Trouble in High Heels

Epilogue

Lori completely wrecked Jackson ’s nerves when she gave birth to a baby girl via cesarean section. White with fear, he squeezed Lori’s hand as the doctor lifted their baby for them to see. The nurse cleaned up the baby and handed her to Jackson while the doctor stitched up Lori.

Exhausted but euphoric, Lori stared up at both of them. “Is she beautiful?”

“She’s amazing,” he said. “So pink. So perfect.” He bent down so she could see and touch her baby, fresh into the world.

Lori’s eyes filled with tears as she touched the head of her child and studied the face she’d waited nine months to see. “Oh, Jackson, she’s beautiful. Look, I think she has your chin.”

“I hope not. She’ll be stubborn as hell,” he muttered and shook his head. “Look what you did.”

“What we did. Welcome to the world, Jacqueline Sunny James.”

A nurse entered the room. “The group outside is getting a little rowdy. Would you like me to give them the news?”

Lori looked up at Jackson and smiled. “Take her out there and show them.”

“But you-” He gestured toward the doctor.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she said. “Go on. If you don’t, then Delilah, Katie, and Maria will beat down the door. And your mother and brother will be right behind them.”

“Okay. I’ll be right back,” he said and dropped a kiss on her forehead.

Lori closed her eyes and thought about everything that had happened since she and Jackson had gotten married. His mother and brother had come to live with them in Dallas, and his mother had become Lori’s assistant. Lori had learned so much about discerning whom she could really help. Jackson ’s development was selling like gangbusters, and surprise, surprise, Geoffrey had been hired to write the music for two movies.

She couldn’t help thinking about her mother and father. Both of them would love Jackson. Her mother would have loved Jackson ’s devotion to her and the way he challenged her to grow. Her father would have loved Jackson ’s levelheaded approach and his determination to protect her. She could almost feel them smiling down at her.

The door opened and Jackson returned with Jacqueline. “They all think she’s perfect.”

Lori beamed and lifted her hand to the baby, then to his face. “She came from good stock. But mostly good love.”