Epilogue
Jen
Two Months Later
Chevy stares toward Sam with a downturned expression. “I don’t know, man. I’m gettin’ desperate.”
“How so? You’re a good lookin’ guy. Hang out down at the bar a few times a week and you’ll meet somebody.” I know Sam is trying to help, but it’s terrible advice for a guy looking for a serious relationship.
“No. No. No. The bar is not the place to meet women. You need one of those mail order arrangements where you can meet someone personally matched for you.”
Chevy pulls his gaze back and narrows his brows. “Yeah, no way.”
“Hear me out. My friend Heather is looking into it right now. These folks locally bought this ranch where single women can come from all over the place to date prospective men. You take a test, get matched, and then you date the person sight unseen. If that works out—”
“Sight unseen?”
“Yeah. Sight unseen. So, ya know, the connection isn’t based on looks.”
“Okay…” I get the feeling I’m losing Chevy.
“I know it sounds weird, but it’s a really cool concept.”
“What happens after that?”
“You move into a cabin on the property together to see what life would be like before you make any permanent decisions.”
“This sounds like a dating show,” Chevy laughs. “Who’s doing this?”
I shrug. “Don’t know the owner’s name, but the goal is to give people a safe way to date while linking folks up with those who are serious about dating. The ranch is on one hundred acres up on the west side of the mountain range. I think they called the website Mail Order Mountain Men or something,” I laugh. “It’s kind of clever.”
“So, all the guys are mountain men?” Okay. Maybe Chevy is interested.
“Put your name in and take a chance. I mean, what do you have to lose?”
Chevy blows out a heavy breath and shakes his head. “Yeah, probably nothing, but good luck to your friend.” He turns toward Sam. “What’s up with you two? I see that ring on her finger. Anyone going to tell me what’s going on there?”
Sam beams, stroking a hand down over his beard. “Oh shit, man. Sorry. Yeah, we, ugh… we got hitched. We eloped and went to Vegas last month. We wanted something simple. We’re planning a big party down at the farm come spring.”
“And I’m the last to know?” Chevy shakes his head. “Damn, man. I thought we were closer.”
Sam laughs and pats Chevy on the back. “Well, I’ll be the first to tell you this news.” He holds his hand over my stomach. “We’re about six weeks along.”
“Oh damn.” Chevy grins and leans in to hug us both. “You two move fast. Maybe I should get on this blind ranch or whatever you’re calling it.”
“Mail Order Mountain Man,” I repeat, holding my hand over Sam’s, “and you should. You’re a great guy. You’d get snatched up in no time.”
“Well, either way,” Chevy sighs, “I’m happy for you two. Your secret is safe. I have to tell you, it’s nice to know something first.” He laughs and hugs us both before heading out the front door and into the late February storm.
“He okay?” I stare up at Sam as he holds me against his chest.
“As good as he’s going to be right now. He’s working through a lot mentally from his time away. I think he needs to be single for a while, but that ranch thing sounds interesting when he’s ready. Is Heather really doing it?”
“Oh yeah. She’s spending her first two weeks in Rugged Mountain there. Apparently, she’s desperate to find a carbon copy of you.”
Sam laughs. “You tell her you had to pay me for a good time?”
I purse my lips and smack his bottom playfully. “You’re a pain.”
“And you love me.” He lifts me from the ground, cradling my pregnant body in his arms as he carries me toward the bedroom.
“I do.” My lips meet his softly, then more dramatically as he bends me back and tugs my sweatpants to the ground. I’m not showing yet, but he peppers kisses onto my stomach and lays his head against the non-existent bump, whispering secrets to our unborn child.
“What are you saying?”
He kisses my stomach and leans up. “I’m telling this baby that I love them and what a good mother they’re about to get.” His hand swallows mine. “Oh, and how I promise to keep them away from Aunt Jessa.”
“Oh, dear God.” I laugh and roll onto my side, snuggling back into his enormous frame like a tiny little spoon. “She called me again yesterday.”
“Any apologies yet?”
“Nothing. She just moved on like it never happened.”
Sam stays silent like he usually does when I bring up my family. On one hand, they’re my family and I know he’s trying to stay ambivalent. On the other hand, they choose to hurt me, so I know he wants to tell them what he thinks.
“You okay with all that?”
“I think the last couple of months have helped me realize that my mother isn’t the judge of all that’s good, and Jessa isn’t the winner of the crown. Something is wrong with both of them, and now that I see that, it’s hard to be angry. I just want them to heal and feel good again someday. Maybe even so good that they don’t need to tear me down to feel better.”
Sam pulls me in tighter. “That’s my good girl.” His tone is low, graveled, and warm in my ear. I close my eyes and melt into his safety.
Two months ago, I had a choice. Get on a plane and pay a stranger to attend a Christmas Party or stay home and wish I had.
Thankfully, by some grace of God, I found the courage to get up, fly to Colorado, battle through the endless replays of Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You , and pay the man of my dreams to pretend he was in love with me. Two months later and here I am. A new job working with kids I get to watch grow up, a baby on the way, and a giant man who loves me. I’m not sure life gets any better than this.
THANK YOU FOR READING.