Bitter Arrangement: Epilogue

Six Months Later

“You should’ve seen Dad’s face.” Brenden laughs as he takes a long drink of wine. I join him, maybe overindulging a little bit, but it’s been a long pregnancy and I could use a freaking drink. “When I told him he’s not allowed to meet his grandchild. My god, he was livid.”

“Good,” I say, nodding to myself. I haven’t spoken to my father since the day I stood up to him and had Brenden break the bad news instead. “Not that he deserves even that much.”

“I think he’s finally starting to realize how fucked he is.” My brother’s face is hooded in shadow. It’s early evening, and the sun’s going down.

“Do you care?”

“I don’t hate him like you do. He was hard on me too, but not like he was on you.”

I tilt my head, studying my brother. “Shouldn’t that make you dislike him more?”

He considers that, swirling his glass. “Yes and no. I feel bad for him. I don’t go out of my way to have a relationship, but if he calls, I’ll pick up.”

“Good for you, I guess.” I finish my glass and sigh. “I want another, but I probably shouldn’t. I’ll have to pump and dump, and I hate doing that.”

His eyebrows raise. “I don’t even know what that means.”

“One day, you’ll figure it out. Maybe when you’re older.”

The back door slides open, and Alexan steps out. He’s in dark sweats and cradling little Connor in his arms. He’s bouncing slightly, and Connor’s fussing a little, but it seems like the little guy is sleepy. “I’m going to put the baby to bed. Cass insists on doing it.”

“Let me say goodnight.” I get up and go over. I bend down and kiss my little baby boy. My heart stretches and grows, and I have the sudden, crazy urge to grab my baby away and hold him tight to my chest, which is unreasonable because that’s all I’ve done for the past three months, and now I deserve a little break. “Love you, little guy,” I whisper and kiss him. “And I love you, big guy.” I kiss my husband.

He smiles back. “Let loose. We have plenty of milk frozen for a bottle. It’s my night anyway.”

“No, really⁠—”

Brenden’s already pouring. “She’ll have another,” he says.

“Good man.” Alexan kisses me again. “Be back soon.” He disappears inside, and I watch him go.

“Never would’ve guessed that man would turn out to be such a doting father,” Brenden admits as I sit back down and start in on that glass of wine. If Alexan’s getting up anyway, I might as well take him up on the offer.

“He’s just like that. I mean, all tough on the outside, but when it comes to his family, he’s just a big softie.”

“Still hard to believe.”

We share stories from growing up for a little while, and Brenden tells me about his next job. It took him a while to get back into the heisting world after the way things shook out with Los Sombras, but all that’s a moot point these days. That cartel is a smoking ruin, all thanks to Black Mantis.

It’s good being an adult for a bit. I miss my baby fiercely, but I’m aware that I need time to be more than a mother. Maybe the word more isn’t right—because I’m always a mother, now that Connor’s in the world. I’m just other things too.

Like a friend. A sister. A wife. A damn good thief, though my thieving days are in the past.

Cass comes out a little while later. She’s been staying over a few nights a week to help out, and I don’t know where I’d be without her.

“Serious question,” she says, giving me a hard look. “What are you doing with that basement?”

“Oh, god, I haven’t thought about it.” I frown back at the house. “It’s just a mess of parent stuff.” What was once my refuge has now become the playroom. Baby toys and other random junk are scattered all over the floor.

“You really have to reclaim it.”

“Didn’t know it was lost,” I say jokingly, since we all know the truth. I lost the basement battle to my sweet angel, Connor.

“Seriously, next week, you and I are going to renovate. We’re turning it back into the glorious oasis of ladyhood it once was.”

“Ladyhood?” Brenden asks. “Sounds exciting. I’ll help.”

“No men.” Cass gives him a hard stare.

My brother’s lips quirk like he’s about to accept a challenge. They have a moment where Cass stares him down, and eventually, Brenden blinks.

“Guess I’ll make other plans,” my brother says.

The two of them bicker back and forth while I think about Cass’s offer. In the end, I turn her down.

“But why not?” she asks.

“Because I don’t need to carve out my own space.”

“Sounds insane.”

“All this is my space.” I gesture around us at the backyard. String lights dangle from a vine-wrapped pergola. “And the baby will grow up soon enough. I guess I just don’t need to rush it.”

“Well, okay, if you’re sure.” Cass doesn’t seem convinced, but that’s okay. My life’s messy, but it’s a good mess. It’s a baby, lovely, warm sort of mess. I’m into the mess.

Alexan’s the last one to join, the monitor in one hand, and soon the table’s full of laughter and joy over the soft whirr of Connor’s noise machine.

My tribe is here. Cass, my best friend. Brenden, my brother.

Alexan, my husband, my light, my everything.

I sink into easy, happy bliss and have another glass of wine.

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