Epilogue
Rose
The road trip was Murph’s idea.
It only took a couple of days to unpack and organize the house because Sam’s parents and mine stayed in Rios to help, spend quality time with us, and explore downtown. Once they left, we stayed up late to watch a movie, but mostly to talk after Ben went to bed.
“Ben doesn’t start school until the fall, and none of us have taken a proper vacation in years. Let’s go on a road trip this summer,” Murph said. “Why wait until after the baby is born when we can just go now?”
I looked at him and started laughing. He didn’t laugh back. Neither did Win or Joel.
That was a week ago.
Now I’m standing in front of the massive 30-foot white RV that sleeps seven people, parked outside our house. We’ve packed all our stuff, and I’m still struggling to believe we’re actually doing this. "This is insane."
Murph steps up beside me, wraps his arm around my shoulder, and kisses my forehead. “That’s the fifth time you’ve said that this morning, sweetheart. We leave in ten minutes, and you’re running out of time to accept that this is actually happening.”
Joel, Murph, and Sam picked up the rental RV in Cedar Point a few days ago and returned Sam’s rental car because Sam is using my car while I’m away.
Joel and Murph have spent the past couple of days learning how the RV works while we crammed it full of everything we’ll need for the next three weeks.
Planning the road trip was surprisingly easy.
I’d already mapped out all the sights Ben and I intended to hit when we were in Memphis.
But we needed to make a couple of big, exciting changes.
We’re not only going to be spending three weeks in this thing driving across the country, but we’re also stopping by to visit Murph’s family in Wyoming—Ben is insanely excited about getting to ride a horse—then heading to California to hang out with Joel’s parents at their vacation rental in Malibu and spend a few days at the beach.
“It’s actually happening,” I say faintly.
Murph drops a kiss on my lips. “There you go.”
He heads back inside while I give myself another minute to process before I go grab Ben, who I said should make the most of the backyard and run around to his heart's content.
“Where did you leave your car keys, Rose?” Sam asks, sticking his head out the front door.
“Um, dining table. Kitchen.”
“Thanks.” He disappears inside.
Sam’s agreed to watch the house for us. He’s staying in Nico’s niece’s apartment, but he’ll swing by the house every couple of days.
I’m not sure whether his parents will drive his car with a trailer of his stuff and then fly back to New York.
He said he’s still figuring out what he wants to do and, because he doesn’t have a permanent place of his own yet, he doesn’t want to end up with a bunch of his stuff and keep moving it around.
“Everyone ready?” Joel shouts from the house.
“No,” I yell back. “I need to grab—”
“Got it.” Win walks out with my purse.
I smile and take it from him, leaning up for a kiss. “Thanks, Win.”
“Anytime.”
“Then we just need—”
“One adorable five-year-old who has run around the backyard until his legs are about to fall off.” Joel steps outside with Ben. “Are you sure they’re about to fall off?” he asks Ben.
Ben laughs. “Yup.”
Joel shakes his head and picks him up. “You heard the guy. He’s got all that excited energy out of him, and we’re ready to hit the road.”
I open my mouth.
Murph walks out with a cooler. “Got the refrigerator stuff and the first round of snacks.”
I stare at the family-size blue cooler. My dad brought one just like it when we went tailgating at a football game, and we fed at least ten people from it. “First round?”
“Yes,” Win, Joel, and Murph say in unison, eyeing me as if they’re terrified I’ll make them put it back.
I let out a sigh. “I guess that’s what I get for living with so many guys with big appetites. If you eat all the snacks and don’t share, I won’t be happy.”
“We would never do such a thing to the woman we love.” Joel drops a kiss on my lips as he carries Ben into the RV. The rest of them follow, and I twist around for one last look at the house—our home.
Sam watches from the open front door, his hands shoved into his pockets.
“Have fun this summer, Sam.”
He snorts. “With all this work you landed me? Doubtful, sis. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. You have fun this summer. No sadness, no guilt, just happy memories. And don’t forget to send the odd picture my way, okay? If one of those pics isn’t my nephew on a horse, I will revolt.”
I think of all the happiness I found in Rios and how lucky I am to have it. Summer stretches out in front of me, three weeks of endless possibilities, of days spent laughing and making memories with the people I love most in the world. And I smile. “I will definitely have fun.”