Epilogue
AMELIA - A YEAR LATER
I was re-launching my bakery.
Yes, you heard right.
After everything blew over, Derek and I had been talking a lot about my business.
It was no news that I found it so depressing.
I was running low on profit. I wasn’t okay with it at first but he pulled strings to get me an appointment with one of the best business consultants and brand strategist in the country.
After a few sessions with her, I realized what I was doing wrong.
Nina had been such a huge support in my decision to close down the bakery and go back to the drawing board.
My Dad wouldn’t listen to me when I told him I had it covered.
He wanted to pitch in any way he could. According to him, I had been so stubborn about my independence but it was this one time that he refused to listen to him.
Derek made me understand that it was okay to need people, to accept help, without losing myself, my independence.
I stripped down everything, from the name, to the decor and mode of operations.
Glazed and Confused was now CTRL+Sweet. The bakery had been re-invented to specialize in high-end, custom-made pastries that included muffins, cookies, macarons, cakes, donuts and so many sweet treats that one could possibly imagine.
I had constantly been on the hunt for new, refreshing ideas that could upgrade the current menu.
The grin on my face was uncontrollable as people trooped into the bakery, assessing the pastries on display behind the glass.
A soft, whimsical music was humming in the background, syncing with the shattering of the guests that showed up to support my business for the launch.
I couldn’t help but feel so proud of myself.
So much had changed in the past year, and I had Derek to thank for it.
"I can’t stop gushing." Nina, my consultant-turned friend squealed as she approached me.
She was donning a gorgeous pink dress to match the floral theme of the day.
Her dark brown hair was swept back in a low ponytail, highlighting her oval face that was caked in soft make-up. "This is really huge."
I giggled, nudging her shoulder. "I have you to thank for it. I couldn’t have done this without you."
"Awww." she cooed. "You are an equally terrific and talented woman."
My cheeks warmed at her compliment.
"Your instagram is on fire." She exclaimed. "Your posts have been getting a lot of engagements and your followers seem to be increasing every second."
"Really?"
I leaned into her to take a glance at the screen. My jaw dropped. The last time I checked, I was on ten thousand followers, but it had upped to twenty now.
We both squealed like little girls.
"I’m so proud of you." She grinned. "I know we are having a party right now, but drinks on me tonight. Just us. Girl time."
"I’m game."
"Hello, ladies."
A muscular brown-haired man in a flannel shirt and slacks approached us, beaming softly. Although he acknowledged the both of us, he seemed to be quite interested in Nina, who was trying so hard to hide her blushing.
"Hi," I mused. "I’ll go look for my Dad."
I slipped away quietly, leaving the budding love birds to themselves.
"Congratulations, cupcake." Dad’s voice snuck up on me. I was engulfed in his hug when I turned to my left.
"Daddy!" I squealed, kissing his cheeks. "Thank you so much."
His eyes shone with adoration, it almost pushed me to tears. "I’m so proud of you, you know that, right?"
I nodded, withholding my tears.
"I love you."
"I love you too, baby girl." He grinned. "I got you a gift."
I groaned. "Dad, we agreed no more gifts."
"You are my baby girl. I’ll gift you for as long as I can."
"You got me a new car last week." I giggled. "I don’t know who’s worse between you and Derek." My boyfriend never ceased the chance to spoil and flaunt me.
He scrunched his face in mock disgust. "I’m better."
The two of them constantly engage in a competitive push and pull, trying to outdo each other when it comes to me.
It was as cute as it was annoying. The relationship between them had evolved so much.
They were as thick as thieves. Derek refused to work elsewhere or start up his company even though he had the means to.
His excuse was that he didn’t want it but I knew it was because of the love they have for each other.
"Don’t you want to know what the gift is?"
I rolled my eyes. "Fine, what is it?"
"I arranged for a trip for you to Norway so you can see the Northern lights just like you have always wanted." He said that with such a straight face but I squealed, throwing myself at him.
"Oh, my God. Thank you! Thank you!" I screamed. He laughed, patting my back. "Oh, Derek is going to flip."
"I should have excluded him from the trip." He huffed.
I kissed his cheek, giggling.
The sound of a throat clearing broke us apart. And there he was, the love of my life.
"May I have some moment with my girl, please?"
"You always know how to ruin a good moment." Dad huffed and stalked off.
"Love you too, Grant." He laughed, gathering me in his arms.
It has been a year, but all I had done was fall in love with this man a bit more with each passing day. He made me so happy.
"Hey," I bit my lip."
"Hey, beautiful." He kissed my forehead.
I was a blushing mess.
"God, I love you." He groaned.
I looped my arms around his neck, swaying us softly to the music. We eased into the moment, lost in each other’s eyes.
"There’s something I have been wanting to do." He spoke up.
"What?"
"I already asked your father for his blessings." He began, making my breath stop, "I just need to ask you too."
The music switched into something softer, and my lips trembled when he got down on one knee. Gasps echoed through the room, alongside soft squeals.
"Derek…"
"I love you, Amelia." He grinned. "A year with you is not enough. I want forever with you. I want to be your husband, the father of our kids, your partner. I want to spend the rest of my life choosing you, and defying all odds with you."
I choked out a sob.
"I want all the good days with you, the bad and the ugly. No measure of time will ever be enough with you, but I’d like to start with forever."
"Will you marry me, Amelia Sugarplum?"
I nodded, tears streaming down my cheeks as I laughed.
He whipped the box open, revealing something I didn’t expect. It was candy. A giant red diamond sat on the center of a plastic blue ring. It was perfect.
I laughed as he slipped the ring pop onto my finger, and when he stood up, I kissed him.
“I’ll get you a real ring later. I figured this was right.”
I giggled as the crowd went wild with cheers.
"I love you so much."
"I love you."
I used to be a hot mess with a dead laptop. Now? I’ve got a hard drive and a Daddy who knows how to use it.