Dylan's blue eyes became darker and Parker felt a shiver run down her spine. “Sounds like an excellent plan to me,” Parker said, pushing her hands under Dylan's shirt to feel her skin. “Let's do it quickly. We have a wedding to plan.”
EPILOGUE
FIVE YEARS LATER
Parker tiled her head to the sky and let the sun warm her face. She loved to feel the warmth and comfort of the sun now. She took every chance she had to get outside and spend time in it. Amazing how much her life had changed in a few short years, she thought. She never returned to reporting. It wasn't for her any longer, and it held far too many bad memories to ever go back. She did, however, write a book about her experience, her life with Grace and her loss. Dylan had been her biggest champion and fan. Parker was hesitant at first, not sure her wife would be okay with her writing about her previous life. The life she’d led before Dylan had entered it. My wife. The thought always put a smile on Parker’s face. It had been five years and Parker still got a little thrill in her belly when she referred to Dylan as her wife. Dylan had encouraged her to write her story, and so she did. Whether it would ever be a best-seller, Parker didn't know, and she didn't care. If it helped just one person with their traumatic loss, if it helped just one person to find love again—it was all worth it. Parker was interrupted from her internal thoughts by a loud scream followed by some giggling. She opened her eyes and laid them upon the three-year-old little girl running frantically around the biggest tree in the park. Her wife was running just as frantically trying to catch the toddler. Dylan finally caught up the little girl and threw her up in the air, catching her in a hug and a snuggle to her neck.
The little one laughed “Mama!!That tickles!” she yelled, her blonde hair bouncing around her cherubic face, and her blue eyes sparkling.
“It does? Well we wouldn't want that now, would we?” Dylan replied, laughing as she settled the little girl back onto the ground.
“Why don't we go find Mommy and get some lunch?” Dylan took a little hand into her own and began to walk back towards where Parker had laid out a blanket.
As soon as the child saw Parker, she disengaged from Dylan's hand and began to run. “Mommy! Feed us lunch!”
Parker tried not to laugh at her daughter’s demand. “Samantha Grace! Is that how we ask for things in this family?” Parker faked a stern look, trying not to look at Dylan who was concealing her laughter behind her hand.
“Sowwy, Mommy. Can we’s has lunch please?”
“Much better, and yes, you can. Come here and sit with me, and you can help make the sandwiches.”
Dylan flopped down next to Parker and their daughter. She kissed Parker's cheek.
“What was that for?” Parker asked, smiling and kissing Dylan back.
“Do I need a reason to kiss my wife?” Dylan was in a playful mood. She usually was nowadays. So much so, that Parker sometimes felt she had two children.
“Nope,” Parker said, helping Samantha put together her sandwich.
Dylan turned her head and looked her into Parker’s eyes. “I love you, you know? Even if I am a big kid sometimes.” Dylan laughed knowing that she was a big kid and loving every minute of it.
THE END