Epilogue
Cora
Six months later
“Honey Bee, breakfast!” Nash shouts from the bottom of the stairs.
I take in my appearance in the floor length mirror in our bedroom. The custom scrubs from my thoughtful boyfriend make me smile, as I gaze at the pale pink scrubs that are covered in photos of Sherlock Bones’ smiling face.
Today is my first day of veterinarian school. I blink back tears as it hits me that my childhood dream has finally become reality. Through the support of Nash, our families, and Bethany, I’m fulfilling a dream that I’d believed died years ago.
I’m lost in thought and don’t notice Nash enter the room until his arms wrap around my shoulders, pulling my back to his chest.
His beard tickles my neck as he peppers it with kisses, causing me to giggle. “You look beautiful today, Honey Bee.”
“Stop that, or I’ll be late.” I playfully pull out of his grasp, but not before he gently pulls me back for one last toe-curling kiss. After being together for six months and living together for four, he still gives me butterflies every time he looks at me.
Downstairs, like always, our sweet furry boy is there in the kitchen, stretching on his hind legs to reach the food on the counter.
“Hey, don’t eat your mother’s breakfast! She’ll need it for her big day.” Nash dashes across the room to push the plate further back on the counter before picking up SB, cuddling him to his chest and scratching his ears. SB excitedly licks his face but still eyes the plate of eggs and bacon. I take a seat at the kitchen table.
The past six months have been the best of my entire life. Not only do I have a partner that loves me— truly loves me—but I’ve also found a community in this small town. It makes me feel like I belong somewhere.
Nash snags a piece of bacon before placing the plate in front of me and taking a seat. “How are you feeling this morning?”
A whirlpool of emotions swirls in my stomach. It’s hard to put into words. I nervously wring my hands under the table. “Well, to be honest, I have no fucking clue. One moment I’m excited, the next I feel like I’m going to throw up. I didn’t plan on starting over in my thirties, but I’m so thankful that you and Bethany pushed me to apply.”
“Start eating before your eggs get cold,” Nash says, gesturing towards my breakfast. Then, his expression softens. “Cora, you amazing me with your strength and resilience. I’m so proud of you, Honey Bee, for taking this leap of faith and believing in yourself enough to chase this dream. Working with animals is your calling.” Nash looks down at the furball in his arms. “Isn’t that right, Sherlock Bones?”
SB barks in agreement.
I can’t help but laugh, the nerves slowly draining from my body. He’s right. This is what I’m meant to do, and I’m worth it.
A knock at the door has SB barking his head off, but he stops the moment Jack steps through the door. He was adamant about stopping by this morning to wish me luck, even if he just got off an overnight shift.
“Oh, hell yeah, there’s bacon.” He walks over to the stove, grabbing a piece of bacon from the frying pan and popping it in his mouth.
Nash rolls his eyes, before grinning at my cousin. “Good morning to you, too.”
“Good morning,” he mumbles, mouth full of bacon. Swallowing loudly, he crosses the room and takes a seat at the table.
Jack holds out his hand for a high five, which I gladly give him. “You ready, Cora? You’re going to kill it today.”
“Thanks, J. I’ll text you later to let you know how it goes. Oh, and my mother and Luke are coming into town next week to celebrate, so feel free to invite a plus one for dinner.”
I can’t wait for Mom to meet the man that I’ve fallen for.
Am I mistaken, or is Jack blushing? Red stains his cheeks and the tips of his ears. “Actually, I’m busy tonight, but I’d love to hear about it tomorrow. And a plus one won’t be an issue.”
Busy, huh? “And who would you be busy with? It wouldn’t happen to be a certain veterinarian, would it?”
Jack must think I haven’t noticed how his dynamic with Bethany has shifted since the barbecue at Imogen’s. Neither of them has said anything just yet, but my heart is ready to burst with excitement—I’m thrilled they’re finally exploring what’s between them.
He smirks. “You know that it is. She couldn’t resist my charm anymore.”
I check the clock on the stove. “Time to go,” I say.
Taking a deep breath, I blow it out slowly, deliberately. I stand and run my hands over my scrubs to smooth any wrinkles. I take time to kiss Nash and SB goodbye, and give Jack a tight hug. I grab my bag and lunchbox that Nash insisted on packing.
Heading out the door, both of them shout words of encouragement from the porch as I hop into Lola and turn the key in the ignition. Lola revs to life, and I wave one final time before driving to the veterinarian college one town over.
Driving along the same winding, coastal roads that brought me to Abalone Bay, I can’t help but reflect on how my life flipped upside down in such a short period of time. What I wouldn’t give to sit down with my younger self, to reassure her that she has a bright future to look toward. A future where she gets everything she could’ve dreamed of and more.
“Come on, you beauty,” I say to Lola with a smile. “We don’t want to be late.”