Epilogue: Molly's Time

7 months later

Somewhere in California

I looked down at the perfect, beautiful face of my son. He had been in my arms for less than a day, and I couldn’t stop looking at him. From the moment that I found out about him till he was put in my arms, my life had revolved around this tiny little life I was responsible for.

It had been hard... so hard to walk away from my family and my friends. But I couldn’t risk anything happening to him.

My only regrets were the pain I had caused Scott and Becca. What Becca had been going through was some of the worst pain a person could go for. I knew from experience that losing everyone you loved and depended on was some of the most horrible, intense pain that I had ever felt in my life. The only thing that had kept me going was this little one growing inside me.

I should have told her the truth from the beginning. Becca was so sweet and kind; there was no way she could have been mad at me. But she also believed in doing the right thing.

Becca would have pushed and pushed for me to tell Scott. I wouldn’t have been able to tell her no for long, and as soon as Scott found out, he would have wanted to do the right thing by me. His honor and sense of responsibility would have been the ruin of him, and I loved him enough I couldn’t let that happen. He would have been stuck and miserable, and it would have been my fault.

My mother’s marriage would have fallen apart, and the world would have burned. In order to save my family, the man I loved, and my son, I walked away without a look back.

Well, that’s not entirely true. I had tried to call Becca the day I made it to California safely to let her know I was okay. I knew that Becca and my family would worry, and I hoped to save them some of that. But her phone went straight to voicemail the multiple times that I tried, and finally, I gave up.

I sent a message through the grapevine that I was fine, but I didn't know they actually got it. After doing all that I could, I finally focused on making a new life for myself.

The last few months had been hard... Almost impossible to get through. I couldn’t have been more grateful to Tabitha and her Dom Eric. They had called some friends in California and found me a safe place to go.

Anita and Carl had picked me up at the airport and taken me home. Anita was one of the top real estate agents in the area, and between her and Carl, they almost had the market cornered. They were the absolute sweetest people in the world, and I couldn’t thank them enough.

As soon as there was an opening in their firm, they gave me a job. They were even willing to help me take care of the baby; so I could get certified as a real estate agent, as well. Because of those two wonderful people, I had felt that I was blessed even in my struggles.

The baby in my arms began to fuss slightly, and he opened his beautiful eyes. The minute he saw me, he seemed to calm a bit as if he knew that his mommy was there and everything would be fine.

I adore this baby boy in my arms, and almost every inch of his face reminded me of his father. The man I loved with all of my heart.

Even if I had never dared to tell him.

His eyes were the one thing that reminded me of Scott the most. They were the same shape and same beautiful color, the color of the ocean at sunset. Even with how painful it was looking into them, I was grateful that I still had the chance.

Right here in my arms was a little bit of Scott that I could love and cherish without fear for the rest of my life.

I already loved him so deeply that I couldn’t imagine trying to live my life without him in it. No matter what happened, this child was my life now, and I couldn’t regret doing what I did in order to keep him with me.

There was a knock on the door, and I looked up to see my favorite nurse coming in to see how we were doing.

“Barbara,” I greeted her with a grin. “I didn’t think I would get to see you before we went home.”

“Well, one of the other nurses had to call out. Apparently, it was HER time to have her baby. So I came in to cover. Plus, it lets me be the one to get to hold her baby first.” Barbara gave me a wink. “I’ll never let her live THAT one down.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the nurses’ little challenge they would have every year. Which one got the chance to snuggle the most newborns? Every one of these nurses was sweet and kind and ADORED babies. It was the perfect place to have my first child.

“How’s your little guy?” she asked as she came over to see him.

“He’s doing great. Sleeping and eating and just being the adorable baby that he is,” I told her as I gazed down at my son.

He was starting to fuss, letting me know it was time for his dinner. The nurse helped me get him set up and start feeding, something I still had yet to perfect. Then she sat with me for a while, just chatting about her day.

Only when my son was fed, burped, changed, and back to his happy sleeping self did she get up to leave me for the night.

She stopped at the door and looked back at me. “Oh! Have you finally decided on a name? I know he’s an adorable baby, but you’re gonna want to call him something other than that.”

I laughed softly. “Yeah, I think I finally came up with a name. I’m gonna name him Gabriel after my father. He died when I was four, but I still remember his smile and laugh. I think he would have adored his grandson.”

The nurse smiled and nodded. “Gabriel is a fine name. I’ll be back to check on you later.”

I barely heard her as I looked down at the baby sleeping in its little crib next to me. I laid down, keeping my hand in the crib, so I could touch his gentle face.

“Sleep well, Gabriel Scott Harper. Don’t worry about anything. Mommy is here, and I will never leave you. From today and forever, it is just you and me against the world,” I whispered to my son as I slowly drifted off to sleep.

Tomorrow, I was going to take Gabriel home and start the process of building a safe, stable life for him. I was scared out of my wits, but determined to make my mother proud. Even though she may never know that she has a grandson. I did have hope to be able to go home again one day. But now, wherever Gabriel was, WAS my home.

* Hey everyone!

Chapter One of Molly's book is published! I am so excited to share this with you all!

The title of her book is The Dom That Got Away: The Lost Dom Series so go check it out!

Thank you all so much for your support and encouragement, and I'm so excited to go on this journey again with all of you!

Love, Leann! *