“Have you ever really thought about adoption?”
Ramon was momentarily surprised at the question, especially with it being their wedding night, but he smiled, and admitted, “I think that adoption is something I’d like to look into at some point with you. I know you’d love to have a child running around, and my family is big on kids, well my mom is, so I’d be game.” He felt that he hadn’t said something right with the frown that marred Noah’s brow, so he added, “I love you, Noah. If you want to look into adopting, then I’m with you all the way, but if you don’t, then I support that decision as well. I’m happy as long as we’re together, whether or not we have children.”
Noah smiled and caressed over Ramon’s hair with a hand before he cupped the back of Ramon’s head. “That’s good to know. I was just curious, and in truth I’m not sure what I want to do.” He brought Ramon up to meet his lips.
Ramon no longer worried about anything as he lay against Noah’s chest. Noah was by his side and he knew that he always would be. His love for Noah was his last thought before sleep finally claimed him.
Epilogue
25 Years Later
Sometimes, Pippa felt her eighty-eight years, but as she watched her family that surrounded her husband and herself as they celebrated their sixty-eighth wedding anniversary, she felt tears threaten to fall.
She wasn’t as spry as she used to be, and neither was Elias, but they’d had a good life and, apart from a few health scares here and there over the years, they were both in good health, albeit old.
Pippa’s eldest son Lucien and his wife Sabrina had been late arriving because they’d had to detour to the airport to pick their son, Alexander, and daughter, Olivia, up. They’d flown in late from Montana, where they’d been visiting with their cousins. Elias hadn’t let on, but he’d been relieved to see them because he’d discovered a hate for flying, many years ago on their trip to Europe. That trip held fond memories, despite Elias’ discovered fear of being in the air. She shook that memory free and watched Michael.
Michael spoke to his youngest son, Joshua, who had just turned twenty-three and wanted to apply for the FBI. He had dreams of becoming an agent, which was why he majored in criminal psychology at college. His parents weren’t so keen, but Joshua could talk anyone into doing what he wanted, so Pippa knew he’d be an agent one day. His brother, Michael Jr., and sister, Charlotte, worked at McKenzie Holdings, now that their father had retired. Pippa knew that Michael would still be around the office, he wouldn’t be able to stay away from the company that he helped build all those years before.
It was as she glanced at twenty-five year old Sirena that a tear slipped from her eyes. Sirena carried her first great-grandbaby and Pippa was beside herself with excitement. Sirena’s husband, Harry, was absent, which she knew bothered her granddaughter. She’d find out from Lily what was going on. Lily would know because she had a way of finding out anything that involved her children.
“Grandma, are you okay?” Paige asked, passing her a Kleenex.
“I’m fine. I just get emotional at family parties. It makes my heart lighter seeing everyone together. Which reminds me, where is your twin?”
Paige smiled. “Rachel is over there talking to Dad.”
Pippa glanced over and smiled at her handsome son, Ramon, as he talked to his daughter. Paige and Rachel were twins, born by surrogate to Ramon and Noah, twenty-years ago.
Pippa turned back to Paige and asked, “What was going on between you and Dylan?” Her eyes narrowed as her granddaughter squirmed where she stood.
Pippa had seen Paige arguing with her cousin, Dylan, Sebastian’s son, not too long ago. It had appeared heated until Dylan had stormed off leaving Paige with an angry look on her face, or was it one of resignation?
“Nothing really,” Paige shrugged her shoulders. “He was trying to tell me what to do, and I didn’t like it.”
Rachel, Paige, Dylan, and Ruben’s son, Jaxon, all went to the same college so she had a feeling that it stemmed from that. She really didn’t like arguments between her grandchildren. But the McKenzies were damn stubborn when they wanted to be, none more so than her husband.
“Sofia says we have to cut the cake soon before her cake topper either melts or falls over,” Madison whispered to her with amusement in her eyes.
Madison, the oldest child of Sebastian and Carla had a wild streak a mile long, and Pippa knew it was her who gave her father the grey hair. Dylan was usually the calmer of the two, so he must have a good reason to have picked an argument with Paige.
“Grandma, don’t forget the cake.”
“I won’t Madison.” Pippa took Elias’ offered hand and got to her feet. “Tell Sofia to be ready.”