The Way It Used to Be

Epilogue

I had barely put the truck in park before she ran down the porch steps, her bare feet moving as fast they could.  Her soft, dark waves shook around her face as she ran, and I couldn't help but chuckle at the dirt smeared all over the little sundress she was wearing. I knew Beau had been working in the flower beds all day, planting things here and there around the yard, and I'm sure she had loved an opportunity to get her hands—and therefore herself—dirty.

I was out of the truck in an instant, running to her. Every day I thought I loved her more.

I bent at the knees, crouching down and reaching out for her while she cooed, "Daddy, daddy!"

My arms were around her in an instant, picking her up from the ground and tossing her into the air and back down into my waiting arms before snuggling her against my chest and looking up at her mama, who was leaning against the railing of the porch, still as beautiful as I had ever seen her. She was wearing cut off jeans and a white tank top, and her feet were also bare... like mother, like daughter.

"Addie, Addie," I said back to her, kissing her on the cheek. I started walking toward the house... to Beau, who I was still amazed to wake up to every day.

I had gone back to work shortly after we got married, and I was terrified for the first few times I went back up in the bucket.  I was a crew leader now, though, and I rarely went up anymore, which satisfied Beau and kept her from worrying so much.

"Did you have a good day with Mama?" I asked the toddler in my arms. Beau had taken the day off from the shop. She had that luxury these days since she no longer worked alone. Business was good, and she'd hired two other girls to work alongside her.

Addie was babbling about the flowers and Mama when I finally reached Beau. "Hey, Beautiful," I said softly, unable to contain the grin on my face just at seeing her. We both leaned forward immediately so I could wrap my free hand in her hair and pull her face to mine. I kissed her softly before saying, "I see your helper here was quite fond of the dirt."

Beau laughed and replied, "Yes, I'd say that was her favorite part."  She shook her head, still smiling, and reached out to brush dirt from Addie's dress.

We walked into the house together, letting the screen door slam behind us. "Damn, it smells good in here," I said, setting Addie down on the floor so I could wash my hands in the kitchen.

"Jack and Anna are comin' over for supper," she said before looking down at Addie, who was reaching her arms back up to me to be picked up once again. "I'd ask you to put her in something clean, but it's spaghetti night," she added, grinning. "I know what you Caine boys like." 

I scooped up Addie again and set her on the counter beside the sink before washing my hands.

I looked around the kitchen, so familiar as Verne's kitchen, but also so like Beau. Jars sat on the counter and table with wildflowers poking out. Addie's letter magnets were jumbled on the new fridge we'd had to replace last summer.

The whole house was familiar in that way. The living room was full of pictures, still, but pictures of me and Addie had been added to the mix. Two pairs of garden boots stood by the door, a tall red pair and a tiny pink pair. We had moved into the master bedroom shortly before Addie was born, and we turned Beau's room into her nursery. Our room was bigger, but Addie's room still had the best window. The furniture was the same, though I had repainted a lot of it in brighter colors. The bed was new, but it was still piled with pillows and old quilts. Addie's room was filled with stuffed animals and books, but I could still look at it and see Beau's room.

Addelynn Verne Caine was born on a regular Friday morning, and I cried the moment I first laid eyes on her. She was beautiful, just like her mama, and she had her smile. She had her spirit and personality, but she had my eyes and nose.

I was still struck at times by the twists and turns of our lives... of the years we had grown up together, fallen in love... and then the years we had been apart.  I was still amazed that the heartbreak had led us here, and I was thankful every single day for the life I shared with Beau and for the moments we shared in the morning, her head on my chest, while Addie was still asleep and the house was quiet.

I had everything I had ever wanted and more.... and it all started and ended with Beau.

Author's Note:
Thank you so much for reading The Way It Was Before!  I hope you loved the ending.  Thank you for sticking with me through this journey of writing, as I know I wasn't the best at updates due to my crazy schedule. I hope you'll revisit Hammond to see Colton and Beau soon and share with your friends!
xoxo
SC