Epilogue
Othelia
Four Years Later
“Stop stressing, he will be here,” Rian yells over the noise of the excited crowd. “When have you ever known Rook to not be exactly where he says he will be, especially when it comes to you?”
Of course he’s right. Rook has never once not shown up when he promises he will be somewhere.
My stomach still twists in knots as I look over at our son, Jasper, who is currently trying to reach out and grab one of Eleanor’s curls as she plays with Layla.
Rian notices and pulls Jasper away, his face flushing as Eleanor smiles when she looks over her shoulder at him. The two briefly hold eye contact, but when Rian is the first to look away, Eleanor’s face falls for a second before she puts on a smile for an expectant Layla.
Over the last four years, Ellie has become more and more like family. Layla’s deep attachment to Ellie made the transition to kindergarten incredibly challenging. She adamantly insists on having Ellie by her side in class.
Rian distances himself from the group, showing Jasper the amps and guitars, and I know something’s up between these two, but I don’t have the time to think more about it as the crowd chants.
Tonight marks the kick off of Hopeless Mercy’s first tour in five years. We took time off to work on ourselves and our families. Both Lennon and myself welcoming baby boys to the world.
Max, the most curious four-year-old, now sits between Charlie, Ellie and Brina as Layla attempts to show them all her dance moves.
Finding out I was pregnant had been a surprise. We hadn’t planned on starting a family yet. Rook had been busy with his trade to Seattle. After two Stanley Cup wins for Chicago, the opportunity finally came in a request from Seattle’s GM. Knowing Rook’s ties to the community, they jumped to have the two-time champ added to their roster.
I was knee-deep back in Chicago in our home studio working on our seventh studio album, but when those two little lines showed, Rook couldn’t contain his excitement, calling every single person we knew and letting them know.
We permanently moved into Rook’s Seattle house a month later and welcomed Brina home to live in the downstairs flat, like Rook had always dreamed. With the help of some private nurses, we’ve been able to give her round-the-clock care. She loves spending time with Jasper, cooking and singing with him, just like she did with Rook.
Now, nearly a year on, it’s time for me to head back out on tour and we decided Seattle would be the location to kick it off.
“It’s showtime, Til.” Jericho runs his hand down my arm as the band stands with their instruments, waiting for my go. It’s been a rough twelve months for Jer. After spending three months in rehab, we are all on high alert for any of the signs we missed last year. Today he looks good though, nervous but clear headed.
With a sigh and one last look towards the stage exit, I nod. We can’t keep the crowd waiting any longer.
Our entry starts, the crowd hushing as strobe lights beamed across the stage. The rumble of Jericho’s guitar sends a buzz through the crowd as Trace brings in our opening beat. Lennon steps into the spotlight and the band goes silent as Lennon plays his opening bass solo before Jericho and Trace crash back in on their marks.
The stage lights up with the fire shooting from the side cannons, an extra treat for the outdoor arena. The crowd gives just as much as we do, pouring our everything into our performance. Wanting the crowd to walk away with memories of this night they will never forget.
As we reach the middle of our show, I had organized for a piano to lift through the floor to center stage. Jericho grabs his acoustic guitar and sits on a stool to my right as I take my place at the piano, looking out into the crowd.
“Thank you all for being here tonight. I know we’ve been gone for a while, but I hope you’re all loving our new music as much as we do.”
Shouts of “we love you, Jericho!” ring out from a few girls on the rail and Jericho tips his lips up in his signature grin, flipping his hair back, making them swoon.
I chuckle at his ridiculousness, the last year has been rough for him, but I feel like we are on the road to getting our Jericho back.
“If you don’t mind, we’re going to take it down for a few songs.” Cheers fill the stadium, and I nod to Jericho as together we begin an acoustic rendition of Sloane’s song, “Missing Piece.”
Lighters and phones glow throughout the stadium as the crowd sings the lyrics with me. Somehow, the impact of the words hit twice as hard in the arena filled with twenty thousand people, every single one feeling the words just as powerfully. How even after all these years, I still long to see my best friend.
The last bars echo out across the crowd. I look back at my family waiting in the wings: Rian clutching onto Jasper, like my one-year-old, is providing him with the lifeline he so desperately needs to cling to.
My heart sinks, scanning my friends and family gathered to support us, but my most important part is still missing.
I inhale deeply, needing to continue on with the set. I’m sure there’s a reason he hasn’t made it by this point in the show.
A sign against the railing catches my attention.
I’m in love with a Rockstar.
Looking up at the face of the person holding the sign, I just about break at the sight of Rook casually leaning against the barrier, a grin plastered on his face.
As if sensing something catching my attention, murmurs ring out through the crowd and fans start noticing Rook at the front of the mosh pit. The band steps up behind me, playing a slow melodic tune that sends butterflies flapping through my body.
Raising the sign high above his head, adjusting his fingers, Rook lets the first sign drop to the floor in front of security, a second sign appearing in its place. Inhaling a shaky breath, clasping my hands in front of my mouth as I read the next message.
Five years ago, you stood in front of
a different crowd and chose me.
When I nod, he gives me a wink as he drops the sign revealing a final one, decorated with glitter glue and sparkles.
Today I stand in this crowd and
ask you to choose me again,
forever?
As I absorb the words, tears stream, and I cover my face with my hands.
Rook leaps over the barrier and runs to the edge of the stage, pushing himself up and making his way to me at the piano.
“Rockstar,” he whispers as he crouches in front of me, pushing back the hair that’s plastered to my face with a mixture of my sweat and tears. He takes my hands away from my face as he places kisses on each of my palms.
“Baby, you have been my everything for so long now. Please put me out of my misery and finally be my wife.” I sob harder as he drops to one knee.
Rook asked me to marry him every single day after I told him I was pregnant, and I had promised him one day. Part of me worried he was only asking because I was pregnant with his child.
Now, as he kneels in front of me, tears brimming his eyes making them sparkle in the reflection of the stage lights, there is no doubt in my mind that this man loves me .
As he opens the navy velvet box, my stomach sinks and I gasp. He pulls out the vintage ornate diamond ring and slips it onto my finger, while I nod in disbelief, unable to fully comprehend everything that’s unfolding.
His smile widens as he stands, pulling me with him, and he crushes our lips together.
Cheers break out from all around us, as our friends and family cheer us on, the crowd joining in on our celebration. As he hugs me, I look up into the night sky, at the stars twinkling down around us as I whisper my love to my missing friend. Hoping that she is looking down on me tonight and celebrating too.
He wipes away my tears as I look into his eyes.
“I choose you,” I say, his face reflecting the love that I hope shines in mine.
“Always.”