Epilogue
Brody
“You’ve got that goofy grin on your face again.” Donovan grinned. “It’s because I didn’t just work you into the ground.”
Lindy, an Indian actress with a wicked sense of humor, gave our stunt coordinator the bird. As she leaned over, with her hands braced on her thighs, drawing in great lungsful of air, she might’ve let a couple of swear words rip.
Cole was on mat leave, so Vigilante Justice was on hiatus. That meant we’d pivoted to shooting a short action film. Lindy wasn’t the lead, but she had a pivotal role.
I’d just laid the tracks for the camera that would catch the action.
Having finished that, I was enjoying watching Donovan work.
The man, with his shaved head, looked more like a bouncer.
His ability to work his actors hard gave him the reputation as one of the best in the business.
His actors rarely got hurt. Certainly, if they followed his detailed instructions, they were likely to be just fine.
Lindy pushed herself to an upright position. “Brody, don’t you have some little domestic scene to go home to?” Said without any malice—just a pile of teasing.
Jenn had moved to Toronto, taking the awesome promotion.
Robbie had sublet his apartment and moved in with me. He adored Minnie as much as I did, so we were good.
I checked my watch. “Yes, I do. Robbie’s making chicken cacciatore, and I can’t wait.
” My partner was taking cooking classes, and I was the beneficiary of his schooling.
I loved that he balanced lessons with taking care of Minnie and his job.
I was there, of course, but we’d had more than a few long days recently.
He’d told me he’d never been happier. That he’d found purpose and meaning. I might not have completely understood, but I respected that and believed him when he said he’d found peace. We shared grief over losing Stefan…and then we’d made a life for ourselves.
I waved goodbye to Donovan and Lindy and booted out of the studio.
No more hanging around after work. I had someone to go home to.
And a pooch who adored me. As I headed over the Lion’s Gate Bridge, with daylight waning, I couldn’t help remember when I’d done this drive on the thirty-first of December. Nearly six months ago.
Tonight was the summer solstice—the longest night of the year. Tomorrow was Saturday. Robbie wasn’t working and I had a rare day off as well. We planned to stay up tonight, hang out on the balcony, and gaze over the North Shore lights.
He'd stayed the first time, long enough to see my view of said North Shore Mountains. A stunning view and one I was lucky to nab. The reason I didn’t really care if my neighbors ever saw me naked. For the record, Robbie and I determined no one had a view with the correct angle—so we were good.
I rode the elevator up from the garage with a sense of elation. Nearly six months. We never fought. Hard to find something to disagree about when our values and views were so aligned.
We talked about having kids. I could sell this place and we could move to a townhouse or even a small house in the suburbs.
Robbie would likely leave his job as the commute would be pretty brutal and dental receptionists were needed just about everywhere.
My commute would also be pretty brutal. Truth was, if we worked our timing and finances right, Robbie would be able to stay home.
Maybe take a remote billing job in his spare time.
Yeah, right, like he wouldn’t be busy enough with the kid. Or kids.
We’d keep talking. The choice had to be his. I worked in intense bursts and was paid very well to do it. If that enabled us to fulfil our dream, then things would work out. Plenty of kids needing loving homes.
I unlocked the door to the most heavenly smell.
“Oh, you made good time.” He met me at the door for a smooch.
“I think Donovan worked Lindy nearly to death. I’ve got everything set up for tomorrow.
He grasped my cheeks and again drew me in for a kiss. “I love you. Now, food. It’s ready.”
We’d started saying we loved each other almost as soon as he’d moved in.
Because we did. My parents were over-the-moon happy for us and might’ve dropped a hint about becoming grandparents eventually.
They lived out in Port Coquitlam—another reason to move to the suburbs.
And since Robbie loved them—he said they were the best parents ever and really meant it—we’d have backup.
And I could be there when they got older.
“I love you too.” I toed off my shoes and let him lead me into the dining room where he’d set everything.
I’d worried about him feeling like we were in stereotyped roles, but he assured me constantly he loved this.
He took care of me while I was working and I did my share of cleaning and cooking when I wasn’t.
Minnie greeted me with a huge grin on her face.
I bent down to kiss her nose.
She slobbered on my cheek.
“Do you think we can go for a walk on the seawall tonight?”
Robbie placed two plates on the table. “I was counting on it. Wear her out.” He grinned. “Then I plan to wear you out tonight.”
“Yeah…that works…” I grabbed him by the waist so we could have one more kiss before we ate that heavenly smelling meal. After the kiss, we sat. “Are you really happy?”
He cocked his head. “Uh, I think I say that pretty much every day. You doubt me?”
“No.” Reassure him. “I just…you’d tell me if something was missing, right? Or we were headed in the wrong direction.”
He grasped my hand. “We always said we’d be completely honest.”
Now’s the moment. That realization hit quickly and quietly. But with surety.
I slid off the chair and onto one knee.
Robbie stared. “Brody—”
“Just…let me say it.”
He blinked several times.
“I knew. From the moment you bumped into me and I thought you were drunk…I knew. Which makes zero sense. And then I saw you at the bar, and I thought…this is fate. This was meant to be.”
He gave a watery laugh. “You didn’t think I was stalking you?”
“Hallstein did come around.”
“Eventually.”
“You becoming friends with Myles helped. A lot.”
“He’s a great guy. So’s Horatio, even though he’s much older.”
I was thrilled Robbie fit in so seamlessly with my life. And he continued to charm Julie—which was just a bonus. “I’m getting off track.” I dug into my pocket and produced the two rings. “I had these made. They’re—”
“Unique.”
I slid one onto his finger. “Yeah, I think that’s the right word. Our forger was so excited for the commission.”
“Were they expensive?” His brow knit.
Worth every penny. “She gave me a massive discount. I might’ve argued. She might’ve threatened not to make them. I might’ve slipped her a gift card to her favorite coffee place so she’ll be drinking free Americanos for some time to come.”
Robbie took my face in his. “Yes, to marrying you. Yes, to being generous to someone who was so kind. Oh.” He shifted so he could yank his camera out of his back pocket.
He put it on the table, secured the second ring to my finger, then placed our hands together so he could snap a photo. “For posterity.”
Like I’d forget. “So we can show our kids.”
He blinked again. “Yeah. If we have a boy, we might have to call him Stefan.”
“Or Stephanie. If she’s a girl.” Just something to honor the brother I’d lost too soon.
The man who’d brought us together.
Perhaps not as he’d intended, but in a way that would’ve made him glad.
I knew, wherever my brother was, that he was having the last laugh.