Epilogue
Six Months Later
Noah
I walked into my house to the noise of chaos, which I loved.
My work for the foundation could often be done from home, though today I’d met with some colleagues at the Sanctuary Café where we brainstormed goals for the next year in terms of fundraising and the kinds of grants we wanted to branch out to.
I felt like I was making a difference locally, and it was far more rewarding than I had ever anticipated.
In an added bonus, the money my parents left me was more than I could comprehend, but there was enough that I could give to many worthwhile organizations in big ways while still holding on to enough to make our lives comfortable.
Addie was set, as was Lorelai because that was her sister.
Any kids that Jules and I had would be too.
And retirement would not be a concern, whenever that came about.
It was the peace of mind I didn’t know I needed, that my parents certainly hadn’t had as a goal, but I appreciated it nonetheless.
And while I knew Jules hadn’t planned on it, with her upbringing I knew it gave her some solace as well.
Not that it mattered—she was one of the hardest workers I knew.
She had followed the suggestion of Lou and was working for Sue part-time while writing.
She could easily write full-time, but she liked the variety that working for Sue brought to her life, and she said their clients gave her endless story inspiration.
She also insisted on paying for her own insurance through Sue, though I’d be happy to do it.
One monthly expense that had been eliminated, however, was her rent.
Jules had moved into my place three months ago.
To her surprise, Kylie had fallen in love with Highland Falls and had come down to work for Sue as well.
It was early in our relationship to live together some might say, but I’d have been happy to have her with me from day one.
In fact, any nights we had been apart had been ones where I slept like shit.
Just the mere presence of her in my bed brought me relaxation.
It was like how I slept better when Addie was at our house.
Not that Jake and Ivy weren’t perfectly safe and their place also her home, it was just that life felt “right” when she was here.
Same for Jules. She was it for me and I was for her. We just knew.
“Hey, big guy,” I said to O’Malley, who was lounging on the couch. He’d somehow piled the pillows up in his version of a nest and was curled up in a ball. “They hanging out in the kitchen?”
The cat gave me a look that if he could speak would say “duh.” I ran my hand down his back anyway and was greeted with a loud purr.
He was my first cat, and I had to say I didn’t know if there was another one like him out there.
We’d talked about getting a puppy as well, Addie was campaigning hard, but for now O’Malley was enough.
Moving through the dining room, I paid attention to the sounds coming from the kitchen.
Clearly Addie and Jules were making dinner.
I heard music coming from the speakers we had in there.
Addie had always been a big fan of Fleetwood Mac, though I missed when she’d mispronounce their name.
Her new favorite came from their rerelease of an old album.
“Crying in the Night” was one of her favorites, and as I stood just beyond the door where she couldn’t see me, I worked to commit her sweet voice to memory as she sang about things that she couldn’t yet comprehend.
“When am I going to see your mama and daddy again, Jules?” she said.
I heard Jules at the oven, shutting the door.
“Hmm, that’s a great question. I think they’re currently driving through the northeast part of the country to see the leaves turn colors in the fall, and then they plan on heading back this way.
Do you want to look at the pictures they posted on their account on my iPad? ”
“Maybe after dinner.” I had a feeling that Addie was twirling or something because her voice was a little breathless.
“Hey, Jules, why doesn’t O’Malley like a dance party?” she asked, making me smile. She strongly believed Chief, Jake and Ivy’s lab, did. I think Chief would beg to differ, though he sure did love her.
“O’Malley is a lazybones,” Jules said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. “He loves lounging with you when you’re reading though.”
“Hey, Jules?” Addie asked again. Bless her six-year-old heart. The girl had a lot of questions.
“Yeah, peanut,” Jules said, turning off the sink.
“When can I call you Mommy like I call Jake Daddy? I think it’s cool to have two Daddies.”
Jules was silent, I’m sure as she tried to process what would be the right answer.
What I knew was that my kid had just given me the moment I was looking for.
I stepped over to the buffet in the dining room and slid the drawer open quietly, pulling out the ring box I had put in there weeks ago.
I knew I wanted to marry Jules. We had already talked about it.
But in the past six months we’d moved in together, I’d started a new job, she’d finished a book and edited it, and today she’d released it into the world.
Our friends had wanted to have a release party.
She explained that she just wanted to be home today, but this weekend we’d gather and celebrate.
And it looked like we could celebrate more than the release of her fifth book.
I stepped into the kitchen where Addie was facing me and Jules was kneeling in front of her, saying something. It was derailed because Addie let out a shriek.
“Daddy!”
I caught her as she ran around Jules and gave me an exuberant hug.
“Hey, peanut.” I gave her a smacking kiss. “Can you go grab the special picture you made for Jules that we put in the living room?”
Addie squirmed for me to let her run free. “On it,” she shouted, right hand up in the air as she charged off.
One of the things Margot had told me was the hardest about kids was that you missed the lasts.
You remembered their first steps, first words, first experiences.
But the last time they called you Daddy instead of Dad.
The last time they wanted to hold your hand as they walked into school.
The last time they greeted you as if they hadn’t seen you in weeks instead of a few hours.
Those were missed because you didn’t know they were lasts until later.
Once Margot told me that, I began trying to soak it all in even more.
In case it wasn’t obvious, Margot had appointed herself my surrogate mom.
She was fighting for that title with Lou, Frannie, and Mary.
Much like Addie felt about Jake and me as her dads, I was happy to report there was room for all my surrogate parents, and I felt their love deep in my soul. It was healing.
“Noah.” Jules was up and coming my way. She gave me a kiss, and her eyes twinkled. “Your daughter is a chatterbox tonight.”
“Is that any different than usual?” I gave her a wry smile.
She shook her head. “Nope.”
“How is release day going?” I moved around her to pour myself a glass of water, hoping she wouldn’t notice my shaking hands. I knew she’d say yes, but part of me felt like no moment would be perfect enough for this woman. I didn’t want to screw it up.
“Great so far. And thanks for the flowers, though you didn’t need to do that.”
“Got it,” Addie said when she returned. The drawing was rolled up, string tied around it like a little diploma.
“Why don’t you give that to Jules, peanut.” I said, my heart hammering.
Jules gave me a curious look.
“Here you go,” Addie said in a singsong voice.
“Thanks, babe.” Jules gave her a hug in return and slid the string off and unrolled it. She bent down by Addie and let her lean against her chest while she surrounded her with her arms, the drawing unfurled in front of them. “Tell me about your picture.”
Addie studied it and pointed to each person and the word above them on the picture. “There’s Momma, Daddy Two, baby Lorelai, and Chief. Then over here there’s Daddy, you, O’Malley, and me in the middle of everyone.”
Jules looked up at me with watery eyes, then back to Addie. “What’s written above my drawing, sweetheart?”
“Momma Two. I mean, I don’t call Jake Daddy Two anymore, just when I draw sometimes it helps. I thought I could do that for you too, which is why I asked.” Addie was shimmying, which meant she was feeling happy.
“And what’s it say at the top, Ads,” I prodded.
“My family.”
Then I saw a tear make its way over Jules’s cheek and knew I was up. They were already kneeling, so I joined them, coming to my knees in front of them both.
“Jules, this wasn’t how I planned your release day to go, but I know an opening when I see it. And to be honest, I’ve been ready for this for a while.” I pulled the box out of my pocket and opened it.
“Ooohhh, pretty,” Addie said, running her finger over the ring set with an opal and pink spinel.
“I’m guessing most of your heroes don’t propose with a six-year-old in attendance, but it seems pretty on par for us, so I’m going for it.
” I slid the ring out of the box and held it out to her.
“Jules, I’d like nothing more than to make you Addie’s second mom, but most importantly, my wife.
I love you for everything you are and everything you stand for.
Will you do me the greatest honor of becoming my wife? ”
Addie had clocked what was happening, and her precious little face was frozen in an o while she made her surprised expression, compliments of reruns of the movie Home Alone.
Jules laughed when she realized what Addie was doing and pulled me to the two of them, making Addie sandwich herself between the two of us. “You bet your butt I will,” she said before she pressed her mouth to mine in a quick kiss.
Pulling back after a moment, I slid the ring on her finger. “I heard you comment about this one at Melinda’s shop, so I called and had them hold it for me. It’s not your traditional engagement ring—”
“No, it’s perfect and I love it,” she said, holding up her hand.
“Dance party!” Addie shouted, squirming out from between us.
We stood up and joined Addie in dancing around the kitchen.
O’Malley even came in and wound his way through our legs.
Our home was filled with love, light, and laughter.
And it was perfect. Against all odds, I’d found what I’d been looking for.