Epilogue Two #2
I grab my phone and text Morgan to let her know we might be a little late.
She replies quickly, telling me her and my mom are just fine to wait.
They haven’t even headed to Portside yet, since they’ve been playing in the sprinkler with Tallulah.
I peer down at Brooks, still soothingly running my fingers through his hair.
“For the record, I don’t think she’s pregnant. We’re probably overthinking this. It was a bad joke. I’m sorry, babe,” I tell him.
He shakes his head. “No, it’s fine. I guess I still just can’t reconcile that she’s all grown up,” he murmurs, still gently stroking me. “Tally’s growing up so quickly on us too.”
“S’gonna happen, no matter what we do,” I muse. “We did good though. We did really friggin’ good.”
He nods, smiling wistfully. “We did. We are.”
I reach down and tap the compass on his wedding band—the perfect match to my knuckle tattoo, now hidden beneath my matching band.
“Gonna keep reminding you of that every day, until you believe it,” I assure him.
When Brooks and I finally get to Portside, Morgan comes rushing out to greet us in the parking lot as we hop off the bike.
“Dad! Evster!” she hoots, hugging us both. “Come on, come in! We’ve got a huge surprise for you,” she adds, patting her belly.
I feel Brooks tense up beside me again. I squeeze his hand for reassurance. “Can you just tell us out here first, Morgs?” he pleads.
Morgan’s brows furrow in confusion. “What? Why would I? It’s not my news to share.”
“What do you mean?” I quiz her now.
She tugs my hand, yanking me and Brooks inside. When we get inside, there’s a huge spread of food. It’s bigger than I’ve ever seen before at Portside, which usually isn’t even open at this time on a weekend. Morgan pats her belly again. “Isn’t this amazing?” she gushes, licking her lips.
Brooks and I are both slack-jawed in front of the packed house, staring at the buffet. This was the big surprise? I mean, I know Morgan’s usually ravenous, but I didn’t expect such excitement about brunch.
Morgan’s gaze flicks between Brooks and I, who are both equally confused as each other. Rolling her eyes, she huffs, “Well?”
“I mean, it looks delicious, Captain Morgs…” I drawl. “But this—”
“Oh! You’re here!” Cutting me off, Taryn comes striding out of the back kitchen, hair net on and wiping his hands on his apron.
He’s the spitting image of his dad, although I’ve never seen a smile on Gordy’s face quite as wide as the one Taryn’s sporting right now.
He approaches us and holds out his hand, offering it up for a firm handshake.
“Glad you guys could make it,” he addresses Brooks and I cordially.
Morgan leans into him, wrapping her arm around his waist. She peers up at him, then proudly says, “You’re looking at the new owner of Portside Pub.”
“That’s right. Worked my ass off, saved up, and bought the place off my dad,” Taryn agrees, beaming.
“Starting today, new things are coming for the old place. But don’t worry, it’ll still be a favorite local watering hole, though I plan to make it a little more family-friendly and less like a dive bar. ”
Brooks whooshes out a breath. “Well, that’s amazing, Taryn,” he tells him. “Congratulations! Evan and I are so proud of you!”
I nod in agreement. “Yeah. I mean, you really have been working hard. I’m sure whatever new ideas you have will only serve to make this place better.”
Taryn still grins toothily. “Thanks! I wouldn’t have had the guts to take over the place if it wasn’t for my girl though,” he adds, giving Morgan a squeeze. “She’s been my biggest cheerleader.” He kisses the top of her head.
In the door next comes Colton and Petro. The whole dang clan is here, I finally notice.
Taryn hops over to greet them. “Hey! Thanks for coming guys! Welcome, welcome!” he cheers, escorting them in. Then he leans towards Colton, waggling a finger between him and Petro. “Aaand, I heard you two lovebirds had some news of your own. Congrats!”
Colton chuckles, running a hand through his still shaggy hair. “Thanks, man.”
“We’re excited,” Petro croaks, stroking his little bump. “Thank you.”
Taryn nods, then welcomes them in, showing them around.
“Colton!” Wagner bellows from across the room, where there’s a group of them all sitting at a large table. “What’s this I hear about you gettin’ your boyfriend knocked up?! Come’ere and tell Mutha and I all about how we’re gonna be great-grands! Walt! He’s here! Fuck you at, old fella?”
Redness breaks out from under Petro’s facial hair. Morgan grabs his hand and gives it a squeeze, knowing he has been nervous about announcing his pregnancy to the rest of the family. “You know Gramps. It’ll be fine, I promise.”
Colton rolls his eyes and looks at me, like I was the one that spilled the beans to Wagner and not Morgan. “Well,” he huffs, “someone better call animal control, because the cat’s apparently out of the bag.”
I snort. “Look at you with the dad jokes already,” I tease.
“I’m sorrrryy, Doodle,” Morgan laments. “I couldn’t help it! I was so excited! I forgot what a blabbermouth he is!”
“We should probably go say hi to everyone,” Brooks notes.
Walking over, I take Tally off Mom’s lap, so she can eat without my daughter’s grabby hands in her face. “Were you a good girl for your grandparents last night?”
She nods, her sticky curls flopping wildly. Around each of Brooks’ legs, I watch as Tati and Terra attach themselves. They’ve gotten quite fond of their Uncle B.
“Where’s Gan?” I ask Mom.
“Well, hello to you, son,” she snorts. “Not real sure. He took off to the bathroom, but that was a while ago now.”
“You just saw me yesterday,” I reply drolly.
“Yeah, but only to dump your daughter off, and head for your date night…”
“We’re very sorry, Vickie. We were just excited as it was our first night in a long time.”
She waves him off. “I was young once too. I get it.”
I shoot Gan off a text. Not like him to just dump his girls off on Mom and Dad and just take off.
Since he and Sarah’s split, I’ve been surprised to see him managing being a single parent oddly well—though I’m sure that’s in part to them co-parenting decently.
I can’t tell you how many times he’s called Brooks and I, just asking for advice on how to raise girls and keep things civil with Sarah.
Seconds later, Gannett emerges from the bathroom, his hair looking tousled as hell and his cheeks flushed.
“You alright?” I ask him. “You look sick.”
“Yeah,” he huffs quickly. Suspiciously quickly. “You clean the boat?”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, I cleaned the fuckin’ boat. I’ve cleaned it every time I’ve borrowed it, since that first night.”
I pass Tally off to Brooks, and head over to the buffet with Gannett. He loads a plate for him and another for the girls. I fill one for myself and Tally to share and fix one for Brooks too. Getting seated, we all start to dig in, chatter and camaraderie all settling around us.
While everyone’s attention is now elsewhere, Brooks leans in and notes to me, “Biggest family meal to date.”
“Mhm,” I hum in agreement, swallowing my bite. “I bet your mothers would have been here too, if they weren’t on their cruise.”
He nods, then looks around the table. Seeing no one paying us any mind, he whispers, “Is it weird that, when you and Gannett were over getting food, Gordy snuck out of the bathroom, looking as equally rumpled as your brother?”