Page 64 of Isla by Any Other Name

At last, Mitch had an answer for the next step of his life. He had a strategy. “Well, we’re going to get your identity back and get married as soon as possible. That is…if you’ll have me.”

Isla’s mouth dropped open. “You really don’t think I’m letting you go, do you? You’re stuck with us forever. Yes, of course I’ll marry you!”

He pulled her close, and she spoke into his chest. “You’re never leaving my sight again. You have a son to meet. So much time lost…but Mitch, I never stopped telling Jesse about his dad. I told him every day how much you loved us. I’ve missed you so much. My heart ached for you every second. When I saw you standing in my kitchen, that ache went away for the first time in three years.”

Mitch knew the ache. He knew it too well. “Isla, we have all the time in the world now. I want us to spend the rest of our lives together, raising our family and loving each other.”

Isla kissed him, and whispered onto his lips, “I’ll always love you, Mitch. My life can begin again now that you’re in it.”

Mitch pulled her onto his lap. They would face life together and it would be a happy one. Oh, he knew they would have to face their hurdles, but the biggest one had already been faced. They were together now—that’s all that mattered.

Isla said, “Now let’s go home so I can introduce you to your son.”

Isla’s heart was singing as she and Mitch pulled into her driveway. Home at last, together. Kech stood on the porch with Jesse in his arms, wiggling and curious. All the two-year-old energy and wonder in his eyes.

Isla led Mitch up the path. She took Jesse in her arms, set him on her hip, and said, “Jesse, this is Daddy.”

Jesse tucked his head under Isla’s chin and looked up at Mitch shyly.

“Hey, buddy, it’s me,” said Mitch, with that lazy grin. “It’s Daddy.” When Mitch put out his arms, Jesse leaned forward into them. He nestled into Mitch’s arms with complete trust. Isla knew all those years as she’d talked about Mitch, he’d become Jesse’s hero.

“Come on, you two,” said Abigail. “I want to hear this story of yours. I have your dinner warming in the oven and I’ve opened a bottle of wine. This calls for a celebration!”

Epilogue

Isla put the last touches on her wedding cake. In just a few hours, she would be Mrs. Isla Larkin. How she had dreamed of this day. Abigail came into the kitchen. “Are you ready to get pampered? Dawn and Leslie are here. Now, get in the bathroom. I’ve poured you a bath and when you’re done, Leslie will do your hair.”

Isla wiped her sugary hands on her apron. “Do you think Jesse’s okay?”

“Jesse’s fine!” said Abigail. “He’s with his dad and Uncle Kech. Now stop worrying, and let’s get you to your wedding.”

It had only been a week since Mitch had come. But so much had happened. Curt had flown out and had told Mitch that he was opening an office here in Billings. He wanted Mitch to run it for him. Mitch had gladly accepted—knowing full well that Curt was doing this just for him. Just for his happiness.

Isla had grown to love Montana, and her parents had too. To uproot them and Jesse and to leave her new family behind would have crushed her. The only thing she wanted to leave behind was the name Siobhan. From now on, she would have her real name back. Mitch could say it every single day—music to her ears. You never know the beauty in who you are, Isla thought, until you lose it.

Isla and Mitch had decided to get married in the little gazebo in Kech’s yard. Leslie and Dawn had spent the day decorating the space. Isla had made a lot of friends over the last three years, and Mitch’s friends and family would round out the guest list. They were having a sunset wedding overlooking the mountains. There was nothing as beautiful as a Montana sunset, the colors exploding over the never-ending sky. Abigail was her maid of honor and Curt was Mitch’s best man. It couldn’t have been more perfect.

Jesse and Mitch had bonded over the past week. They were already inseparable. Jesse followed Mitch wherever he went, like a little shadow. It had taken him only a day to start calling him Daddy and every time he did, Isla saw Mitch’s eyes fill with tears. Hers did too.

She set her wedding dress out on the bed and got ready for the first day of the rest of her life.

Mitch tried dressing his squirming son in the shirt-and-short set Isla had picked out. But at the moment, Jesse thought that getting dressed was a definite no. His giggles filled the room. “Jesse, you can’t go to the wedding in your birthday suit,” laughed Mitch. “Nudity is not an option. Now, please stop squirming.”

Kech laughed as Mitch struggled to get the diaper in place. “I bet you didn’t think you’d be wrestling a two-year-old eight days ago,” he said. “On your wedding day.”

Mitch shook his head. “You have that right. But I wouldn’t change things for the world. Do you think Isla will get mad if we skip the clothes?”

Kech whistled. “Yeah, you know it! She deserves a perfect day, and that means your son needs to be clothed. Move over, I’ve got this.” To Jesse, he said, “Young man, stop your nonsense. Mommy wants you to wear this and that’s what you’re going to do.” Jesse continued to squirm and giggle.

“What’s going on in here?” Kech and Mitch turned to the door. Gramma Dawn stood in the doorway with her hands on her ample hips.

“Ma, he won’t let us get him dressed,” Kech complained. “We’ve tried everything and he won’t stop squirming. He thinks we’re playing a game.”

“Gramma Dawn, no clothes!” Jesse giggled.

“You two go and get dressed. I’ll handle the little rascal. Jesse, come here to Gramma,” she said in a stern voice. Jesse stopped his fussing and walked over without a peep. She sat on the bed and pulled on his clothes. “Now, don’t you look handsome? You’re not a baby anymore, you’re a little boy. How two grown men can’t dress one small toddler, I’ll never know. Now let’s go to the kitchen and have some milk and cookies.”

Mitch took one more glance at his son before running to his room to get dressed. Five minutes—that’s all that separated him from the aisle. He rushed to put on his dress shirt, to straighten out his tie, comb his short hair. He was ready.