Country Love

Epilogue

Two years later

"Songwriter of the year huh?" Trisha asked holding up the award that Bradley had won at the CMA's the weekend before.

"Yes and put it down before you get fingerprints on it." Bradley said matter of factly. Trisha laughed and sat it back down on the mantle.

"Do you ever regret coming out of retirement and letting everyone know what the real Brad Thompson is like?" she asked. Bradley shook his head as Isabelle came into the living room and lowered herself onto the couch before laying her hand over her very pregnant stomach and blowing her hair from her face.

"I'm beat." she said. "Sara's down for the night. She's so excited about starting school tomorrow."

"I'm not." Bradley replied. "I'm not letting her ride that bus. I'll take her."

"Bradley, she can ride the bus. She'll be fine." Isabelle argued. Bradley shook his head and Isabelle saw that familiar look in his eye that told her the topic was not open for discussion.

"I'm taking her to school." he said matter of factly. Isabelle just sighed and laid her head on his shoulder.

"I'm too tired to argue." she said.

"Is my nephew wearing you out?" Trisha asked. Isabelle nodded.

"I was never this tired with Sara." she replied.

"You're probably incubating a tiny little cave man like my brother." Trisha said with a laugh. Isabelle laid a gentle kiss to Bradley's jaw.

"I hope so." she said. "So did you see his award?" Isabelle asked pointing to the gold statue on the mantle. Trisha nodded.

"Yea I did. I asked him if he regrets coming out of retirement and letting people know how he really is and he says he doesn't."

"It's not really like I came out of retirement." Bradley said. "I won't tour again. There's no way I could handle being on the road and away from Isabelle, Sara and cave man junior. I just write songs for other people to sing. And I owed it to mom and dad to clear up all the stories about who I really am."

"You owed it to yourself too, Bradley. You're a good man and the world needed to know that." Isabelle said. Bradley twirled her auburn hair around his finger and just shrugged.

"So did Chelsea tell you that she is listening to my suggestions and is going to have doves at her wedding when she marries Dr. Stevenson next month?" Trisha asked. Bradley growled under his breath.

"I'm not sure I like Dr. Stevenson. He's not good enough for Chelsea." he said. Trisha sighed.

"If you had your way none of your sisters would ever be married. I feel sorry for Sara when she grows up and wants to date." Bradley coughed and ran his hand through his hair.

"Please don't' talk about that!" he said with dread. "I'm gonna shoot any damn boy that walks up to that door thinking he's going to date my daughter. I was a teenage boy once and there is no way I'm letting any of those near her." Trisha and Isabelle both laughed. Trisha stood up.

"Good luck with that." she said. "I'll see you guys later." Bradley and Isabelle both waved at her and she walked out leaving them alone on the couch.

"She wants me to die of a heart attack." Bradley said matter of factly. Isabelle slapped his stomach gently.

"No she doesn't." she said. "She just likes to watch you panic."

"Well Mrs. Thompson we are alone." Bradley said raising his eyebrows suggestively. Isabelle bit her lip and winked at him. He lowered his lips to her neck and then laughed loudly when she yawned a yawn that was fit for the record books.

"I'm sorry." she said and her face turned blood red with embarrassment. "I'm just so darn tired all the time." Bradley smiled and stood up.

"Come on sweetheart and I'll tuck you in." he said. Isabelle stood up and then squealed with surprise when he put one arm behind her knees and the other behind her neck and lifted her up into his arms.

"You are going to break your back!" she scolded laying her hand on her stomach. Bradley shook his head and grunted.

"Tarzan always carry Jane." he said and Isabelle laughed.

"Can Tarzan rub Jane's feet when we get to the bed because they are really hurting." Bradley raised his eyebrow.

"Jane will owe Tarzan." he said. Isabelle rolled her eyes.

"In about a month Jane will give Tarzan a son." she said. Bradley seemed to think for a minute and then nodded.

"Fair enough."