The Path to Love

Epilogue

"Really dad? You had to give me a five hour talk about how you and mom had me? How am I supposed to say all that on this one piece of paper?"

"Just condense it into something smaller and leave out the dangerous parts." I told my now fifteen-year-old daughter.

"I love hearing this story," my wife said, leaning over to kiss me.

"Gross," Kira replied looking away.

"I love telling it," I told my wife.

"After all these years, you still hold the same love for me as you did back then." My wife spoke, sitting on my lap and wrapping her arms around my neck.

"I loved you then, and I love you now. That will never change, Samantha Thomas."

"Daddy!" My three-year-old daughter, Anne, exclaimed. She ran up to me, wanting up.

"Is someone jealous of mom?" I asked my daughter, reaching out to grab her as Sam got up. I tickled my daughter's tummy and she giggled in amusement.

"Is uncle Xavier still leader of the Riverside Gang?" Kira asked me.

"Yes, he is. He will probably be leader of that gang until he dies," I chuckled.

"Mom, how come you took dad back after he left?" My daughter asked her mother.

"Your father and I went through a lot of issues when we were teenagers. We both made mistakes and made wrong decisions. Your father was doing what he thought was best for the both of us at the time, I couldn't hold that against him. He has been my rock for twenty-seven years. Plus, love wins. Love always wins. I wouldn't be who I am without your dad, just like he wouldn't be who he is without me."

"Beautifully said, wife. Well done."

"Thank you, husband."

"Do you plan on having more kids?" Kira asked us.

"Who knows what the world has in store for us, Kira Josephine?" I admitted to my daughter. "We have two exceptionally successful companies and two wonderful daughters. I think our lives are pretty good right now. Don't you?" I said to my daughter.

"Yes, but I've always wanted a baby brother." My daughter looked at me in adoration. "Don't you want a son, dad? It must get old being the only boy in the house."

I had my three-year-old daughter in my arms, my wife next to me and my fifteen-year-old daughter on the floor in front of me. Life couldn't get much better than what it was right now. "We'll see Kira, we'll see." I patted my daughter's head and got off the couch, with Anne.

"Dada, where to?" Anne asked me.

"I don't know, Anne. Maybe crazy" I exclaimed, tickling her. She laughed and laughed.
I loved this little girls' laugh. It was perfect, and so full of life. "Daddy, stop!" My daughter giggled. I was laughing along with her.

I never turned out like my parents. I was there for my children, I attended every school event, every basketball game and every poetry night. I was there whenever my daughters needed me, and my oldest knew she could trust me.

Turns out, my parents were better off as being present for their grandkids compared to being parents when I was a child. They were always coming to Toronto to see their grandkids and to spoil them with presents.

We still live in the same house that I bought for Sam when I confessed my love for her all those years ago. I was now CEO of the whole Thomas Enterprises company as a whole and was still working out of Toronto. I would not be leaving my family behind for a career.

Sam and I adjusted to parenthood quickly after Kira was born. We developed a strong connection with each other and raised Kira to the best of our abilities. Kira had the serious and protective side of me and the caring and open side of her mother. She was extremely protective of her best friend, Sienna. Kira was suspended once for punching a boy who made fun of her best friend. When she told me, I ended up taking her out for ice cream and telling her the story about how I did the same thing for her mother.

Kira is more like her mother while Anne is more like me. I don't know how I was blessed with such a great family, but I thank God for it everyday. My family is my world and I'd be lost without them.

"Actually, Hunter, there is something I've been meaning to tell you." My wife spoke up.

"Yes, honey?" I asked her, looking at her with worry.

"It's not bad," she replied quickly, reassuring me. "I just thought you should know, that one, I'm pregnant again. Two, I want to adopt a kid. Three, I love you so much."

Kira cheered at the thought of getting two new siblings. I stared at my wife in shock. "Really? Are you sure about this?" I asked her.

"Yes, I took a pregnancy test the other day." She admitted, blushing.

I put Anne down and picked my wife up and spun her around. "I'm going to be a father for a third and fourth time!" I exclaimed.

Sam giggled. Fuck, I loved that giggle.

I made the right choice by choosing this life. I never should have had to choose; it should have been this all along. But, I'm glad in the end I chose the family life because honestly, I don't know where I would be without my family.

"Don't forget, Uncle Xavier, and both sets of your grandparents are coming over tonight." My wife told our children.

"Can we tell them you're pregnant again?" Kira asked her.

Sam looked at me and I nodded. "Of course!" Sam said. "Your family needs to know."

Kira jumped up and down. "I hope you have a boy."

"We could call him Hunter Junior!" I called out.

"One Hunter is enough!" Sam retorted.

Everyone laughed. "Yeah dad, one of you is enough. If we had two of you, we might just go insane." Kira replied, laughing harder.

If I could freeze time and live in this moment forever, I would. My wife is happy, my kids are happy, and I'm happy.

I've come a long way from the fuckboy in high school, and honestly, I wouldn't change a thing.

"Group hug!" I called out. I picked up Anne, Sam walked over, Kira walked over, and we all hugged each other. "I love all three of you, so much." I said to them, inside of the hug.

"Love you daddy," Anne replied, wrapping her arms around my neck.

"I love you too, dad." Kira replied.

We broke the hug. I put Anne down, and she and Kira went off to play. I sat down on the couch with my wife.

"Fifteen years ago, did you picture we would get this far?"

"Fifteen years ago, I was confessing my love for you. Happy Anniversary, Sam." I grabbed her hand. "I can't wait to see what the rest of our life together has to offer."
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Author's Note:

Okay! This is my favourite chapter that I have ever written! I love this chapter so so much! This booked turned out to be everything I hoped it would and more. I hope you all loved the epilogue as much as I did.