Calvin - Epilogue
Three years later
I straighten out the bow tie around Braeden’s neck as I struggle to keep the tears at bay. I swear to god, why the hell am I so emotional right now? It’s just a damn school dance. My vision is blurry while Braeden smiles at me, trying not to roll his eyes.
“Cal! Lock in, bro. Why are you getting all weepy?” he says.
“I have no idea what you mean by ‘lock in.’”
He chuckles at me. “Bro, it means you need to focus. Please don’t cry when my boyfriend gets here.”
Ugh, I’ll never get used to the slang. Seth’s kids have started talking the same way. It’s like listening to an entirely different language.
“No promises.”
“It’s just prom.”
“And then you’ll graduate. I haven’t had you long enough, dammit. Soon, you’ll be off on your own without me.”
Despite the horrible slang, Braeden has grown into an amazing young man.
At eighteen, he’s nearly as tall as me, and he’s really filled out.
Once he met his boyfriend last year, he spent four days a week working out.
On the weekends, he runs with me. His hair is a little darker, and it’s wavy, spilling over his ears.
“Uhm, I’m still living here through college. Tulane is practically down the street from us.”
“Yeah, but you’ll spend less and less time with me, and eventually you’ll go to graduate school, move away, and get married. It’s depressing.”
He huffs a laugh, grabs my wrists, and rests his forehead against mine. “I love you, too, Cal. You’ve been amazing. I realize it wasn’t always easy on you, or us, but I’ve had a happy life here.”
God, now I’m going to fucking bawl my eyes out, but I choke it back so I don’t embarrass him.
“It’s been an amazing four years,” I agree. “We’ve had our ups and downs, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.” My eyes water again, and I take a step back, or else the dam is going to burst. “Your parents would be so proud, Brae. As proud as I am.”
Now it’s his turn for his eyes to water.
“Ugh, don’t make me cry now.” He sniffs, straightens his shoulders, and takes a deep breath, pushing back the emotions.
“I’d like to think they would. I still miss them every day, and I wish they could be here right now, but I’m also grateful that you are, and that you never gave up on me. ”
I yank him into a hug. “Never. I’d never do that.”
Someone is ringing the doorbell. That must be Chance.
Braeden rushes off to answer the door, while Seth comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. “You okay?” he asks.
“Yes… Not really. Damn, these milestones.”
He laughs and kisses my neck before standing next to me as Braeden leads Chance inside to the living room, holding each other’s hands. I wrap my arm around Seth’s shoulder and kiss his temple.
“Kids will be nice to them, right?” I ask him quietly, as if he holds all the answers. “They won’t pick on two boys dancing at prom, I hope.”
“I think they’ll be okay. They’re open at school, and Chance is on the baseball team and does fine. Besides, together, they should be able to handle anything that’s thrown at them.”
All the other kids come rushing down the stairs to see the boys off before the dance.
Emily is the first to hug Braeden and Chance.
They’re so sweet to her. She’s still a handful at seven years old, but she’s a good kid.
Her hair isn’t as blond as it used to be, darkening like her brothers’ hair, but she still likes the pompoms on her head.
Harrison is now the same age Braeden was when he came into my life. He started high school this past fall, and he goes to school with Braeden. Harrison has grown into a confident and intelligent young man. He loves to read, is part of a math club, and plays tennis.
Sawyer is now ten and in the fifth grade.
He’s not as shy as he used to be, but he’s still pretty introverted.
He and I have become strangely close over the years despite having completely different personalities.
I’ve been teaching him how to cook, which has created a strong bond between us.
We make dinner together almost every night now.
He’s the only child who comes up and hugs me. Sawyer is very sweet and empathetic.
“Hey, kiddo,” I say and pat him on the back.
The kids are all mine now, too. After Seth and I got married, we went through the legal process that allowed me to adopt them.
The two boys enter the living room, and Chance rushes up to us and shakes our hands. “Hey, Mr. Cal and Mr. Seth.”
He’s a good-looking kid with black hair and green eyes, brighter than mine, with skin as pale as Braeden’s. He’s also a great kid who’s really helped get Braeden out of his shell. Once he did, Braeden truly flourished.
“You look handsome, Chance,” I tell him while I pull out my phone. “Let me get some pictures.”
“Ugh, really?” Braeden says.
“Yes, really. You both look great, and I’m not squandering this moment to capture some memories. You know it’s part of the deal between kids and parents. Pictures are part of the contract, and it’s non-negotiable.”
“Fine…”
Chance pulls out two boutonnieres he brought, pinning one to the lapel of Braeden’s black tux, and Braeden pins one to Chance’s white tux.
After about a hundred pictures and a lot of eye rolling, they left for prom.
Seth wraps an arm around me again as we watch the boys drive off. “Ready for some poker and distractions?” he asks me.
“Very ready.”
When we go back into the house, Seth calls out to the kids. “Hare, we’re leaving now. You got this?”
“Yeah, Dad. It’s not like I haven’t babysat before.”
“Your phone is charged?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Our numbers are still on your phone?”
“Dad! I’ve got it!”
Emily comes up to us and tries to shove us out the door. “Go! God!”
“Bye,” Sawyer yells and waves at us.
“Let’s go before they kick us out permanently,” I quip. “I’m ready to kick y’all’s asses tonight in poker.”
“You’re way too good at it,” Seth huffs. “We’ve been talking about kicking you off the team.”
I feign shock. “You have not! You’re so mean! I’m absolutely appalled.”
“Drama queen. You know we wouldn’t do that to you.”
“I should think not. I’m way too much fun.”
“Remind me why I married you again?”
I wrap my arms around him and pull him against me. “Because you adore me, and I make you laugh every day.”
“You mean you make my eyes roll every day.”
I boop his nose. “That, too.”
“Gross!” Emily yells. “Go now!”
“I guess that’s our cue,” I tell Seth, grabbing his hand and tugging him out the door.
When we reach outside, I pull him against me, dip him, and give him a deep kiss.
“What was that for?” he asks, smiling and slightly dazed after I let him up.
“For loving me. Life is fucking good, Tiger. Our businesses are taking off, we have amazing kids, and I never thought I’d love someone as much as I love you.”
He rests his hand on my heart, and his eyes water. “I have no idea where all that came from, but I’ll take it, Calvin Abernathy, my beloved.” His hand moves up to my cheek, cups it, and pecks my lips. “Where would we be were it not for my kids driving you up the wall?”
I chuckle. “I think we would’ve found each other eventually.”
“You’re probably right.”
“I’m always right.”
When we arrive at Slade’s place, since he’s hosting tonight, we all shake hands and give each other hugs.
“Ready to get your asses whooped,” I say as I pour Seth and me a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
Reuben and Travis groan, “God, you’re the worst.”
“Pfft, that’s what Seth said. I feel seriously unloved right now.”
“Hey! Don’t put words in my mouth.”
I chuckle and hand a wineglass to Seth. We lean against the counter to catch up with everyone before we play.
Reuben tips his beer bottle to my glass and clinks it. “So, I hear Braeden went to prom with Chance, huh?”
“Yep. The next step is moving away. I don’t like it one bit.”
Travis laughs. “Yeah, watching our kids get older is beautiful and painful at the same time.”
“Can’t agree more,” Slade says. “I mean, Fern recently turned twenty-one. God, she’s legal now.”
“It’s good that you and Braeden are close, and that he was able to find a home in you, Cal,” Reuben explains. “He’s really turned into a fine young man.”
“Well, that’s not all me. His parents did the hard work. I got the result of that work.”
Seth kisses my cheek. “You all raised him, Joker. You’ve been a strong presence in his life. It’s important.”
“Thanks, Tiger.”
Slade checks his watch and frowns. “It’s not like Paul and Edmundo to be late. If one of them is sick, they always reach out. Has anyone heard from them?”
We all shake our heads.
“Let’s wait a few more minutes. If they don’t show, we can get started,” Travis says.
Slade pulls out his phone and swipes it open. “I want to shoot them a text really quick.”
After a few minutes, there’s still no response, so we agree to start playing without them.
Slade shuffles the cards as we all sit down at the dining table. “Anyone up for seven-card stud?”
“Sounds good to me,” I say.
We play a few rounds, and there’s still no word from Paul or Edmundo. This time, it’s Reuben and Travis to reach out in our group chat and in a personal chat, trying to reach our friends. There’s still no response.
Slade throws down his cards. “I fold. This is weird, man. They’ve never not reached out.”
“It’s concerning,” Seth agrees. “I hope they’re okay.”
We start to play another round when our phones ping at once. It’s the group chat. We all open our phones and read Paul’s message.
Paul: He’s gone. My Edmundo is gone.
Before we can type out a thousand questions, he sends another text.
Paul: Car accident. My love didn’t make it.
Paul: My life is over
We immediately start texting, and Reuben calls him directly. Seth and I look at each other, and I know he’s feeling what I am, if not more. He’s known them longer than I have. His eyes are watering, and my heart and stomach twist in grief.
“No, it can’t be true,” he whispers with a trembling lip.
I pull him against me, his fingers clinging to my back. Suddenly, he’s crying into my shirt. I watch the other men desperately trying to reach out to Paul, but there are no answers.
“He’s blocked us, I think, or he’s turned off his phone,” Travis says with red-rimmed eyes. “God, poor Edmundo. Poor Paul.”
“We’ll find a way to take care of Paul. He’s not alone,” I say with as much confidence as I can muster. It’s time to be strong for my friends and my husband. I know how painful it is to lose friends better than anyone, and the guilt that’s associated with it. “That’s a promise.”
“My friends…” Seth whispers.
“I know, baby. I know.”
With a sudden fear in my gut, I cup his face and press my lips to his, which are salty with tears. “I love you so much, Tiger. Never doubt that.”
“I know. I know you do,” he says. I know he gets what I’m trying to convey. He understands me better than anyone. “I love you, too. Always.”
“It’s my turn to be your rock, baby.”