Epilogue
Evie
Four Months Later
I smile as Reid carries me into our home. I feel like a bride, although I’m not. At least not yet. We’ve talked about marriage a few times since I moved into his apartment, but the renovations on this house have monopolized most of our discussions.
We’ve made every decision regarding the house together, from the color of the kitchen cabinets to the finish on the immaculate original hardwood floors hidden beneath the worn carpeting.
Reid has looked to me for guidance to help him navigate cleaning out each room in the house. We saved many things belonging to his grandparents. I sat with Reid as he looked through a cardboard box we found in the closet of his grandparents’ bedroom. The words “ our angel ” were scribbled across it in black marker. It contained a treasure trove of items that once belonged to Reid’s mom. School pictures, report cards, and a note she had written to Reid on the day he started kindergarten were just a few of the things that we both cried over. We saved everything in that box and so many more things.
Everything we didn’t have room for is now at his apartment. He’s not ready to sell it even though we agreed to live in Queens. He jokingly said that one of our kids might want to live in Manhattan one day. Maybe they will. We know we want kids, and the time will come when it feels right to start a family. For now, we’re focused on each other.
“I can’t believe this will be our first night here,” I say as he carefully places me down on my feet. “We’re actually going to sleep in our house.”
“In our bed,” he reminds me since we purchased a new mattress and bedframe. The headboard was handmade by a friend of Kevin’s. It’s wooden, and the carvings on it depict a pattern we first noticed on a blanket that was still on the bed Reid slept in as a boy. The beautiful abstract lines of the headboard’s design are a reminder of something Reid loved as a child.
Many small details like that have made this house our home.
“I can’t believe I can finally ask you to marry me.”
My mouth falls open. “What?”
His hand disappears into the front pocket of his jeans. He yanks out a small black jewelry box. “Milt didn’t have the skill set to create the ring I wanted, so he sent me to Whispers of Grace. The owner, Ivy, worked some serious magic for us.”
I skim a hand over the pink sweatshirt I’m wearing. When I was a little girl, I always imagined that my proposal would take place in a spot that held deep meaning to me. I saw myself wearing a beautiful dress with full makeup on and my hair perfectly styled.
As I stand here in faded jeans with my hair in a ponytail and only a touch of red lipstick as makeup, I realize the only thing that really matters is the man in front of me.
Reid drops to one knee. “You are the reason I want to be the best man I can possibly be. You’ve shown me how love can change a man.”
I want to say a million things but can’t form one word.
“The first day I met you, I knew you were special, Evie. You have this light that is always with you. It’s in your eyes and your smile. Don’t get me started on your voice because it’s pure magic. It has the power to alter a man’s world when you say his name.”
“Reid.”
His hand darts to the center of his chest. “That’s it. It’s everything.”
I smile.
“I promise to be the husband you deserve. I vow to be the man you can count on for anything and everything. I will always put you first. I will be next to you with every step you take. Marry me, Evie. Please, let me be your man forever.”
He pops open the lid to reveal a stunning ring.
There are two equally beautiful stones set in a gold band. One is a small diamond and beneath it is a slightly bigger canary yellow diamond.
“Ivy took the diamond from my mom’s engagement ring and the yellow diamond from my grandma’s ring. She made this for you.”
“It’s stunning.”
“Your wedding band was made from the gold of their rings. Both were so thin that Ivy felt it was best to melt them down to make one band for you.”
I let out a soft sob. “Oh, Reid.”
“I’ll wear Buzzy’s wedding band when we get married.” A single tear streams down his cheek. “He would have loved that.”
I nod.
“Say yes, Evie,” he whispers. “Please say yes.”
“Yes!” I scream. “I’ll marry you.”
He slides back up to put the ring on my finger before he takes me in his arms for a kiss. “We’ll honeymoon in Paris. You can show me the ballet school.”
When Reid asked me to share the story of my short-lived ballet dreams with him one night months ago, I agreed without any hesitation. I explained it all, including the bike accident that changed the course of my life forever. I had gotten in the path of a man opening his car door. I flew over it and landed on the pavement with a leg so badly injured that a career in ballet flats was out of the question.
Tears filled his eyes when I whispered that everything had happened for a reason because the accident had ultimately brought me to Vidori and him. Now, my wildest dreams are coming true.
A loud knock at the door interrupts us. “Who the fuck is that?”
“My new boss?” I laugh.
“I still can’t believe you’re leaving me to work for Charlotte when your contract runs out.” He pinches my chin. “I’m so fucking proud of you, though. You’re going to kill it as Emmel’s marketing expert.”
We’re still working out my official title, along with the salary and perks, but I’m excited to pursue the career I’ve always wanted, working alongside Charlotte and Randall. Besides, I can commute to Emmel’s future office with them every morning since it’s only a ten minute walk from here.
“It’s your neighbors!” Lottie calls from behind the front door as she knocks again.
“And your business partners,” Baden’s deep voice is unmistakable.
“You invited Baden and Vance?”
“I told them I was going to pop the question tonight.” Reid grins. “They were so fucking happy for us.”
I take off toward the front door, admiring my engagement ring with each step. When I swing the door open, Lottie grabs me for a hug before I realize what’s happening.
“Congratulations, Evie.” Vance pats my shoulder as he brushes past us.
“I guess this makes you my sister-in-law in a way,” Baden says.
Randall stops to hug Lottie from behind, his hands reaching around both of us. “You’re my sister-in-law too, since Reid is like a brother to me.”
Lottie lets me go to rush into the house. “I ordered take-out and wine, and ice cream. Let’s celebrate.”
I turn to face the people I love and as I find Reid staring at me, I whisper the three words I know I’ll say to him forever, “I love you.”
He taps his ear and smiles before he says them back so loudly that I’m sure all of Queens can hear him, “I love you. I love you, Evangeline. I always will.”