Epilogue #2
Once we’re home, Dec walks Mr. Percival up the steps as Albi and I run off in front.
“Won’t be long,” I call, letting us in and throwing my keys on the console table and kicking my shoes off.
“Do you need the bathroom before we go back out?” I ask Albi, noticing the telltale sign of him fidgeting as he goes into his playroom and puts a few more pieces on his latest Lego creation. “Albi,” I say.
“Yeah?”
“Do you need the bathroom?”
“No.”
I huff and go to him, dipping and pulling him to his feet. “Go pee,” I order gently. Always too busy to pee.
“Okay, okay,” he moans, running to the downstairs loo. And always in a mad rush.
On that thought, I dash upstairs and quickly get changed, rushing back down. I grab my boots, hearing Dec in the lounge with Mr. Percival.
April breezes through the door, Blaine in tow, carrying dozens of bags, and freezes when she spots me.
“You’re early,” I say, checking my phone as I pull a boot on. It’s only three o’clock. They’re supposed to be here at six.
“Oh, we both got done in the office sooner than we thought so decided we’d make our way over.”
“We’ve got to pop to the shops.”
“No problem.” Blaine pushes past me, heading to the kitchen. “We’ll unpack and get food on for tonight.”
“Don’t bother with mince pies,” Dec says, appearing from the lounge.
“Is he okay?” I ask.
“Is who okay?” April looks between us.
“Mr. Percival,” Dec says, going to the table and picking up a letter, starting to open it. “He has a headache.”
April grins at me. “Done and dusted?”
“Yes,” I breathe, dropping my head back. “Finally. The team moves in January third to start work on floating the company.”
“Congratulations!” She hauls me in for one of her much-appreciated, warm hugs, and then joins Blaine in the kitchen.
I seriously love having a big sister too.
Something I hadn’t realised was missing from my life until April filled that space with her unconditional love.
It’s more than I get from Graham, but at least we’re relatively civil now, and it’s wonderful to have Mindy and my niece and nephew back in my life.
Dominic’s baby was born in January. I didn’t flinch when Mindy told me.
I just felt . . . indifferent, I suppose. And indifference feels like a win.
“W here’s my gorgeous nephew?” she yells.
“In the playroom!” Albi shouts back.
“Maureen!” Blaine yells. “Off the worktop!”
I chuckle to myself. Christmas chaos. Perfect.
I look at Dec, seeing his forehead crinkled with concentration as he reads the letter in his hand. “What’s up?” I ask.
“It’s Chelsea.”
I stand taller, naturally. She did what Dec expected and told me he’d kissed her.
That he still loved her. In fact, she came to my office especially to do so.
And I had security remove her. I can’t lie, I was shaking like a leaf, but I held my own.
We haven’t seen her since, but we’ve heard from her.
She wanted half of Dec’s assets . . . but not Albi.
It’s sickening. She was told to jog on by Dec’s lawyers, to try and stake a claim.
But Dec being Dec offered her some money anyway—money for a signature to never come near Albi again.
She couldn’t sign the paperwork fast enough.
I don’t know how much money was involved. I didn’t ask, and Dec didn’t tell.
“Everything okay?”
“I’m divorced,” he says, looking up at me. “Officially.” He shows me the paper, not that I can see it, because he’s shaking.
“You knew it was coming,” I say gently.
“I know.” He folds the paper slowly and tucks it in the drawer of the cabinet. “I just . . . I don’t know. I guess there was always that fear she’d recant on the agreement.”
I go to him, taking his hands. “So we’re both single, huh?”
He smirks and seizes me, curling his arm around my neck so I’m virtually in a headlock and pulling me closer. “Huh,” he murmurs, rolling his mouth onto mine. And it’s lush. Relieving.
She’s gone. I’m divorced. Dec’s divorced.
“We’ve got to get to the shops before they close,” I murmur into his mouth, sliding my hands up his back.
“Hmmm.” He agrees but doesn’t release me.
And I don’t fight him off either.
We’re both happy where we are, our tongues swirling languidly, holding each other.
Until we’re interrupted.
“Ewwww, gross!” Albi moans, and I laugh.
“Okay, we’re done.” I release Dec and fight back my fluster, narrowing my eyes when he raises his brows. “Are we ready?”
“Ready!” Albi sings.
“Are you going to say goodbye to Mr. Percival?” Dec asks, grabbing his keys off the side.
“He’s not napping yet?”
“No.”
“I’ll see him when we get back,” I say, checking my phone. We’re pushing it for time already.
“Just go say bye to him,” Dec says, encouraging me toward the lounge. “You know how he is.”
How he is? “How is he?” I ask, letting Dec push me on.
“Just say goodbye.” He practically shoves me past the doors. “We’ll wait in the car.” He grabs Albi, and they disappear, and I shake my head in exasperation, finding my email confirmation for my collection as I go to the couch where Mr. Percival’s sitting, armed with the remote control.
“Bloody marvellous thing this is, isn’t it?”
“What?” I ask, watching as he flicks through the channels.
“Look! Every episode of Dad’s Army. Bleeding heck, I can watch them all together.”
I laugh and dip to kiss his cheek. “Take your nap, we’re popping to the shops. Need anything?”
“Got my brandy, dear,” he says, tapping the breast pocket of his tweed jacket where his hip flask is tucked in the inside pocket. “Oh dear, you’ve got your shoes on.”
I look down at my boots. Dec’s fault. I turn to hurry out. “See you—” I freeze, eyes locked on the wall above the fireplace, where the collage of photos of Albi and Dec hang. “Oh my God,” I whisper, trying to take it all in. Not the photos of them, as I see them every day. Smile at them every day.
But today there are more. Beautifully framed portraits, all black and white.
Of Noah. Of me and Noah. Of me and my mum. Me and my dad. Noah and my mum and dad. And me with Dec and Albi.
I let out a choked sob, my eyes welling to the point I have to quickly brush them clear so I can see. I approach slowly, rapt. I can hardly breathe through my utter awe. I see them every day. In my mind, in the pictures I have on my bedside cabinet.
But this?
“Do you like it?”
I whirl around, sniffing back my emotion, but I can’t stop the flood of tears. “I love it,” I choke, pointing back, as if Dec doesn’t know it’s there. “Look.”
“I see, baby,” he says, coming to me. “And did you see this?” He puts an arm around me and turns me back to the fireplace.
“Oh God,” I whisper. I have a stocking. And so does Noah.
“I found it in the garage,” Dec says. “Albi really wanted to put it there.”
I can’t talk. My throat’s too tight. The tears are streaming.
Dec takes me in his arms, hugging the shit out of me. “He’s a part of you, Camryn, so he’s a part of me and Albi too.”
I nod, sniffing. “Thank you.”
“Shut up.” He pulls me out and wipes my face. “Albi put a gift in Noah’s stocking. Will you humour him?”
I laugh a little through my sniff and go to the stocking, smiling at his name as I peek inside. I gasp. “He gave Noah his Spitfire?” I face Dec, shocked deeply. And then I notice something. Mr. Percival’s on the couch still, with a front-row seat. He’s paused Dad’s Army and is smiling fondly at us.
“Need a drink?” he asks.
“Not yet,” I say, laughing.
“You will do, dear.” He winks. I frown. And then Dec rolls his eyes. “I’m meant to give you this.” Mr. Percival reaches behind him on the couch and pulls something out. “Here.”
It’s my desk calendar. The one Dec bought for my home office.
Every day, he leaves some words for me, a memory of our lives.
Sometimes they’re deep and emotional, a declaration of undying love and appreciation.
And sometimes they’re less emotional, more carnal, like yesterday.
When I flipped the day and saw what he’d written, I nearly choked on my coffee.
December 23rd
My cock can’t get enough of you. We’re doing THAT again tonight.
I smile as I take the calendar, but it drops when I see it’s still on yesterday. Oh my days, did Mr. Percival see this? I shoot my eyes to Dec.
Mr. Percival chuckles. “Don’t look at him, dear.”
Oh my God, he’s seen it. “Well, I can’t look at you.”
He laughs harder, and Dec grins. “In my defence, I did warn him not to look.”
“That’s like telling Albi not to eat the Jelly Babies in the bowls scattered around the house, for Christ’s sake,” Mr. Percival says over a laugh. “Turn to today.”
Mortified, I flip the page to today. And I’m frozen again. It’s Albi’s handwriting, a beautiful mess of words.
December 24th
We love you, Camryn! More than Spitfires and Lego and Jelly Babies and busting balls!
Will you marry us? Please, please, please say yes!
Thank you. Lots and lots of love, Daddy & Albi xxx
The tears start rolling again, and I’m sure my mascara is streaking my cheeks. And when I look up and see Albi in the doorway, they come harder. He’s on his knee, a ring box open being held out to me.
Oh my heart.
“Wait for me, fella,” Dec says, hurrying over and joining him, dropping to one knee next to his boy. Our boy. “Well?” Dec asks.
“Will you?” Albi chirps. “Please, please, please?”
I have no idea what I did to deserve this beautiful man or his gorgeous little boy. Blessings. Both of them.
I walk across the room and drop to my knees too, pulling them both close to me.
And that’s all the answer they need.
I’m never letting them go.
THE END