EPILOGUE
STORM
“ Y ou know, this is not how most people spend their anniversaries,” Shae says as we stand at the entrance to the hospital hand in hand. I lean on my cane, taking confident steps to get to the automatic doors, even if my pace is slow.
I grin from ear to ear, floating on a motherfuckin’ cloud.
“Since when are we most people?” I say, looking to my beautiful bride.
It’s hard to believe it’s been eight years since I woke up from a coma, broken, scarred, and scared.
And more difficult to believe that Shae saw me in all my parts and stood ten toes down for me.
Instead of running away while I was stuck in that damn hospital bed, she called the chaplain, and we were married right there in room 602 with Kaylee, my nurse on that shift, as a witness.
I rub the inside of Shae’s wrist, wishing I could communicate how damn grateful I am for the gift of her.
“Why are you guys so late?” This comes from Tempest, who rushes out of the hospital with one hand on her hip and the other clutching a clipboard. She marches over to us, a scowl on her face, and I cut her off.
“You don’t wanna know why your mama and I were late, baby girl. I promise you don’t,” I say. When I wink at her, my teenage daughter’s expression turns to horror, then disgust.
“ Ew! ” she yells, turning away from us. “Rai, you deal with them because I can not !”
Raiden chuckles as he walks out of the hospital, his voice always startling with how deep it is at fifteen years old.
“Nah, sis,” he replies. “You told me I was on kid duty, so that’s all you.” He exits the chapel with our six-year-old son on one hip and our three-year-old daughter on the other.
“Here, take this one,” Raiden says, foisting off our youngest, Imani, to his sister. Imani rests her head on Raiden’s shoulder with her thumb in her mouth, but she doesn’t protest when transferred to the other sibling.
“Ugh, fine— wait a minute !” Tems sniffs the air around Imani’s behind, then holds our toddler out like a bomb. “Raiden! Oh, my God!”
Raiden grins, and it’s like looking in a mirror.
“You’ve got this, sis. Diaper bag’s inside,” he says, setting our son, Amir, to the ground.
Tempest gives Raiden a terrifying look, then stomps back inside with Imani giggling all the way.
Amir stands silently for a moment next to his brother, but then Raiden says, “Got herrrrrr !” and Amir bursts into bright laughter, high-fiving his brother.
“Ugh, Raiden,” Shae presses. “Don’t tease your sister. You know she’s stressed out.”
Raiden rolls his eyes.
“No one told her to plan a vow renewal—in a week’s time, nonetheless,” he replies accurately.
“Well, you know how she felt about not being there when we got married the first time,” Shae says calmly.
Raiden shrugs.
“Dad almost died and you two practically had a shotgun wedding. She needs to get over that,” he says, as if that’s the most practical statement in the world.
“Let your sister be,” I say, putting the arm that’s not using my cane around Shae’s shoulders.
“She’s a drama queen!” Raiden protests.
“But she’s our drama queen,” Shae says patiently. She maintains her hard look, staring Raiden down, but then she winces and all of us move into action.
“It’s okay,” she says, holding her swollen belly with both hands. Her white, flowy dress draws tight over the proof of her pregnancy.
Our last, according to Shae.
“Your little sister or brother just decided to kick my bladder. No big deal,” she says. “But you’re getting into torture territory if you don’t let my ass sit down. Preferably somewhere with air conditioning.”
I snap into action, winding my arm around hers and guiding us toward the automatic doors.
“C’mon, Sweetness,” I murmur. “Let’s go get married again.”
When she looks at me, beams at me, it’s like staring at a shooting star.
God, I’m so damn lucky.
We enter the lobby and lining each side of a red carpet are dozens of nurses, doctors, and therapists, all of whom helped me in my recovery.
Dr. Swanson stands in the middle of the line closest to me, giving me a broad smile and a wave; the rehabilitation doctor and my four physical therapists line up on the other side.
All of these people helped me heal.
I look back at Shae, who looks soft and happy and like a tiny tornado wrapped in white.
She is the one who made me whole.
When we get to the doors of the hospital chapel, Tempest stands on one side with a now-clean Imani, and Raiden, having sprinted ahead of us, stands on the other with Amir.
“I love every single one of you,” I say, looking at each of my children. Then I lean down to Shae’s ear. “And I love you to life, Sweetness.”
Her smile broadens.
“Ditto, Slick,” she replies.
Inside, Shae’s mom and her new husband stand together near the altar, waiting for us. Melissa has taken the day off from Orisun to join us, and she stands next to Axel, Riale, Yennifer, and King in front of the wooden folding chairs provided by the hospital for those who come here to pray.
I do a double-take when I spot the girl next to King. She nearly hides her face in his suit jacket, but there’s no mistaking who she is.
I look away. That’s King’s business, I guess.
We reach the end of the aisle, standing in front of the same chaplain who married us eight years ago to the day.
“You still down for forever, Shae Sandoval?” I murmur to my soulmate.
She turns her face, her lips inches from mine.
“Forever, Storm Sandoval,” she vows. Our lips press together, just once, because we can’t help ourselves.
I smile when we pull apart and reaffirm my vow with her hand pressed to my chest.
Right over my heart.
“Forever and ever.”