Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
She’s still stunned. It takes her a moment to come back to Earth with the rest of us. Her first word is so meek that I can barely hear it, but she repeats herself until she’s loud and clear. “Yes. Yes, I will marry you, Redford Rough!”
My family cheers as I slide my grandmother’s ring onto her finger and then wrap my arms around her and pull her close for a very intense but family-friendly kiss.
I’ve got her now. And I’m never, ever letting go.
EPILOGUE 1
ANNIE
At this point, I’m used to the endless drilling and hammering that comes from the other rooms of the house.
Red is ambitious. He has big plans for our home. He moved us in as soon as it was livable, a modest three-bedroom home that’s wired and has plumbing. But he doesn’t want to stop there. He wants a big kitchen, a study, multiple guest rooms, and plenty of just-in-case rooms depending on how big our family gets.
We’ve both been kinda wishy-washy on how many kids we want. I think we’ve decided we’re just going to let nature decide.
Nature’s already got me with one on the way. It’s been nine months, which means any day now I’m in for a whole lot of pain.
I’m ready for it. I’ve been preparing for months. I’ve turned one of the currently vacant bedrooms into a personal sewing room, and I’ve been making plenty of cloth diapers for my child.
Red’s heavy footsteps announce him as he walks up behind me, done for now in his garage. He wraps his arms around me and plants a kiss on my cheek. “You’re so unbelievably beautiful, babe.”
The past year or so has just been magical. He’s made me feel so loved and cared for, turning our happily ever after into an ending happier than I ever thought possible.
“Heading into work now?”
He nods. “Sadly, yeah. Dad still needs my help to finish off this big project, but then I’m here the rest of the day for you.”
I chuckle. “I’ll be fine. I’m tougher than I look, you know.”
“I know you are. But you got my pager number, right?”
“Yes, Red, I got your pager number.” He had bought one of those new-fangled pagers just for this. It cost us hundreds of dollars, but Red says that my being able to contact him is worth every penny. Business is still good, so I’m not that worried about our finances.
“You be good, babe. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He steals another kiss from me before sliding away and heading down the stairs.
I sigh and put down my needlepoint. I pace about the house, coming into the nursery. We just finished painting it a nice neutral yellow, and I’m certain I’ve sewn enough diapers. Red’s been such a sweetheart that I don't really have any other chores or duties I need to do. So now I’m bored... and a bit hungry.
A knock on the front door grabs my attention, and it soon opens. It’s Dolly, carrying a brown paper bag with her. “Delivery for one Annie Rough,” she says with a bit of glee.
“I hope you got lunch for yourself too, Dolly Rowdy,” I say, crossing my arms, teasing her right back about our recent name changes.
She and my brother got hitched before we did, and have already started their family. Dolly is recovering from giving birth to her first son, Cash. A whole eleven pounds, but Dolly endured it. She’s as healthy as he is, and I’m so proud of her and my brand-new nephew. Even though he’s only a few months old, that child is already proving to be a bit of a headache. My mother always told me Rowdy boys were like that, and I have no illusions that just because my last name has changed, my children will be any less Rowdy. In fact, they will be Rough and Rowdy, which might end up being a terrifying combination.
Dolly sets the bag down and slides a foil-covered sandwich over to me. “A grilled cheese on rye, just like you requested the last two dozen times.”
“Thank you, Dolly. You’re a lifesaver.” Rye bread has been my most powerful pregnancy craving. What goes in between those slices is pretty malleable, but there always has to be rye bread involved, I can’t get enough of it.
“Kid’s going to be named Rye, huh?” Dolly asks as she takes out her own sandwich, roast beef on pumpernickel.
“It’s not a bad name, I think. Can always call themselves Ryan if they think it’s too odd.”
“Even if it’s a girl, Annie?”
Red and I agreed on wanting the sex of our child to be a surprise. We’re both old-fashioned like that, I guess.
“Ryan can be a fine girl’s name. Or she can be Ryeanne. But he or she will always be my little Rye.”