Epilogue
STERLING’S PHONE beeped a dozen times in rapid succession as soon as he turned it on, once the plane had landed. All of them were from Marcel, Endrea’s assistant. While the plane taxied, Sterling checked the pictures and smiled. Her preliminary designs for the following fall looked incredible, and he sent his praising response.
Sterling deplaned when his turn came, got through passport control, picked his luggage off the carousel, and had just breezed through customs with a smile, when his phone rang. “Don’t you ever stop working?” he asked Endrea. It was after eleven her time.
“I wanted to talk to you. You got the updates, and you’re going to need to change your concepts to fit.”
“Take a look at what I sent you before I left. Your designs will work even better with what we reviewed. You saw what I presented, and I updated your designs to fit.” Endrea was a perfectionist, but she had probably been up two days by this point to get everything finished. He continued through the Philadelphia airport, pulling his bags and talking to her.
“You’re right,” Endrea told him. “They’re perfect, and everything goes together. I just need to finish the jewelry and accessories.”
“Get some rest and you can figure it all out. There are amazing jewelry manufacturers you can partner with. Marcel and I were talking about a few just the other day, and he has their information.”
“What would I do without you?” He could almost see her smile. “I’ll talk to you later. Give my best to Connor.” She ended the call, and he placed one to the limousine service he’d arranged for before he left. They said his driver was on the way and told him where to wait. Sterling arrived at the meeting spot just as his driver did, and he climbed in back, stretched out, and breathed a little sigh. “Get me home as soon as you possibly can.”
“Traffic is murder on the Schuylkill,” the driver said.
“Then go around it if you can. Just get me home as fast as possible.” He sat back as the driver pulled away. Fortunately, the driver did know a better route, and they got to the turnpike sooner than expected. Sterling called Connor and ended up leaving a message.
Outside Reading, it began to snow, and by Harrisburg it was coming down heavier. Sterling checked the time and called Connor once again, but he still didn’t get an answer. The driver continued through to the Carlisle exchange, where finally the snow let up. Sterling tried Connor once more, his worry increasing as they made the turn toward town.
“Where is he?” Sterling asked as he checked the time for the fourth time in five minutes. “Just take me to the house.” He waited until the car stopped and got out, and the driver retrieved his luggage. There were lights on inside, and he hurried in to find Aunt Lucille, his father, and Connor all in the living room.
“We were waiting for you,” his dad said. “Why didn’t you call?”
Connor wore his best kilt, looking stunning with his sash, brooch, and all the accessories.
“I did. But you didn’t answer.”
“Oh crap. The phone is upstairs.” Connor raced to get it, and Sterling met him at the bottom of the stairs, where Connor stepped right into his arms. “We need to go.”
“Everyone in the limousine,” Sterling said without letting Connor go.
His dad patted his shoulder on the way past. “Don’t take too long, son.” He and Connor’s great-aunt left the house, leaving them alone.
“I was starting to think you weren’t going to make it, with the snow and everything.” Connor rested his head on his shoulder, holding tightly like he could hardly believe Sterling was here.
“Of course I would. It just took me begging the captain to get him to fly faster, coaxing all the passengers to flap their arms through the entire flight, and finding a limo driver who used to race for NASCAR, but I’m here, and I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”
Connor drew him into a kiss, and Sterling wrapped his arms around Connor’s neck, tasting the man he’d been away from for two weeks and was so glad to have come home to. “I brought you something, sweetheart.” He backed away and slowly went down on one knee, handing Connor the small box that had been in his pocket for almost twelve hours. Endrea had designed the engagement and wedding rings for them, and a friend of hers in Paris had made her design into reality. “Connor, my Mr. April, will you marry me?” He showed Connor the ring, which was white gold with a vine motif in an endless circle on the entire band.
Connor nodded. “Yes,” he barely choked out, and Sterling slipped the ring on his finger.
Sterling stood and kissed Connor once again, then held his hand as they headed toward the door. “Let’s go get you inaugurated as mayor, and when we get home, we can go to the bedroom and see about your first official… act.”