“How about these shirts?” she asked, accepted more applause. “We’ve purposely waited to find out if Junior here is a boy or a girl, but my husband is a doctor.” She winked across the room. “He’s looked at those ultrasounds a little too much for someone who says he doesn’t know the gender of our child.”

She waved a finger Walt’s way, made sure several heads turned to look at him.

Walt shrugged, looked at the ceiling, but didn’t say a word.

“I know this day is about celebrating the next chapter . . . the next book. None of that has been more true to me personally that being here with my family.”

She waited for the applause to die. “Imagine an author . . . one who makes her living writing happily-ever-afters, never having found everlasting love. Then one day, the love of her world walks into her life and redefines everything.”

Walt tilted his head, listening to her words.

“Imagine what that author will be able to bring into her next book, her next chapter?”

She took a long breath and pushed the air out in a sigh.

“I believe you’ll all love Mathew and Cassidy’s happily-ever-after. God knows I do. They brought me face-to-face with the love of my life.” She raised her hand to Walt, waited for more than half the audience to turn. “He’s mine, ladies. The inspiration to my every chapter thirteen . . . or chapter fifteen, eighteen . . . or maybe even chapter two.”

The audience laughed, Dakota pulled herself back.

“Give it up for Dr. Baby Daddy, the inspiration to my chapter thirteens and all my happily-ever-afters.”

As complete as she might have felt the last time she addressed a gaggle of fans, none were like this.

Dakota captured Walt’s gaze, mouthed the words, I love you.

He blew her a kiss, told her he loved her, and Dakota began the next chapter in her life.