Epilogue
Sunny Valley, California
Flight Tracker says Bruce’s plane will be on the ground in thirty-seven minutes and Google Maps says I’ll arrive at LAX in fifty-nine minutes. Damn it! I hate LA traffic.
I pull into short-term parking and find a spot. Grabbing the sign that says Palmer , I sprint into baggage claim.
Throngs of people clamor around each of the baggage carousels and I can’t see over all their heads. I’m like a human pogo stick as I jump to see the sandy blond I like to call mine. Shit. Where is he? I jump again and then there’s a hand on the small of my back.
“Hey, love,” says the husky Australian accent that sends waves all the way down under. I grab onto his neck and straddle my legs around his waist.
“You’re here!”
“I’m here for good.” His lips clamp over mine and we kiss as people push all around us. “Let’s go home, love.”
Home. That sounds perfect.
After a shower and some very welcome Welcome to America sex, we meet the gang at Valley Vines, our favorite wine bar. Lila, Renata, and Cara have a table and a bottle of California’s best bubbly. They’ve all met Bruce during his several visits, but I wanted them to be part of the celebration tonight.
“Hey, Sunny Valley Girls!” I hug each one. We’ve known each other since high school and they’ve been the best source of support through all of this. Bruce gives them each a hug as well.
We sit at the high-top table and Lila hands each of us a glass of bubbles. “Welcome to Sunny Valley, Bruce!”
We all raise our glasses and I plant a kiss on Bruce. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of having him next to me.
“Gross. Get a room!” says Renata. I roll my eyes at her.
“I’m stoked to be here with Frannie.”
“Frannie?” asks Cara. “Takes me back to when Tad Wilkins called you ‘Franny Fanny Granny Panty’ in second grade.”
I had tried to explain to Tad that his little nickname didn’t completely rhyme, but second grade Tad didn’t care that he wasn’t going to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. I said good riddance to Frannie then and it’s been only Francine since. But now Frannie has a new ring to it.
“I love Frannie’s not-so-granny panties,” Bruce coos. More collective eye rolls.
“So Bruce, what’s your plan now that you’re here?” Renata asks.
“I believe we have a bit of catching up to do,” he winks at me. “Then I have a few surfing competitions and I’m going to be a part of a toothpaste commercial.” Bruce shows off his gleaming pearly whites.
“Tracks,” says Renata and everyone laughs.
The wine bar is brimming with locals tonight. Ned and Alice Wakeland stop at our table on their way to a corner booth.
“Hello, girls!” Alice works at the high school library and was like a second mother to us as we went through Sunny Valley High. “Francine, this must be the Bruce we’ve heard so much about.”
I make quick introductions and Bruce charms Alice while Ned turns to Cara.
“Cara, what do you think of that house in Jackson Hole?” asks Ned.
“Quite a property!” answers Cara. “Let’s talk in the morning about how you want to proceed.”
Ned nods and Alice says, “Yes. Sorry to talk business–Ned’s just so excited! Lovely to see you all!”
“No worries,” says Cara. “You know I always have time for you two!”
Bruce yawns and reaches for his wallet. I put my hand on his. “We’ve got this one!”
Renata, Cara, Lila, and I throw our credit cards on the table.
“Bruce, since it’s your first night here we’ll go easy on you and give you a pass on this round of credit card roulette,” says Lila.
The server walks by and Cara fans the cards in front of him. “Pick one.”
“Shit. Not again,” she mumbles as he pulls her card from the stack.
“Cara, you’re going to have to earn some commission on that house in Jackson Hole to pay for your winning ways,” says Lila.
“This is not winning!” whines Cara.
“Who knows, maybe you’ll “win” a cowboy in Jackson.” Lila laughs.
Cara shakes her head. “Have you met me?” She points to her t-shirt that reads Indoorsy . “Last time I checked, cowboys are the opposite.”
I take a deep breath and look around the table. After my demise at the altar, I didn’t think I’d ever be content again. And now, here I am, sitting next to the true love of my life listening to the friendly banter of my Sunny Valley Girls. Out with the old and in with the new.
Need a little more Frannie and Bruce? Check out the meet cute from Bruce’s perspective here !
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