Epilogue
Margo
FIVE YEARS LATER
“ I got something for you,” Tommy says, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. He’s been working on a project behind the mini barn at the back pasture for weeks. Archie told me it’s an important surprise, so I haven’t pried even if it goes against every fiber of my being. Now that it’s ready, I’m panicking.
I exhale noisily. “You know I hate surprises. What did you do, Tommy?” Effie, our daughter, is on my hip, and I have an iPad with a schedule pulled up in the other. “I have to teach a group training session tomorrow. Will this be quick?” I’m being difficult, but I’m smiling so he knows it’s for show.
Effie claps her hands at the prospect of a surprise. “Get in the Ranger and let’s ride,” Tommy replies.
I strap Effie in and allow Tommy to drive us down the cement trails that were just put in to help the Rangers get around the ranch more efficiently. My gym is such a booming success we could franchise it out to other places looking to provide a one-stop shop for elite personal training routines, therapy training, and nutrition. It’s like a boot camp for athletes. Instead of summer camp, they come to our facilities to get overhauled and perfected. I pared down the training I did when Effie was born, but in special cases, like the NFL team that arrives tomorrow, I like to lead. My employees can handle it, of course, but that’s just who I am.
When Tommy darts off the path to swerve around the barn, I let out a yelp. As soon as we’ve cleared the barn, I see the trails he’s put in. “They go for miles, Margo,” Tommy says excitedly. “I know you haven’t ridden a bike for a while, and I also know you will never ride the main roads again, but I wanted to give you a little something back that was taken.” He shrugs, continuing on, getting more and more nervous that he’s upset me. “And if you hate it, you can use it for training.”
Three bikes are sitting on a large cement platform. Two pink bikes, one tiny, one adult sized, and a black road bike. I let the gift hit me square in the chest. “This is absolutely wonderful,” I say.
He looks sheepishly at me. “Don’t lie. You love it?”
I nod, wiping my eyes. “You’ve given me everything, Tommy. Now you’re healing a part of me that you didn’t even break.”
He clears his throat as he gets Effie out of her chair. “I don’t break my favorite toys, baby. Never will.”
He kisses me. “Come on. Let’s see if these bad boys work. I added benches and shade structures along the path. We cut up the whole back pasture to get this going. It’s going to be hot in the summer, but we tapped into the water supply and were able to get water fountains out there too.”
I shake my head. “This is beyond rational good husband status. You realize that, right?” My love language isn’t receiving gifts, but he makes me feel like it is when he’s thoughtful like this. “Effie, do you want to go on a ride with Mommy and Daddy?”
“Yes! Yay! Ride bike! Ride with Mommy and Daddy!”
Tommy and I delight at her sheer innocent happiness. She brought us together in a way I didn’t think was possible. Our connection grew stronger. The roots we had before her turned into heavy lead. We’re firmly planted in our love and adoration for each other and our family and life. Life’s bumps from our past rarely register these days, and if they do, we’re talking about them with humor.
Tommy sets Effie down, and she runs to her bike, putting on her bright green helmet. “Let me help you fasten that on,” Tommy says. Putting on her helmet and then mounting his bike. There’s a little hop as he rearranges his bad leg.
Would you believe he’s running on that thing now? Mama might have been wrong about me saving the world, but I saved him. I saved that leg with my sheer will and determination. Happy tears keep brimming as I strap on my black helmet. He put little vanity license plates on the back of our bikes. They all have a number five.
I haven’t been on a road bike since Hollis’s accident. “Okay, this is different than a spinning bike, but let’s see if Mama still has it,” I say, voice shaky. Pushing down on the pedal I take off, pedaling quicker and quicker just to see if I can still do it—just to see if it still feels like I’m flying. It does, but it’s better now. Everything is better now.
Slowing, I turn around and see Effie and Tommy quite a way back, faces lit with smiles pedaling their little hearts out to catch up to me. Jeannie told me this would be worth it, and I didn’t believe her. She told me a lot of things I now know are true. The world isn’t fair, but you can fix it. All through choices. Good ones and bad ones, alike.
“Mommy, Mommy, you are a fast racer!” Effie squeals when she gets close enough to where I’ve stopped to admire them.
A lot of it is luck.
“Mommy is a superstar racer!” Tommy returns, eyes alight with pure joy.
But if you find yourself wavering between quitting and pushing on, hear me out.
Open your heart and just give it five chances.