Epilogue
Eve looked back at Madden where he sat in the driver’s seat of his truck and she couldn’t remember a time in her life when
she’d felt lighter and more confident in the direction she was going. In the last two weeks, she’d broken the lease on her
apartment and done countless hours of paperwork to relinquish the Gilded Garden. With his shoulder nearly healed, Madden had
been going back and forth to New York for practices and games, helping her pack during every available moment in between.
Truthfully, they probably could have packed up her place in one week, instead of two, but they couldn’t stop ending up in
bed. Eve’s neighbors were being a whole lot nicer to her since the media frenzy had catapulted her from devil incarnate to
saint in the eyes of Cumberland’s residents, but the constant moaning and squeaking bedsprings coming from her apartment had
to be testing the limits of their goodwill.
Today, she would move to Madden’s apartment in New York.
From there . . . who knew?
The world was suddenly a big place full of possibilities and enough to make even the strongest person doubt themselves a little, but she had faith.
And she had love. Her next endeavor, whatever it might be, would be about proving her skill as a businesswoman, not about proving herself as a human being. As someone who deserved respect.
She’d had that earned since the beginning. Just by being herself.
Now she smiled at Madden through the windshield and he sent her one back, the pure happiness on his face making her heart
roar with joy. What a life they were going to have, she and this man who would rebuild a new home on his aunt’s property so
her niece, nephew, and sister would have a place to call their own someday soon. The gesture was so purely Madden and one
of the numerous reasons she had no caution to throw to the wind.
Caution didn’t exist with a safety net this big and wonderful.
Madden nodded at her from the driver’s seat and with the added boost of confidence bolstering her, Eve faced the front door
and knocked.
Veda answered after about thirty seconds, wearing one sock and a gigantic T-shirt, her bangs facing fourteen directions. “Yo?”
Eve suppressed a smile. “Hey. Got a minute?”
“Sure,” Veda said, visibly confused. Nonetheless, she stepped back, allowing Eve to enter the small Cape Cod–style home. “My
parents are out of town, so there’s not a lot in the fridge I can offer you,” Veda went on, quickly peeling off her other
sock and stuffing it behind a couch cushion. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t worry, I already had breakfast and way too much coffee.”
“Is that Madden out in the truck? Does he want to come in too?”
“He’s going to wait for me,” Eve said, smiling as she took a seat in a leather wingback chair at the edge of the living room.
“This is just between us.”
“Wow.” Veda sank down onto the couch. “Sounds serious. Did something happen with the construction at the club? Everything looked to be running smoothly when I stopped by last night. We’re still on target to have the addition completed in a week.”
“I know. Thanks to you. Veda . . .” Eve let out a long breath. “If you hadn’t walked into the club that day, I don’t know
if I’d be where I am right now. You set something in motion I can’t really explain. You were my childcare, a sounding board,
a crown straightener. You encouraged me. Backed me up. You’ve been all these things for me . . .” Eve paused to gather herself.
“But you’re so much more than that. So much more. You’re a fucking firework, just about to go off.”
It was the first time since meeting Veda that the girl was speechless. She stared at Eve with a mixture of shock and suppressed
emotion, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
“That’s why I’m selling you the Gilded Garden, Veda.”
The girl jolted into a half-standing position, then plonked back down, dumbstruck. “You’re what? But . . . I can’t do that!”
“You can. For one dollar down.” Eve wet her lips. “My debts might be paid now, but I still can’t give you the club for free.
It’s my father’s legacy and that man valued a good deal over just about everything, and nothing worthwhile comes for free,
but I’m selling it to you for a song. You’ll pay me back in notes over the next ten years.” Eve took the envelope stuffed
with paperwork and keys out of her windbreaker and tossed it on the coffee table. “And I have a feeling you’re going to pay
me back a lot sooner than that. Especially since a certain catcher for the Yankees donated five figures to your GoFundMe.”
Veda shuddered through a breath, regarding the envelope with a sheen of tears in her eyes. “Eve,” she whispered. “I can’t. I can’t do this. I’m not you. I’m not capable of running a . . . the whole place. Someday, sure. But not yet. I’m not ready—”
“Veda. Look at me.” Eve paused for emphasis. “Yes, the fuck you are.”
A watery laugh burst out of her young friend, her hands shaking as she reached for the envelope, picking it up and looking
down in awe as a set of keys tumbled out into her lap. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. And if you need me, I’m only a phone call away.” Eve stood. “I’ll consider it my chance to return the favor.”
Veda sniffed through a laugh. “I think you already have.”
“Come here. We’re going to seal this with a hug, whether it makes us uncomfortable or—” Veda launched herself straight into
Eve, full force, knocking her backward several steps. “Believe in yourself, okay?” she breathed into Veda’s hair. “You got
this.”
“Is it weird to say I think I love you?”
Eve let out a watery laugh. “No. I think I love you too—”
“Should I run out and get us some breakfast?” came Elton’s voice from upstairs, followed by a prolonged, bearlike yawn. “I’m
ready and willing to drive us to Krispy Kreme for nostalgia’s sake . . .”
Elton—clad in nothing but a pair of blue boxers—trailed off when the living room came into view and he saw Veda standing there,
hugging Eve.
Veda stepped back, a very distinct blush painting her cheeks. “Funny story . . .”
Seven Years Later
Madden stood in the driveway of his Wisconsin home, heart in his mouth.
Equipment bag at his feet, he watched Eve frost cookies in her black silk robe at their kitchen counter.
Skylar came into view with a baby on her hip, saying something to make Eve laugh and she dropped the piping bag, not bothering to pick it up, letting her arms dangle in her relaxed state.
Behind the women, in the living room, Robbie wore the ugliest Christmas sweater Madden had ever seen, stoking the fire in the fireplace and smiling over his shoulder at the giggling women in the kitchen.
Madden tipped his head back, tracing the line of purple lights strung along the eaves until the image started to blur. He’d
only gone to the field to do an off-season workout with the Brewers’ team trainer. Hadn’t even been on the road. But then,
the purple lights punched him in the chest every time he pulled into the driveway, didn’t they?
They brought back memories of that first night he’d spent with his wife. Eating crackers and marmalade, no inkling of the
test that awaited them.
Or how soundly they would pass it.
They’d passed every single one since then too. Together.
Down Bad Madden—yes, the nickname had stuck, much to his eternal irritation—had been traded last year to the Brewers, and
by that time he and Eve had been all too ready to move out of Manhattan and find their forever home.
This was it.
That truth was apparent in the happiness he witnessed from the driveway, watching the love of his life and every life to come,
looking so beautifully secure. Did he have a lot to do with that security? Madden hoped so. But Eve had achieved it for herself
too. After going back to school for business while they still lived in New York, she’d recently started a commercial interior
design firm from scratch. She’d named it Gilded, a nod to the burlesque club she’d decorated so lovingly once upon a time.
A club that still thrived under its new ownership back in Cumberland.
Inside the house, Madden watched Eve accept the five-month-old baby from Skylar, cuddling the child close and swaying with
her around the kitchen, probably singing one of Veda’s most recent hits. And Madden smiled, knowing the frequent visits from
Elton, Veda, Skylar, Robbie, and the baby, not to mention Lark and Landon—now twelve years old—were enough for her. Him as
well. They didn’t plan on having children of their own, but they got a lot of enjoyment spoiling the kids in their lives when
given the chance.
Eager to hear his wife’s voice, Madden swung his equipment bag onto his shoulder, giving the purple Christmas lights a final,
prolonged look before walking into the house to a chorus of greetings, the sweetest of which came from his Eve.
And always would.