Epilogue
Marcela
5 years later
My hands wrap around my pink bow mug, savoring the warmth it brings me in this late November chill.
I walk towards the grand window in our kitchen, taking in the sunrise as it climbs over the peak of the mountains. My favorite view, though, has to be my husband coming out of the stables in a pair of jeans, cowboy hat, and boots.
It’s something I get to see every morning since we built a house next door to the farm, with our kitchen window facing the horse stables. Working on the farm and being close with his family has been huge for him and his mental health. I’ve never seen him so at ease, especially when we moved out here.
Our lives have changed drastically in the five years since we graduated.
Theo and I moved in together a few months after graduation, where he went right to work on the farm. I did part-time work for the local library while getting my master’s degree, and finally self-published my first novel.
So you could say I’ve been a bit busy.
My debut novel did well, and I went on to self-publish three more books over the last few years.
I eventually found an agent last year, the way I’ve always dreamed, and she helped another dream of mine come true. My first traditionally-published book was released last week, and I’ve been on edge ever since. It’s a new world and I really hope people love it.
My phone pings, dragging me from my thoughts as I make my way to the table and swipe it open. I gloss over notifications as I sip my tea, then click on a message that my agent just sent me.
Lisa
You did it. #1 on the NYT bestseller list.
Tea spray from my mouth as my body goes into shock. I did what ? Quickly, I clean up the mess from my tea and text Theo.
Me
Come here please!
Hubbs
I’ll come anywhere you please.
A groan leaves my lips as my hands shake with excitement, making it nearly impossible to text back.
“Cellyyyy,” his smooth voice calls out from the back door, making me swing around in his direction.
I set my phone down on the table and run right into my favorite place in the world. His arms. He wraps me up instantly, resting his chin on my hair. “Everything okay?”
A sob racks my body as I nod my head.
“Why are you crying then? I’m kinda confused.” He chuckles, sounding nervous.
I take a moment to gather myself, swiping under my eyes at the tears that are refusing to stop. I’ll have to thank the extra hormones for that. Yup, I’m pregnant.
We weren’t trying, but we weren’t preventing it either.
I stare into Theo’s light-blue eyes, knowing that he’s going to be more happy about this than me, and somehow it makes it even better.
“ Spell Bound made it to the number one spot on the list.”
Saying the words out loud makes it more real somehow, and I’m suddenly sweating at the fact. How the heck did I end up here?
Theo’s mouth gapes open, speechless, so I decide to tell him everything.
“And I’m pregnant.” I’d planned on telling him with a cute Christmas ornament that had my name, Theo’s, and Baby Miller.
His eyes widen, remaining eerily still.
“Theo …”
He seems to snap out of it, his eyes moving to my stomach and then back up to my eyes, with tears of his own.
“Now I know why you were happy crying,” he half-laughs, half-cries.
I laugh and cry along with him as he pulls me into his arms once again and kisses me. And I mean really kisses me, the kind of kiss that has me wanting him to take me right here on the kitchen table.
“As much as I’d love to fuck you right now, I need a minute,” he says, dragging his hand over his mouth. “There’s so much to process. Not only is my wife a goddamn rock star, she’s now carrying our child. Our first child.”
The way he’s looking at me right now, it’s like I hung the stars.
“I’m so fucking proud of you.”
“Thank you. And congrats on your sperm, it’s the reason we’re pregnant,” I joke, making him shake his head as he laughs.
“Have you told anyone?” he asks, getting excited.
“No, not yet. I’d like to tell my mom and your dad before we tell everyone else, and once we make it to three months. I’m only five weeks along.”
My mom left my dad right after I graduated. Since she took the time to prepare and had everything in place, when he tried to fight her on it, she had amazing lawyers who refused to let that happen. They’ve been divorced for three years now, and we haven’t heard from him since. Even Jade, who is growing as an A-list actress, has only rarely spoken to him.
My mom has her own catering business and loves every second of it. She even met someone and I’ve never seen her this happy. We spend every Sunday night together having family dinner, an event that extends into the evening as we all catch up. And I have to say, it’s nice to longer hold your breath every time you sit down with your family to eat. Because when we get together now, it’s nothing but love.
“Of course. Anything you want,” his voice is soft as he leans in and kisses my forehead. “I do have to get back to the stable, but I’ll be back in an hour to make you lunch, okay?”
“You’re really strict about that whole breakfast, lunch, and dinner thing, huh?”
“Every day, for the rest of our lives. It was in my vows.” He smiles that devastatingly-charming smile at me, that one dimple popping.
My smile mirrors his, knowing that Theo is going to keep that promise and continue to catch me as I fall more in love with him each and every day.
Our story is my favorite that I’ve written, one I can’t wait for us to keep writing together.