Epilog

TWO YEARS LATER*

LYRA*

The last two years have been a whirlwind of activity going on in the Cunnigham family. Vega and Jace had another boy and are now expecting their third baby, which happens to be a girl. Vega and Jace are both stoked about that. After having two boys that were only twelve months apart. They wasted no time at all getting pregnant again after having baby Jackson.

Blaze and I are expecting as well, with only one baby this time, thank goodness, and we just found out that the baby is also a girl. Vega and I are both due around the same date in May. Wouldn't that be crazy if we had our babies on the same day? I'm not sure how we managed this, but we did; I'm sure even though they will be cousins, they will be close like sisters. Adelaide is excited to be getting a baby sister after being surrounded by boys for two years; poor thing.

Vega and I are about to receive our Doctorate, though I'm not sure how we pulled it off with having a growing family. Having twins wasn't an easy feat, and with Vega having two boys under three, can you imagine. We have made it, though, and will graduate just before having the girls. All of the Summer courses and extra online classes have paid off, that is for sure. My parents and Blaze's mom Diana have been a tremendous help. They watch all of the kids while Vega and I do our classes online in the study. I guess it pays off to have parents that were all best of friends beforehand.

It took forever to get the go-ahead to build the rehabilitation hospital. It's crazy how much red tape a person has to go through. Diana threw a party for all of her high-end friends and Blaze's father's top clients at his firm and managed to get several high donations and even a grant. So money has not been an issue, not that it would have been anyways. I'm not sure what all goes into such things; our father, Blaze, and Tanner have been dealing with it all. But construction on the rehabilitation hospital just began only a few months ago. It's said to be a year at least before being completed. Which I guess is ok considering Vega, and I are about to have two toddlers and babies added to the chaos. I couldn't ask for more.

My parents didn't get much traveling done but did manage to make it to Ireland for three months before the twins were born. I hope someday we will be able to go to Ireland to meet all of the family we have over there. Mom was an only child, so there was no one left on her side of the family, but dad has six sisters, so we have a whole slew of cousins and second cousins to meet someday. The twin gene comes from my dad's side of the family. Our grandmother had two sets of twin girls, poor grandpa, poor dad, now that I think about it. Dad got away from all of his sisters to turn around and have twin girls himself. I feel bad now for always being the headstrong brat I had always been, but he has always loved me anyway. Vega and I had met my grandparents back when we were eighteen and graduated from high school. They are still alive, but I doubt we see them again before they pass; they are both in their late eighties.

Even though the last two years have been crazy, I have loved every minute of it. I have everything I've ever dreamed of. I'm married to the love of my life, my soulmate, I have my babies, I'm about to receive my doctorate at twenty-four years old. The rehabilitation hospital is underway. God has truly blessed me in every way possible and continues to bless my family and me with each passing day.

BLAZE*

It's taken some time, but I'm currently overseeing the rehabilitation center under construction. Once people caught wind of my cousins and me building the hospital, requests for parks and businesses started piling in. We have had to expand quite a bit, as you can see, and our company has brought jobs to so many people. Tanner, Jace, and I have invested in a few of the small businesses that were constructed, and so far, those investments have paid off quite well. We all get a small percentage of income through each company each month, which we use to pay and match our employee's health insurance and 401Ks.

All in all, employees spend half of what they would otherwise for good quality health insurance. Jace and I put anything that was left from our investments into savings accounts for our children. I'm not sure what Tanner does with his portion. Connor and Wade haven't invested; they still run around acting like college boys chasing tail even though they are almost thirty years old. Someday someone will put them in their place; I hope that happens soon.

All of my dreams are becoming a reality, and I owe it all to God, who has blessed me with all that I have: my beautiful wife, my children, my home, my growing business, and so much more. Even my dreams of becoming a billionaire are coming to pass.

***

"Hey man, what's up?" I asked Tanner as I sat down across from him at a booth he had reserved at the bar.

"Mae broke up with me. She wants to get married, but that will never be something I can do. She wants to find someone who will commit to her," Tanner said, drinking a shot and then chasing it with a beer.

"Tanner, you both have been together three years. Of course, Mae wants to get married, she wants to have children, and you won't give that to her either. Mae is twenty-seven years old, and she looks sad every time we are all hanging out, and all of the kids are running around. You need to go apologize and propose to her; she is a good woman," I said. I know I'm supposed to be on Tanner's side, but I can't be in this case. Tanner is in the wrong, and he knows it.

"Sorry, that's just something I can't do. I love her enough to let her go. Eventually, she'd probably rip my heart out and smash it. Women always eventually leave; I'm not going to give her the satisfaction," Tanner said.

"Are you listening to yourself? Mae would never hurt you the way your mother and ex did. You need to go back to your shrink, man. I love you, but you are making a big mistake. One day you are going to look up and wish you had a family of your own," I said and took a swig from my beer.

"Well, technically, Mae did leave; she wanted more than I was willing to give her. She deserves better than me anyway. I'm damaged goods, have been since I was nine years old, and my mom walked out the door and never came back. I should have known better than even to try getting into another relationship. Also, my dad is a divorce lawyer; I'm not bringing kids into the world when anything like that could happen," Tanner said.

"Tanner, our dads work in the same family law firm, and they are twins; you can't use that line on me. I'm here for you, man; I'm sorry I jumped down your throat. Let me take you home, I haven't even had half a beer, so I'm good, but you well," I trailed off as I counted four beers and three shot glasses.

"Yeah, man, thanks. Can you somehow get my truck home, though?" Tanner asked.

"I'll go pick up Jace, and we will get your truck home," I said.

"Ok, well, let's go. I'm done with this night already, and it's only eight," Tanner said, and we got up to leave.

***

It just so happened that Vega and Jace were at our place. Jace was watching the kids run around. No one else was in sight.

"Where are the girls?" I asked Jace.

"In the study with Mae. My stupid brother broke her heart. What is wrong with him? I don't understand why he is this way?" Jace groaned.

"Well, we need to run and pick up Tanner's truck. I had to drive him home. He's pretty upset about the breakup as well but won't do anything to change things. I'll get Rebecca to watch the kids for a minute," I said as I went towards the back door.

***

"Someday, someone is going to walk into Tanner's life and lay all his shit bare. I hope that time comes quickly. He isn't getting any younger," Jace said as he jumped out of my truck.

"Yeah, that would be nice," I said, and Jace nodded, slammed the door shut, and ran to Tanner's truck.

***THE END***