are going there and collecting your stuff.”

She gripped his head and leaned to deliver a moist, wet kiss. Chad cleared his throat. “Deal?”

“Deal.”  She pulled him with her as she fell back against the mattress. “Our bed?”

“Hmm.”  He nibbled on her neck, sliding his tongue from her ear to collar bone. She shivered.

“Shouldn’t we break it in properly then?”  Robin winked at him.

“Sweetheart, I thought we did a damn fine job the first couple of times we made love, but I’m always up for new opportunities.”

She pushed him off, sat up and yanked her sweatshirt over her head, tossing it in the corner. Her bra followed.

 Hs heart skipped a beat. Whether it was the creamy skin, or the beautiful breasts, or the overwhelming trust – he wasn’t sure what caused it. “You take my breath away, sweetheart.”

 “You’re my hero and my dream.”  She laid down on top of him and kissed his mouth.

He kissed her back. “I’ll settle for being your husband.”

“Husband.”  She smiled, her eyes dreamy.

“Wife.”

 Robin’s breath whooshed out. “Wife?” 

Chad grinned. Her squeak amused him. He rubbed the bare skin of her back. “Husband plus wife equals happily ever after.” 

“Happily ever after.”  She murmured, then kissed him – sealing her promise.

                       
THE END