Epilogue
JACKIE
“ W as that Sabina?” Joe asks as he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me close, kissing my cheek. I slip my phone back in my pocket so I can wrap both of my arms back around him.
“Mmmhmm,” I reply, closing my eyes to savor the moment. Every morning when I wake up, I still can’t believe this is my reality.
Gidget barks, breaking the spell of the moment. We both laugh, and turn in sync to pet her. She gets jealous if we leave her out of the affection. She has accepted me wholeheartedly, and I can’t believe how much I love having a dog. Especially this spunky little gal. I can’t believe a lot of things in my current reality.
“How is Sabina doing today?” Joe asks.
From his tone, I can tell that he’s worried. Sabina has had her ups and downs over the past year, but currently she is in a downward cycle. She goes to the hospital faithfully every week, so I still hope that she will get out of the cycle.
“About the same,” I say.
“I know they’re going to roll out the new ‘Holistic Hero Vet Program’ that’s been in the works for a while now… I’m so excited about it, Jack! What an incredible idea! From the massages and float therapy, to the red light therapy, mindset training, and small group collaborations, I am amazed at every angle they’re approaching things from. I really hope Sabina will take advantage of it.”
“I know, so do I. I think she’s open to it, Joe. I think it will be huge for her… we just need to be supportive and patient. Once she chooses to do it, though, I think it will be a huge part of her healing. They have done so much intentional work getting it together and finding the best of the best to lead each part of the program. I can’t believe how much money was raised for the program! We made quite a team, didn’t we, babe? With much help from Violet and Robert, and the community, of course… No wonder the hospital is already asking for a date to do it again next year! So… you game for it?”
“Are you kidding? Getting to do that all over again, this time with my wife… You don’t have to ask a second time!”
Joe pulls me in close for tender hug. “Do you want me to start the grill now? Or wait until all your friends get here?”
We are having the Lits and their husbands over for dinner tonight. It’s the first time any of my friends will be at my new house since Joe and I got married two months ago. I kept trying to schedule a little housewarming party, but something always seemed to come up. Coupled with my work schedule and Joe’s work schedule, it’s been extremely hard to find the right time to get together. But we finally nailed tonight down for the whole group.
“Let’s wait until they get here,” I say.
“Fine with me,” Joe says. He leans down to kiss me, and I melt against him. I honestly never thought that this could be my life.
“Hey,” I say, pulling away slightly. “I have some news.”
Joe tilts his head to one side, curious. I feel my heart start to beat faster. There is a whooshing sound in my ears, and the sides of my vision darken slightly. I don’t know why I’m feeling panicky, although this is some of the biggest news I’ve ever had. Telling Joe should be easy. I think I know how he’ll react. At the same time, we’ve only been married for two months. I’m not sure that either of us was expecting this so soon.
“You know what?” I say. “Maybe it would be better to tell you after the party.”
I give him a quick peck on the lips, pat his chest, and step out of the circle of his arms. I start to walk away, Gidget on my heels, when Joe reaches out, and grabs my wrist. “Really?” he says. There is a playful glint in his eye. As he pulls me back toward him, he says, “Tell me now. I don’t think I’ll last through a whole party.”
“Okay,” I say. I take a deep breath. “Well… I’m pregnant! We’re having a baby, Joe!”
A thousand emotions flicker across Joe’s face, before he lights up. “You’re serious? We’re having a baby?”
I nod. “I took a test this morning,” I say. “I suspected it for about a week, but I didn’t want to say anything, in case I was wrong. I mean, it’s still so early, I wouldn’t dare tell anyone.”
“I just can’t believe this,” Joe says. “I mean, I had hoped that we’d be able to start a family soon, but this is amazing. Are you sure we can’t tell people yet?”
“Just Gidget for now,” I say. “But don’t worry. When it’s time to make the announcement, we can do something big and cheesy.”
“Thank you,” Joe says.
“For what?” I ask.
“For waiting so long for me to come to my senses,” Joe says.
I laugh, because there’s a lot of truth in what he’s saying. I’m not sure how I waited so long, never really knowing if he would come back into my life. And then, if he did return, not knowing if he would even want to be my friend, much less see me as anything more than a ‘kid sister’ type of friend. Looking back on it now, I can see plain as day that my childhood crush never went away. I was always smitten, and it seems it was always meant to be our fate to end up together. Someway, somehow, I knew it deep down all along… even if it took his heart a long while to catch up to my heart…and for my head to catch up with my heart!
“Well, I love you. Always have,” I say.
“I love you, too. Forever always.” Joe says.
And it really does feel as simple as that. All the weirdness is in the past. Joe did have feelings for Maia when we were younger, but when he tried to rekindle those same feelings years later, it didn’t work. I give him another quick kiss. There is a knock at the front door. My friends are here. Now it feels like my new life is finally complete. Friends, family, a new baby... even a bonus pup to top it off! What more could I ask for?