Epilogue
Brian
One month later
“To one hell of a year,” I said, raising my glass.
We were in the parking lot behind the building, grilling and celebrating the official end of our Jersey City residency.
We’d decided to go out in style with a parking lot party befitting this great state, and today was the perfect day.
The afternoon had been almost scorching, but as we eased closer to evening, the temperature had cooled considerably.
“Started as a kick in the arse,” Sully said.
“But ended bloody great.” Cal held up his beer in a toast.
“It feels like we’re a band at the end of a world tour,” I mused.
“Or we’re a group of best mates starting the rest of our lives,” Cal offered.
Sully punched him. “Trust you to be the emotional one.”
“My girl’s not complaining.” Cal pulled Lo away from where she’d been talking to Jess and kissed her square on the mouth.
Cheeks pink, she pushed away from him and walked away.
They were in the process of looking at apartments close to Murphy’s school in the city with enough natural light to support all Cal’s plants.
Sloane and Sully had been interviewing nannies for Tia and getting their penthouse baby proofed.
Sloane’s maternity leave was ending soon, and when it did, she’d be returning to Murphy and Machon.
Thank fuck. We’d all been eager to get her back.
As the party went on, I manned the grill with pride.
The two folding tables we’d set up were surrounded by folding chairs and a few desk chairs we’d rolled out from the office. Jess had decorated with streamers and paper lanterns, and the kids were playing cornhole while music pulsed around us.
Madame E was mixing her famous margaritas, which seemed dangerous, while we grilled burgers and Sloane sliced an enormous watermelon.
It was perfect. The perfect celebration of our imperfect little family.
“Looking good, grill master,” Jess teased as she approached with a package of buns. “You’ve got a grill at the brownstone, right?”
“I’ve got a grill, a smoker, and a pizza oven. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you’re well fed.”
She put an arm around my waist and squeezed. We were still discussing when she and the girls should move in, but since Kit had been offered a spot at music school beginning next month, I had a feeling I would wear her down soon.
“Stop flirting and throw the hot dogs on.” She stepped back. “I’ll round up the kids.”
By the time we’d gotten everyone seated, it was getting dark. Madame E had made a third pitcher of margaritas, and the alcohol had made us all nostalgic and silly.
“To Murphy and Machon.” We all raised our glasses.
“We survived,” Sully said.
“We didn’t just survive,” Cal added. “We crushed it. Aces all around.”
He wasn’t wrong about that. What had felt like a punishment in the beginning had turned into the greatest opportunity of my life.
And between Terry and Cliff, I’d found the courage to finally seize it.
Jess sat beside me, smiling and giggling while Lo gave a dramatic reenactment of the day she found the maggots in the photocopier.
She was so joyful, even on the hard days. We’d slowly been figuring out our next steps while keeping up with yoga classes and Monday morning walks with the cat in search of Munchkins.
Madame E surveyed the table, her eyes a little glassy from the tequila.
“I am seeing so many things right now.” She waggled a finger at Lo, who pretended to ignore her.
Not wanting to be in her crosshairs. “You.” She squeezed Murphy’s cheek.
“Keep practicing your soccer. And you’ll finally lose that tooth on Thursday. ”
He touched his lip and frowned. I’d heard nothing about a wiggly tooth, which led me to believe he hadn’t noticed it was loose yet.
“Madame E?” Cal asked, bouncing like a little boy. “What do you think? Is Lola gonna make an honest man out of me?”
Lo ignored him, sipping her margarita.
Sully put his free arm around Sloane, the other cradling a sleeping Tia. “Don’t want to brag, but when I asked Sloane to marry me, she actually said yes.”
“Both times,” Sloane added with a smirk.
Cal glared at his brother. “She will say yes one of these times. I just have to keep coming up with bigger and better proposals.”
Murphy giggled. “Sure, Dad.”
Madame E smiled. “Callahan, don’t forget that when we read your cards, I told you there were good things coming. Now make sure to sell your Porsche like I told you to. Get something roomier for future family members.”
Cal’s face broke out into a massive grin, and Lo drained her margarita.
The conversation turned to plans for the school year, how we were going to bring the walkie-talkies to the Manhattan office, and our trip to Vermont in two weeks to meet with the team set to work on our new barn house.
We’d been having so much fun, making plans and sketching out our dream home together. Unsurprisingly, Jess wasn’t fussy. She thought every idea was amazing. We’d decided on a large porch so we could sit on rocking chairs together and look out at the forest.
It was simple, but the idea that I’d found this, the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, felt momentous.
There was magic here. This group of people and the circumstances that had thrown us all together.
As I eyed Madame E, who was twirling the massive rings on her fingers, I couldn’t help but believe.
That woman knew things, and I had no doubt that she’d been working with Terry to make sure we all got our shit together.
“I went over Terry’s will while Tia napped the other day,” Sloane said. “I’d forgotten that you’re allowed to sell this building now that the year is up.”
The three of us looked at one another.
On the one hand, it was a valuable piece of property. And now that we were headed back to the city, we had little use for it.
“The memories,” Cal said.
“This was Tia’s first home,” Sully said, cradling the baby against his chest.
“And my first home with Murphy,” Cal added.
“And Fuzzy’s.” Kit piped in, giving me a big grin.
The girls had sat me down again to have another negotiation. And one of their terms was that they wanted the cat. It was a small price to pay in the grand scheme, but part of me had really been looking forward to getting away from the beast.
Lo had reasoned that since they were looking for an apartment and I had an actual yard at my house, Fuzzy would be happier with me.
He hadn’t had a yard yet, and he’d become very set in his routine, requiring two long walks each day, so that argument was bogus, but I’d been too deliriously happy lately to put up much of a fight.
Being with Jess, planning our future, and seizing every moment had left me vulnerable. If the girls asked for a pet giraffe, I’d probably say yes. At this point, all they’d demanded, other than Fuzzy, was just bunk beds, a foosball table, and a promise to see Lake Paige every time she went on tour.
“We could find tenants for the first two floors,” Sully suggested.
“Sebastian and I will miss you all,” Madame E said. “But you were terrible neighbors.”
We all laughed.
She closed her eyes. “Oh my. Have I got the tenant for you.”
I looked to Sully, then Cal, then Lo.
“Don’t worry. She won’t be here until October. Long story. Lots of drama. Ooh, look at the time.”
She jumped up, smoothing the skirt of her orange floral dress. “I have to head to Harry’s for a nightcap.” With a wink, she headed back inside.
“Do we even want to guess what that meant?” Sloane asked.
I leaned back, putting my arm around Jess. She relaxed against me, dropping her head to my shoulder. It felt incredible being surrounded by my people, with the knowledge that our future was full of so much more to look forward to.
My life was different. I was different. The closed-off workaholic who had moved in here one year ago had gotten his ass kicked and had learned there was a better way to live. I’d taken risks and put myself on the line, and I’d won the love of my life and two amazing kids in the process.
I still had a lot to learn, but one thing was certain: New Jersey was a magical fucking place.