Epilogue
The early morning sun beats into my eyes as I sit up with a yawn, Eli still asleep next to me. Shoot, my alarm clock never went off! I think to myself as I rush to get dressed, pulling the clothes I’d brought with me out of my little travel bag and hurrying off to the bathroom to shower.
Although I have my own house, I stay with Eli and the boys most nights. While things between the two of us are grand to say the least, we are still taking it all somewhat slow, just living life and enjoying every moment the best we can. And having my own house still feels like the safety net I need, even though more than a year has passed.
All the boys are home for Christmas, including Robert, and my son, Little Joe, is here too, spending the night in one of the rooms at Eli’s ranch. Sparrow, Daniel, and baby Jade are coming too. Except she’s not so much a baby anymore, toddling around and terrorizing her mama—which I constantly tease Sparrow about. Telling her it’s retribution for all she’d put me through in her terrible twos.
I speed through my shower, get dressed, head out to the kitchen, and pop an apron on so I don’t ruin my dress. I preheat the oven, pull the ham out of the fridge and put it on the counter, open up a new package of brown sugar, and begin rubbing it all over the outside. Everyone loves candied ham, and though I am nervous about getting everything right, not much can go sideways with that.
Or at least, I hope.
Soon as it’s preheated, I throw it in the oven and begin peeling potatoes to mash when I hear footsteps come up behind me, and feel arms slide around my waist.
“I told you to wake me up, darlin’,” Eli says as he squeezes me tight, kissing me on the cheek before he takes the peeler out of my hand.
“I know, but you were actually sleeping in for once,” I say with a sigh.
“Animals still got to be fed, Darla,” Eli replies. “And you need help with dinner.”
“Actually, animals are all accounted for,” Zack says as he comes through the front door, Noah following in right behind.
“We got up early to grab ‘em so you could relax,” Noah says with a grin.
“That’s so sweet of the two of you,” I say with a smile.
“Yes, thank you boys,” Eli says as he begins to peel the potatoes.
“Anything we can help with?” Zack asks.
“No, I think I’ve got it covered,” I say. “You boys might want to shower and get dressed so you don’t smell like a barn though.”
“Ten-four, step mama,” Zack says with a wink, and the two boys wander off, leaving Eli and I to prepare for an early Christmas dinner. More like lunch, I suppose. We wanted to make sure that all the other Christmas festivities weren’t overshadowed by the food.
Eventually, everyone else wakes up, and I keep shuffling things around as Eli gets breakfast ready for everybody. After that, I get the sides ready to go into the oven about a half hour before we’re going to eat—yams, green bean casserole, baked beans, and all that—plus, there’s stuffing, collards, and mashed potatoes I still have to make on the stovetop.
Sparrow finally shows up with Daniel and Jade at about one o’ clock, and by that time I have everything done and spread out on the large kitchen table. Luckily there’s plenty of seats, and all of us dine together happily, talking amongst one another and having a good ol’ time.
After everyone is nearly in a food coma, we sit with Jade and watch all the old Christmas classics—Rudolph, Frosty, and more—until the pies are ready, and everyone goes back into the kitchen to peruse the desserts. Cookies, cakes, candies, and pies. I’ve made enough to feed our small platoon of kids, and enough to send them home with, that’s for sure.
Then, it’s finally time for what everyone has been patiently waiting for—present time. It’s my favorite time, honestly, besides the food. Getting to see the joy on everyone’s faces as they peel back that wrapping paper to find something they’ll love.
I was sure I had nailed Noah, Zack, and even Jeffrey’s presents since I knew them so well now. But Robert was a bit of a wild card, and as we got to him, I held my breath since I’d taken a stab in the dark.
“Oh wow, workout clothes, I’ve been needing these!” Robert says with a smile. “I love them Darla, thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I say as I return the smile. “Well, that’s all for gifts!” I say as I watch Jade play with her toys in a pile of wrapping paper.
“Not true,” Eli says. “We haven’t traded gifts.”
“We have so,” I reply. “I got you a bunch of stuff right there.”
“Yes, well, I’m not done,” Eli says with a shrug.
“What? You already got me these beautiful earrings and the dress I’m wearing,” I reply. “That’s more than enough.”
“Well, I can’t exactly take this one back,” Eli says with a chuckle. “But it requires everyone to get their coats on, and it’s not just from me really, it’s from everyone.”
I’m confused, but I get up and put on my coat, and everyone else follows suit, with impish smiles on their faces. Eli pulls a bandana out of his pocket, and then twirls me around.
“Gotta make sure you don’t peek,” he says as he puts it over my eyes.
“But how will I get out there?” I ask.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you,” he says as I feel his hand slip into mine.
We head out onto the porch, and he helps me get down the path, and I can hear the crunch of dirt and rocks beneath my shoe. Where are they taking me? I wonder as I can tell we’ve already passed the cars, but I can’t tell what direction we are going.
I hear a creak, and the smell of hay, and I immediately realize we are in the barn. What did he do? Get me a new saddle? I ponder as I hear a horse let out a whinny.
“Alright, just one second, okay?” I hear Eli say as he pulls my hand, turns me toward something, and then lets go. I hear him messing around a bit, and then I hear him walk back to me as everyone behind me is giggling and whispering. “You ready?” he asks.
“Yeah, I mean, I think so,” I say with a chuckle, and he pulls the bandana off my face.
My eyes flutter open, and I am expecting a saddle or a new bridle since he knows I’ve been riding the same mare since our Valentine’s date. But my heart skips a beat as I see a familiar face staring back at me, her brown eyes seeming to light up as she nickers lightly, and my eyes tear up so bad I can hardly see.
“Laney,” I whisper as I begin to sob. “It’s my baby, Laney!”
There she is in all her glory, a beautiful red bow around her neck.
“Sure is,” Eli says as he rubs my back, and I reach out and touch her velvety nose.
“How did you get her back?” I exclaim, pressing my face against her nose and kissing it, which she seems to welcome with open hooves, appearing to be just as excited as I am.
“I told him who you sold it to,” Sparrow says as she steps in next to me with Jade in her arms.
“It wasn’t easy, but I got him to part with her once I told him our story and the real reason that you sold her to him,” Eli says. “He’s got a good heart that one.”
“And a deep wallet,” Zack says.
“Zack!” Noah scolds him, and I can’t help but laugh.
“I can’t believe this,” I say, and I kiss her nose again before spinning around to look at everyone. “Thank you so much! This is the best Christmas ever.”
“We still aren’t done,” Eli says.
“Huh?” everyone says, looking around the room in surprise.
“You got me more?” I ask.
“One more thing,” Eli replies with a smile. “You mind checking her bow?”
“Oh, okay,” I say, turning to grab the bow around her neck and begin searching through it, coming up empty. “Sweetheart, there’s nothing there—”
I stop short as I glance back to see Eli on one knee, holding a velvet box in his hand—the whole barn has fallen silent.
“Darla, you are my world,” Eli begins. “When I met you, I truly was a broken man. . . and then I got messed up again. I couldn’t remember what we shared. And that was truly a tragedy.”
“Oh my. . .”
“But then I slowly remembered it all, and even when it got scary and hard, or when I needed extra help. . . you never quit on me. You kept showing me love, no matter what, and for that, I am the luckiest man in the world,” Eli says as he opens the little box. Inside there was a diamond ring, shaped like a lily with little diamond chips down the side. “I learned that life is short, and I don’t know how long I have left, but I do know I want to spend the rest of it with you.”
“I want to wake up next to you every morning, cradle you in my arms, raise our little farm animals, and have our beautiful, blended family. Not just today, but forever.”
“Eli. . .”
“Will you marry me?” Eli asks, and I feel like I can’t breathe. I never expected Laney to come back home, but I certainly hadn’t ever expected this. Am I really ready after everything I’ve been through? What we’ve been through?
I only think about it for a moment before I come to a decision.
“Yes,” I say tearfully, and Eli slips the ring on my finger. “Just try not to forget about me again, alright?” I joke, and everyone laughs.
“As long as you don’t throw any more pies at me,” Eli cracks back as he stands up to kiss me.
“You are never going to let me forget that, huh?” I ask before he kisses me again.
“Not as long as we live,” Eli says. “Which, God willing, is going to be a long, long time.”