Epilogue
Happy birthday to you!!
The last line was loud and boisterous, everyone singing at the top of their lungs.
Josh grinned at the group, catching my eye and rolling his. He pretended to be embarrassed, but he loved it.
All our friends and family were there. The food was abundant, the tables almost groaning with the platters and dishes. Center spot was Rosa’s lasagna—still Josh’s favorite. Rosa and Mack were pseudo-grandparents for Josh. Maxx, Charly, Stefano, Gabby, Brett and Kelly, his aunts and uncles. Hannah and Chase were his adopted siblings. Especially Hannah. The two of them were incredibly close. Mary was another grandparent, always spoiling him. And all the kids were his cousins and friends. They all got along, despite the differences in their ages—the older ones looking out for the young. It was a great group, and we were blessed to be part of them.
Josh’s mom had passed two years ago, cancer winning the battle, although she had fought valiantly. We had found a plateau in our relationship and coexisted well, Josh our main focus. The last months of her life were spent happily, always included in anything to do with our son. Even Christmas. She was no longer bitter and angry, having found some sort of peace within herself. I was glad her last months on earth were content and she passed knowing Josh would be cared for. He had grieved hard, acting out on occasion, but everyone was patient with him, and he found himself again.
I smiled as he hugged Cherry, towering over her. He had a new name for me, and she was, of all things, Mumsy. I knew Mom was out of the question, but one day, he’d simply called her Mumsy, and when I looked at him quizzically, he had shrugged.
“Cherry isn’t right anymore. She’s more than that. Mumsy fits her. Just like Dad-D fits you.”
“Dad-D?” I questioned.
He grinned. “Yeah. I like it. You sound cool.”
And from that day on, it was Mumsy and Dad-D. We both loved it. It was the way he said the names. Affectionately, while rather teasing. It suited him and us.
He had grown, now over six feet tall. Thanks to Maxx and the guys, he loved to work out, so he was muscular, although still lanky. He was growing into his body as well as his brain. He was clever and still inquisitive. He loved to read, and his favorite spot to be was in the garage. He had promised his mom to think about the future carefully and had informed Cherry and me that he planned on taking some business courses, as well as training to be a mechanic. We would support him in every way possible. The life insurance that came to him after Roxanne passed was in an account, slowly accruing interest, and would cover his education. I knew she would be thrilled about that.
He leaned over, blowing out the candles. Sixteen. My son was sixteen.
Cherry looped her arm around my waist. “How did this happen?” she murmured.
I chuckled. “We’re getting old, Cherry.”
She elbowed me. “Speak for yourself, Dad-D.”
I laughed, leaning down to kiss her cheek and whisper in her ear. “You know I love it when you call me Daddy.”
She elbowed me again, color flushing her cheeks. It amused me that after all our time together, and the things we’d done, I could still make her blush.
“I’ll show you old later,” I warned. “Josh is going out with his friends. I’ll have you all to myself. Maybe we can skinny-dip again.”
She laughed. The house had changed a lot since we’d moved in. We’d renovated to suit us, and Josh had the entire basement decked out, with a huge TV and gaming console, as well as his computers. It was constantly filled with his friends. Upstairs, we’d gutted the kitchen and opened some walls. Outside, there was a large deck, and we’d added a pool, which was another draw for the kids. We loved hosting and having everyone over. Cherry especially loved having our grandkids spend the night to give Hannah and Chase “a break”—whether they asked for it or not. Their two children were spoiled rotten by my wife, but they were good kids and we enjoyed having them around. Maxx had three kids, the youngest a huge surprise. Stefano had three as well, and Brett had one child, so it was always a houseful when everyone was around, and the pool was well used.
“I don’t think I want to risk it,” she replied.
Josh had found us one hot summer night, skinny-dipping and frolicking in the pool, thinking we were alone. But he had decided to come home and caught us. He had been embarrassed beyond measure, and Cherry had never let us try it again. I had found it funny, but it seemed I was the only one.
“Come on, Cherry. Live dangerously.”
She shook her head, walking away. “Josh’s birthday gift is enough danger for me, thank you very much.”
Josh’s ears perked up. “Birthday gift? Dangerous? Did you get me a kit to make my own fireworks?”
I laughed, tilting my head to the driveway. “Come with me.”
The guys followed me, knowing what was waiting. Josh frowned at the tarp-covered item. “Your old boat?”
I chuckled. “Nope. Got rid of that. Check it out.”
Chase and I flipped up the tarp, and I watched Josh’s face change from confused to elated.
“Dad!”
I grinned, running my hand over the vehicle. To an unknowing eye, it looked like a hunk of old metal. But Josh knew exactly what it was.
The start of his dream car.
He touched the metal reverently. “A sixty-nine Cobra,” he breathed out. “How did you find it?”
“Through some contacts. It’s straight as an arrow. Hardly any rust, and we even have some original parts. It’ll take time, but we’ll rebuild it. You can work on it yourself, make it yours. By the time you get your license, we should have it ready.”
He stared at it. “It’s incredible.” He went around shaking everyone’s hand and exchanging fast, backslapping hugs. He stopped in front of me and encased me in a bear hug.
Hugs for the girls were normal. For the grandparents. He hugged Cherry a lot. Ours were rarer. Always brief. But this one was different. Longer. Harder. Emotional.
“Thanks, Dad,” he whispered.
“You’re welcome.” I expected him to release me, but he held on tighter, and I gripped him close as he continued to talk.
“For everything. For never giving up on me. For loving me when I wasn’t ready to love you back. But I do. I love you, Dad.”
He’d never said it before. He was fond of me. We were great friends. But it was the first time he’d ever said those words. Tears filled my eyes, and I held him tight. “Love you right back.”
He eased back, wiping his eyes. “How does Mumsy feel about the car?”
“Like asking your father to put something in it so you can never go more than forty,” Cherry replied, smiling at us, tears in her eyes, having witnessed our moment.
Josh grinned and swooped down, kissing her cheek and hugging her tight. “Sorry, no can do. Man, I can hardly wait to start!”
He turned and yelled. “Hannah Banana, did you see my car?”
“That hunk of metal?” she responded cheekily.
“Hey,” he protested. “I am going to be so cool in that car once it’s done.”
She scoffed, pulling him into a headlock. “It’ll take more than a car to make you cool, Josh B’Gosh.”
They wrestled with each other, laughing.
I smiled at them, slipping my arm around Cherry.
“Good day,” she said softly.
“Amazing,” I agreed. “Thanks to you.”
“Me?”
I turned, pulling her into my arms. “I took a job at a garage, hoping to find a good crew. Because of you, I found my life. My son. My heart. It’s all you, Cherry. All of it.”
She smiled up at me. “Right back at you, Mr. Salvatore.”
I bent and kissed her. “Ready to go and finish celebrating?”
She grinned. “Yes. When they leave, we might need that dip. I’m suddenly feeling warm.”
My smile was wide.
“Let’s go, then.”
Thank you so much for reading FULL THROTTLE.