“If your children—Rachel’s children—inherit even one half of their mother’s spirit and determination, then you’ll have yourself two children who’ll never be beaten down in life.”
“Hell, they’ll rule the damn world,” Garrett muttered.
Laughter swept through the room, relieving some of the solemnness.
“Thank you,” Rachel said, her voice as watery as her eyes were. “I’m so grateful for you all, and I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
She looked directly at Marlene and Frank, her love for the older couple so powerful that it was hard to even put into words all she felt and all she hoped for.
“My hope for my children is that I can be the kind of parent that you are to your children and to the people you offer that unconditional love and support to.”
“I’ll second that,” Ethan said, wrapping his arm around Rachel.
Rachel looked around the room, at every single face. “My babies will be the luckiest children who ever lived to have such a wonderful family. I’ll never forget how much you’ve helped me overcome in the past few years.”
Sean cleared his throat. “Rachel, honey, just do me a favor, please? Given all that you and I have gone through together, when you go into labor, make sure I’m nowhere in the vicinity.”
The room burst into laughter, and Rachel laughed along with them. She closed her eyes, simply absorbing the vibration of so much joy.
She was no longer a victim of the past, held prisoner by the demons who haunted her mind. She was moving beyond that, into a future filled with the promise of brighter days and happier times.
She was a Kelly. And she was loved.