Page 63 of Bittersweet Redemption

I watch as my son’s cheeks turn pink at Kai’s compliment. “Yeah, I’m pretty cool.”

Kai and I both laugh and agree with him.

After breakfast, we sit and play in the living room like a family. As I see the smile on Roman’s face and Kai laying on the floor pushing tiny cars around, I’m overcome with a sense of contentment and a feeling of home. This is all I’ve ever wanted, and it’s happening with the last person I ever expected it to be.

* * *

Later that evening, Riley and Kellan bring us dinner. Riley wraps me in a big hug as soon as she walks in the door and, when she’s done with me, scoops Roman up in a hug. I hear his little giggles as she tickles him.

Kellan stops in front of me. “Willa.” He says my name hesitantly, and my curiosity makes me give him my full attention. “I want to apologize to you. I, uh, I didn’t exactly welcome you into the family as well as I should’ve. I didn’t realize how much my brother loved you. And I held a grudge that wasn’t mine to hold on to. So I’m sorry, and I’m glad you’re ok. And I’m glad you’re with my brother. You make him happy, which is all I’ve ever wanted for him.”

I see the raw emotion in his eyes and know he only wants the best for Kai. We both do. “Thanks, Kellan. I appreciate the apology, and I hope we can all be friends.”

He pulls me into a hug. “We’re more than friends. We’re family.”

“Stop hogging my girl,” Kai says, coming up behind me. Kellan releases me, and I easily slip into Kai’s arms. Kellan and Kai share a look of understanding before Kellan walks off to find Riley in the kitchen.

“I love you, Willa.”

“I love you more.” He chuckles and leans down to kiss me. I get distracted by his tongue sweeping over mine and get lost in his lips when Roman comes up to us.

“Ew, gross!” Kai and I break out into smiles against each other’s lips before we break apart.

Kai walks up to Roman and messes up his hair.

“Come on, kid. Let’s eat.” He takes Roman’s hand as they walk into the kitchen.

I take a moment to realize that this is my new life. I smile, ready to have the first of many dinners with my family.

Kai

Epilogue

Two years later

A chill runs through my body. Even though it’s summer, the wind in Iceland is cold.

Today is my wedding day.

Our wedding day.

I take a sip of my coffee and pull Willa closer to me as we watch the sunrise from the front porch of our cabin.

“I can’t believe it’s today,” Willa whispers, like she’s afraid if she talks too loud, she’ll wake someone up. Roman is the only person even remotely close to us, but he’s asleep in his room. The kid sleeps like a damn rock, too. It’s just the three of us here, and the closest cabin is at least half a mile away.

“I know, babe.” I look down at her and see her small smile as she watches the sun. We obviously didn’t adhere to the whole not seeing the bride the night before the wedding. “I can’t wait until you’re mine.”

“I’ve always been yours, Kai. Always.” I kiss her forehead, and we sit in silence. We started doing this after Willa and Roman officially moved in with me. We sit with each other at sunrise, sunset, or even midnight if that’s our only chance. She snuggles into me, I hold her, and we just enjoy each other.

One night, shortly after she moved in, we lay in bed talking about our hopes for the future. I brought up marriage to get her thoughts on it. I knew I was going to marry her the second she ran into my arms the night of her kidnapping; I never thought twice about it. I waited for the right woman to settle down with, and it just so happened she was right in front of me.

She mentioned that she thought it would be fun to elope to Iceland.

“Why Iceland?” I asked.

“I’m not sure. Iceland just seems like such a magical place. Marriage feels magical, too. You’ve picked one person out of the billions of people on the planet to spend the rest of your life with. Such a huge concept, you know? I feel like celebrating magic in a magical place. It’s the perfect setting.”

So the very next morning, I started researching costs to go to Iceland after she left for work and have been saving ever since. When I finally got down on one knee in our backyard—surrounded by the twinkle lights Roman helped me put in the shape of a heart—I told her I couldn’t wait to marry her in Iceland.