Shadow

EPILOGUE

-Denice's Pov-

Denice was currently getting the food ready and placing it all on the kitchen island that her and mother made all morning for Shay's baby shower that she was hosting in her new home. Carter had built her the dream house she always wanted in River Valley, which took couple years to built. It was a four bedroom with three in a half bathrooms. It was an open concept and the windows were nice an tall that faced the backyard which was the open lake view that the sun would set in the evenings. They had they're own private land and Denice had her own garden and fountain, which Rosetta had helped create before her sudden passing two years ago. Her parents were actually there too, her dad and Carter were actually setting up the banner in the living room, while her mom was mixing the salads. "Sweet pea, please tell you're husband that what I'm telling him is right. The left side needs to move up a little bit more," dad sighs redirecting him. Mom giggled shaking her head while Denice wiped her hands and walk over to see what the fuss is about. Sure enough dad was right. "Carter, he's right. Move it up a little bit," She says and watch while he did it. He looked back at her when she gave him a flirty wink and turn around only to hear Carter tease her father by saying, "Now I see where Denice gets it from." Which means Denice always got to be right about something. Mother then tells Denice that Shay and Tobias are going to be here any minute when Denice heard the baby girl start to cry from her bassinet. She was about to go and grab her when Carter beat her to it and carefully picked her up. "Good afternoon princess, sleep well?" He coos kissing her tiny button nose. Denice lean against the wall watching him attend to they're baby girl while her dad sits on the rocking chair watching them as well.

*flashback 2 weeks ago*

Carter and Denice were currently having a family breakfast with Morgan while they discussed a family visit back home to see Denice's parents since it's been a while since they last seen them. She was actually getting a bit homesick so they wanted to plan a trip. The guys were still eating so Denice got up and took her plate to the kitchen to rinse it off when her phone started ringing on the counter near the fridge. She wiped her hands and quickly went to answer it using her vamp speed and didn't bother to look at the caller ID and said hello. "Hi there, can I please speak to Miss Denice Hastings?" A women asked on the other line. "It's Denice Grey now, but this is she, can I ask who's calling?" She politely replied. She didn't know what to say or feel when she heard the next few sentences that came out of the women's mouth and that those words would change her entire life in an instant.

Hours later Denice and Carter were pulling into the parking lot of Greendale Adoption Agency which is a small rural town that was six hours away from River Valley and Denice's heart was pounding out of her chest. She didn't speak on the way there and Carter didn't as well. He just held her hand all the way and rubbed small circles on her hand to calm her down but they both knew that didn't happen. Parking the vehicle Denice rushed into the building while Carter chased after her and as soon as she got to the reception desk, Denice asked for the women who called her. "I'm here to see Diana Smith, she's my case worker," Soon enough they were placed in another room waiting for this women to walk in and out of nowhere she walked in with a slight smile on her face. "Today's the day Denice."

It was about a year ago Denice and Carter applied to this agency about adopting since her and Carter couldn't have children together and they both agreed to take this next step after they got married which they sort of rushed but couldn't wait and also they're home that was completely finished and all they needed was to start their family. Denice looked over at Carter and reach for his hand with the brightest smile ever and she couldn't contain the happy tears that filled her eyes. Diana confessed something to them that blew they're minds and that the smile Carter and Denice had turned upside down. "I know you guys waited months for this and the process is quite long but we received something so bazaar that it never happened to us before and we just had to follow protocol," and suddenly two police officers walked in with soft smiles and a file in they're hands. They explained to them that they came here first thing that morning when they got the call, and that when the baby was dropped off there at the agency there was a letter included. They asked them a few questions if they knew anything which they didn't and surprisingly after tons of questions they let them continue on with the adoption for the sweet angel. The cops left and Diana told them that the letter was confidential but since it was directed to the married couple she let them read it while she went to get the baby.