EPILOGUE
TWO MONTHS LATER
COWBOY
“This is ridiculous,” Brielle grumbles as I lead her toward the door of Tiny Dancer Studio. “I’ve already seen the studio; it’s not like this is a surprise.”
I chuckle because she’s so damn adorable when she pretends to be upset with me. She’s not upset at all; she loves this.
When she stumbles slightly since she’s blindfolded, I’m right there to make sure she doesn’t fall. The wary breath she blows out only makes my smile grow.
“Yes,” my voice is low and husky as my lips brush the shell of her ear, “you’ve seen it, but not when it was all done. Everything is done and ready to open now. And you should get the full effect.”
The way she nibbles on her lower lip tells me just how nervous she is. When I guide her inside the studio, I smile at all the people who are fanned out throughout the room. They’re all practically vibrating with excitement. Not for me, for my woman.
And that does something to me.
I look at my brothers and am also swept away by a wave of gratitude. Years ago, after Brielle left, I needed to decide what to do with my life and where to go, because I knew Seneca Falls wasn’t my destiny. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I would find this. But I did.
And the entire club is here ready to celebrate my woman and her accomplishments.
My eyes sweep over to my parents and siblings who are just as excited to see Brielle live out her dream. They saw how losing her devastated me when I was only 18. They also saw me head out into the world to find a place where I could breathe fully.
Mom is doing a little happy dance while her eyes are fixed on my woman. I can see the pride on my father’s face as he looks between me, Brielle, and our daughter.
Then there’s Rian. She is wiggling in place while wearing a shirt that says, ‘Mommy’s Little Dancer’, which I know is going to make Brielle cry.
I give my woman’s shoulder a squeeze before taking a step away and positioning myself in front of her. When I drop down to one knee, even though she can’t see me, the gasps around the room have Brielle freezing in place.
After clearing my throat and opening the ring box, my words come out gruff, “Open your eyes Tiny Dancer and see what the next part of our path looks like.”
The blindfold is ripped away from her head and flutters to the floor as her eyes dart around the room before landing on me. Tears turn her brown eyes glassy, and her hands fly up to her mouth.
“Brielle,” my voice is deep and carries the resonance this moment deserves, “Years ago when our lives took us in different directions, I thought it was the end of our story no matter how much I didn’t want it to be.
Still, I knew you had to go, knew you had to chase your dreams and I’m so damn proud of you for doing exactly that. ”
I take a deep breath as the first tear slides down her cheek. She’s so damn beautiful and I’m stunned by it for a moment. But my knee on the hard floor reminds me that I need to move this along.
“I got lucky,” I tell her honestly, hoping she can see the sincerity in my eyes, “and you came back into my life. I wasn’t expecting it, but I wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass me by.”
Someone snorts, but I don’t even look in their direction. I’m sure it’s Ace. He loves to give me shit, but now I can give it right back to him. But that’s not my story to tell.
“You danced back into my life and fell in love with our daughter. You listen to her dreams and have helped her learn how to fly. I want to spend the rest of our lives loving you, supporting you, laughing with you, and building whatever family is right for us.”
“Oh, Everton,” she murmurs softly as more tears fall.
“Will you marry me, Brielle?”
There’s so much more I want to say to her, but I can see in her eyes that she already knows. The question is enough. For now.
I don’t even need her to answer; I already know what she’s going to say.
“Yes,” she breathes out and then launches herself at me.
As I fall back on my ass, I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight. Rian is there too and curls herself around us as we all laugh together.
“This is the best day,” our daughter squeals right next to my ear.
I wince, but I don’t pull away or scold her. Not when her joy is palpable and the shadows of the past, of the woman whose only good deed was giving birth to her, aren’t haunting her.
When I slide the ring onto Brielle’s finger my smile is so wide that my cheeks hurt. But I don’t care.
This moment is everything I wanted it to be. And I know it’s only the beginning.
As I watch my woman show everyone her studio, I’m filled with a sense of pride that takes my breath away. This is it. This is what I was always waiting for, always looking for, always hoping would come back to me.
“It’s not always easy,” my dad informs me while stepping into place beside me.
We’re both watching Mom, Brielle, and Rian laugh across the room; I couldn’t look away even if I tried.
“There will be hard days, weeks, months, even years, but this is the feeling you hold onto when it’s hard to see the light in the dark.
Trust your love.” He reaches over to give my shoulder a squeeze as I tear my eyes away from the women who make my life whole and meet his whiskey-colored gaze.
“I’m proud of you, Everton. I’m proud of the life you’ve build here, the daughter you’ve raised, and the woman you’ve fought for even when it felt like you were letting go. ”
“Dad,” I choke out and he smiles at me with an understanding which doesn’t feel completely earned.
“I know,” he drawls and one side of his mouth kicks up in a half-smile, one so much like my own.
I nod once and clear my throat. Dad has never used emotions as a battlefield, he had enough of that from his own family, and he has always loved Mom fiercely and unapologetically.
I looked up to him for so long. To hear that he’s proud of me is something I won’t forget any time soon.
It’s not the first time he’s said it, but this time feels like so much more.
“The approval came through,” I whisper to him and look over at Brielle. “We’re foster parents.”
It’s the last surprise I have for her today, but I’m waiting until we get home to tell her.
Dad’s hand squeezes and when I look at him again, his eyes are glassy.
“I can’t wait to meet whoever is blessed enough to find their way into your home, into your lives, no matter what that path looked like.
Open your heart but know it will hurt when or if you have to say goodbye to the precious souls who you’re giving safe harbor to.
We’ll be there to help you stand strong and we’ll love every child you meet on this journey. ”
I swallow hard and hug him, needing the contact while knowing he’s never once used affection as a weapon. He hugs me back and then we’re both heading to our women. Because we need their softness and their light.
I’m not entirely sure what the path before us looks like, but I know there will be love. And tears. And passion. And dance.
Just how it should be.