Epilogue II
Lolly
Twenty Years Later
I watch as kids run out the door of the shop after we’ve all put something sweet into their little Halloween bags and remember when mine were that tiny.
“Those better be happy tears, my love.”
My best friends all have a smile ready for the big lug I married so long ago but still makes my heart hammer in my chest as fast as the day I fell in love with him.
“They’re sentimental tears. Do you remember when the kids were that small?”
“Oh yeah. You remember when Penny crapped all down the front of my costume and I didn’t realize it. I walked around all night long with poo on me.”
The girls laugh but I can’t help but cackle harder. That was only one of the funny times we’ve all shared.
“You remember when the kids were all teenagers and we decided to do that haunted house in the barn at the old farmhouse and you and Gray almost fell from the hayloft and nearly broke yourselves.”
This time Bonbon is the one who cackles.
“Oh, that reminds me of the cookout when we all camped out at those cabins and the three guys almost set the roof on fire.”
Candy starts to laugh harder too and before I know it all four of us are fighting back the tears.
Storm and Gray walk in, take one look, and pull up chairs, “Okay, who made an ass of themselves?”
Gray looks over at Storm, “I’m betting money on Ander.”
They flip each other off in a friendly fashion and everyone starts sharing memories again. This is my family, these people…they hold a special place in my heart because we’ve shared laughter, tears, fears, worries, sadness, and happiness. We’ve shared our children growing up, falling in love, and leaving to make their own families.
Ander looks over at me and takes my hand in his, “You okay, angel?”
“Yeah, just thinking about how lucky I am to have everyone.”
I shoulder bump him. “Especially you.”
He grins and my body turns hot and needy just like that. Even after all these years.
“I’m the lucky one, sweetheart.”
He leans forward and lowers his voice so only I can hear him. “I still get stiff watching you knead dough, my sweet Lilly.”
I giggle and blush making Candy look over at us, “Alright you two, we got kids coming through the door. No kinky stuff.”
“Aww, but mom…”
Ander teases her about the way she takes care of all of us. She narrows her eyes but the corners of her mouth tip up and then turn into a full-on grin. Me and the girls step forward, each with a sweet treat in hand. My three best friends, my soul sisters, my co-workers and co-dreamers. We didn’t do too bad for ourselves for three girls who had a dream of bringing a little sweet into everyone’s life! Not too bad at all.