Epilogue
Celeste
One month later
T hunderous applause erupts as the last beats of music fade away.
Caleb jumps up, clapping with the vigor of a proud man. A man who loves. A man who shows up for his loved ones.
“She was amazing, wasn’t she?” He beams at me.
His joy is contagious, and spreads through me with warmth and familiarity. I laugh, because there is no other response for him right now.
I glance back at the stage in the school auditorium where Mia and her friends keep bowing, each of them grinning and searching for their families in the audience.
She spots us in the third row. Probably because her father is towering over those around us, but also because he claps the loudest.
She sends us an air kiss and rushes off the stage with her crew, all of them giggling.
“They’re all talented,” Reese says.
“Mia was the best.” Caleb’s voice is full of pride and confidence, like he’s stating a fact nobody should dare refute.
I lean into him, taking his hand. “They all seemed to have fun. Their joy comes across in their performance and touches the audience.”
“Thank you for supporting her hobby.” Reese looks away.
Over the last few weeks we’ve spent some time together, and while she’s been attending therapy and a recovery program, her feeling of failure runs deep.
It’s always the self-criticism that hits us hardest.
“Don’t mention it.” Caleb wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me tight. “I can’t even take credit. It was Celeste who discovered Mia quit the crew. The rest was easy.”
Reese’s eyes glimmer with unshed tears. “Sometimes I wonder how things would have turned out if I’d tried to contact you sooner. I hope you understand what stopped me was mostly fear of your father.”
“We can’t change the past. Mia is in my life now, and I’m grateful for it.”
Reese opens her mouth to say something, but Mia runs up to us, still buzzing with energy from the performance. “Did you like it?”
“Like?” Caleb hugs her. “I loved it, sweetheart. You were the best.”
“You think?” She seeks reassurance, her face glimmering with sweat from the performance, but brimming with pride.
“You were amazing,” Reese says, and the two of them hug.
“Congratulations,” I say when it’s my turn. “You guys rocked it.”
We follow the crowd out as everyone disperses. “Did you like the routine? We incorporated all your suggestions.” She bounces beside us.
“You made those moves even better.” I pat her back.
“A celebration is in order, I think,” Caleb suggests, as we spill out onto the hot street.
“Can we go for ice cream? Or burgers? I’m starving!”
Reese hesitates. “I have to head to my meeting.” Her cheeks pinken as she refers to her group therapy .
“Oh.” Mia covers her disappointment quickly. “That’s okay. I’ll eat at home.”
Reese’s face falls, and her eyes dart to Caleb. The moment would be ordinary, a mother seeking help from a father. But in their case, it’s so much more.
They don’t have a mutual parenting experience. They’re still learning how to trust each other. Her unspoken request or question or whatever it is has its own significant meaning, and my heart hurts and swells at the same time.
“Let me say bye to the girls.” Mia hops away to join a group of friends.
“We can take Mia for burgers, if you don’t mind. She can stay over tonight. I know it’s not our normal night…” Caleb says, and glances at me.
“Of course.” I nod.
Reese bites her lips, her gaze moving to Mia. “I guess that would be okay, if Mia agrees.”
“Thank you,” Caleb says.
Reese blinks. “I’m sorry, it’s just sometimes I feel I have nothing to offer her, and you’ll woo her away from me. I know that’s not what you’re trying to do, and I’m being petty—”
“Stop it right now,” Caleb warns. “You focus on your recovery, so you can be fully there for her. You’ll always be the most important person in Mia’s life. Your current circumstances might be shitty, but that doesn’t diminish the great job you’ve been doing with our daughter.”
Reese sighs, and gives him a shy smile. “It’s a relief she has both of you while I get back on my feet. But sometimes it’s hard to believe I’m not in it alone anymore.”
“That’s a good problem to have.” Caleb smiles at her.
Watching their interaction seals my love for this man even further. But it also uncovers an empty spot I never realized I had. I look over at Mia, and wonder how it would feel to carry and raise children of my own.
I’ve never thought about that. We’ve never discussed it, since our union started as a formality, but suddenly the eventuality feels more like a necessary discussion.
Or rather, when we were still in an arrangement, he made it clear he never wanted any children. With anyone. And now I need to know if his perspective’s changed.
“Do you want to stay with your dad and go for those burgers?” Reese asks when Mia returns to us.
Her eyes widen, excitement morphing her features. “Are you sure?” she asks, and then turns to Caleb. “Can I?”
“Always.” Caleb ruffles her hair, and she scoffs.
Yeah, sometimes he needs to be reminded she isn’t a little girl anymore. Even though in so many senses she is. Even though he missed out on time when she still was one.
“I’m glad I got to see you dance today.” Reese hugs her daughter.
“See you tomorrow, Mom. I love you.”
We pile into the car, the drive filled with Mia’s excited chatter about her friends and their plans for the next performance. It’s a simple, ordinary outing, but it feels extraordinary in its own way.
“Celeste?” She bites her lip, and looks at me with hesitation when we take seats at a quaint little diner near our building that Mia fell in love with.
“What is it?”
“The girls and I were wondering if you could maybe help us with more choreography?”
Before I get a chance to answer or even consider the honor, Caleb sits up straight and winks at me. “Mia, not only can she help you out, but soon she’s going to reopen her school, and you guys can rehearse there.”
“For real?” Mia’s eyes widen. “That would be epic. Let me text them.” She pulls out her phone and types at a mile a minute.
“I thought the building and the school were mine. Are you now booking the space on my behalf?” I grin, teasing Caleb while Mia is completely lost chatting with her friends.
“I’m only making sure you don’t forget where your talent lies.”
“Is that so?”
We grin at each other. I keep waiting for this ever-present joy to disappear, but so far it only keeps growing.
Mia drops her phone and dives into a menu. “Can I get a burger and ice cream?”
Caleb laughs. “You can have whatever you want. Tonight is your night.”
We settle into a comfortable rhythm, eating our burgers and sharing laughs. I never imagined that our fake wedding would lead to this—a real family.
We finish our meal, and Peter picks us up. Mia dozes off against Caleb’s shoulder on one side, and I squeeze his hand on the other.
“Caleb?” I meet his gaze.
His eyes darken as he brings my hand to his lips. “What is it, black swan?”
Oh my, the predator came out to play. A shiver of excitement rushes through me, and I almost abandon the topic I meant to broach.
He leans in and kisses me gently, careful not to disturb Mia. “What is it?” he repeats.
“I know you said you don’t want children…” My vo ice quivers, because shit, this is not something I should bring up here and now. This is not the place for a potentially challenging conversation.
Caleb’s expression turns solemn, his features harden somehow. What if he says never? What does it mean for us? For this marriage?
A wave of nausea sweeps through me before he speaks.
“I’ve been on this quest to fix all my father’s mistakes, which included marrying you. I always thought that his biggest mistake—the example he set to us as a father—was not fixable. That it fucked me up forever. But I recently realized that while he’s a permanent stain in my past, I can’t let him soil my future.”
My lips curve up as my heart swells. How is it possible to fall for this man harder every day?
“And since I married a perfect woman, I want at least a dozen children.”
I gasp. “A dozen?”
He cocks his head. “A half dozen?”
I snort, shaking my head. “Why don’t we start with one?”
“Tonight.” He seals the conversation with a demand.
Six months later
My mind lingers between darkness and light. I don’t want to open my eyes yet, though I probably should. I’d planned on resting for twenty minutes, but my dreamless nap must have run long, guessing by the haze in my head.
I roll on to my back and stretch, waiting for the nausea.
Nothing.
I smile with relief. The first three months of my pregnancy were rough, with constant vomiting and a few emergency visits.
And while the fatigue from the first trimester still lingers, the nausea hasn’t returned in the last three days.
I finally pry my eyes open and look around. The living room is dim, soaked in the darkness from outside. I sit up, the blanket Caleb must have thrown over me sliding to the ground.
My gaze lands on a note on the coffee table.
Peter will drive you to the party whenever you’re ready. There’s a gift for you on the bed upstairs. Wear it .
Love, Cal
Oh, the party. Why did the man insist on hosting a Christmas party at my school? I haven’t even opened it yet. Besides some private classes, I wasn’t able to fully immerse myself into the business yet.
I couldn’t even continue with my performances because of my early pregnancy issues. I’ve stayed involved with the production, though. Especially after Caleb insisted on putting me in charge of the theater.
Reinhard resigned immediately after, which wasn’t a surprise, but based on the sentiment among the troupe and the employees, nobody would miss him.
We found out it was Leon who tipped off ICE. Ironically, he revealed it himself when he showed up at the theater drunk, demanding his gig back.
Managing the theater my husband owns takes up all the energy that’s left in me. Hence, I don’t really feel like a party.
But I’m going to make the effort, because Caleb has been nothing but caring these past few months.
And while he’s been trying to hide it well, he’s also been quite worried about me. He deserves to enjoy a party, without me throwing up or falling asleep.
I trudge upstairs and gasp at the dress I find on the bed. The gift. It’s the exact model as the wedding dress he sent to me, but this one is emerald green, to match my eyes and the festive hue of the season.
I text Peter that I need forty minutes and then get dressed. With the color returning to my cheeks, I feel almost like my old self.
Peter waits for me downstairs and drives me to the school. Merde, I don’t even know who will be there. I should have gotten more involved.
Well, I can still try to be a delightful hostess at a party that is officially mine—and Caleb’s—but I haven’t prepared.
The car stops in front of the building, and before Peter comes around to open the door, my gaze scans the building that has been a home for many of my dreams, and hopefully many more to come.
My building.
My school.
And while I recognize I wouldn’t have gotten it back without Caleb’s help, a sense of pride and thrill at what’s coming descends on me.
After weeks of living in a stupor, I feel like I want to hit the ground running, and hire teachers and open courses.
The door swings open, and Peter helps me step out into the frigid winter evening. I pull my faux fur collar closer to shield myself from the wind.
“Have a nice evening, ma’am.”
“Thank you.”
“You got her here, great. Take the rest of the evening off, Peter.”
Caleb rushes to us. Not caring about the temperature, he slipped outside in only his tailored suit.
God, the man is breathtaking. No matter how many times I see him, he steals my breath, and brings a smile to my face.
“You’re going to get sick,” I admonish.
“Hush.” He kisses me. “How are you feeling?” Concern laces his face.
“I’m good. Sorry I’m late, I had a nap and it—”
He kisses me again. “Don’t worry, you and our baby needed the nap. Let’s go inside before my balls freeze.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t like that.” I giggle as we cross the sidewalk and enter the warmth of the building.
Mistletoe and Christmas garlands decorate the door to the main dance studio. “Aw, you made it very Christmassy. And thank you for the dress.”
He helps me out of my coat and hangs it up. “Let me see it.”
I twirl around for him.
“Gorgeous.” He yanks me to him and claims my lips. I immediately feel the outline of his hardness.
My all-day morning sickness has limited our sex life, and frankly, I’m relieved he still desires me.
I cup his erection, feeling a bit desperate suddenly. The world takes on new colors when one feels better. “Maybe we can skip the party. ”
He groans. “We can’t skip this party. But we’ll fucking sneak out soon.” He points to a door to our side.
“That’s a broom closet,” I chuckle.
“That’s our fuck closet from now on.” He gives me one more punishing kiss, and then pulls me toward the sound of laughter and music in the main studio.
“I still don’t understand why you didn’t hire catering and hold this at our condo. Or in a restaurant.”
“We needed a special place.” He breathes by my ear, and I shudder. God, this man!
“A special place?”
I forget the question as soon as I enter the studio. The room has been transformed. A large table sits in the middle, surrounded by chairs clad in white silk with green ribbons matching my dress, that are all occupied by our people.
Caleb’s brother Finn, and his wife, Paris. Saar, Cora and Lily sit beside them. Jose and Matilda follow, and the Merged crew is here as well. Corm, Dylan, Xander and Roxy. Reese and Mia complete the circle.
Everyone is chatting without noticing our entrance, which is great, because it gives me a moment to take the scene in.
The Christmas tree in the corner sets the atmosphere, but it’s the elegant arch set at the front of the room that steals my attention .
Green and red fabric drapes around a wooden frame, adorned with Christmas decorations. Thick white candles flicker in large glass candle holders on the floor. It’s breathtaking, but also… What is it?
I turn to Caleb with a question in my eyes.
He looks at me through his eyelashes. What is happening? It’s really rare to see this man hesitating.
He leans in. “You know how our marriage hasn’t been fake for a while now?” he whispers into my ear, and as always the warm timbre of his voice tickling my face sends shivers of pleasure down my spine.
“What are you saying?”
“The wedding was still fake, so I thought we should renew our vows.” He takes my hand, and slides a beautiful diamond ring on my finger. “What do you say?”
I blink, my eyes darting between the ring, the room full of our friends, and my man. In Caleb, I found more than just a marriage. I’ve found a family, a home, and real love.
“What were you thinking? I don’t have vows prepared.”
“Just promise your obedience and we’ll be fine.” He winks.
“Je vais te tuer.” I glare at him, but I can’t hide my smile.
Caleb groans at my use of French, and then adds another surprise to this wonderful day. “Je t’aime, cygne noir.”
Thank you for reading A Temporary Forever.