Epilogue
EPILOGUE
JAKE
One Year Later
If anyone saw me at that moment, I’d never hear the end of it.
I skulked behind the irrepressible little girl, who I thought of as a daughter,
quickly scanning the yard just to make sure nobody could see me as I adjusted the man-sized
pink tutu over my sweats.
Who the fuck knew they made these things man-sized anyhow?
“Do you remember all your steps?” Grace asked, fixing me with a stare.
“Uh-huh,” I replied, still fidgeting with my get-up. I’d drawn the line at a leotard, but
the tutu, according to Grace, was essential apparel for any budding dancer. I’d seriously handed over my man card for this.
“Oh!” she exclaimed. I forgot the music. I’ll be right back.” Tink headed back to the house, but as she rounded the porch, Katie greeted her at the door, my old compact stereo in hand.
“Looks like you forgot something,” she teased. “While the pie is in the oven, I think I’ll settle down and watch your dance show.” As Katie moved toward the porch steps leading to the yard, I hurried to her side to help her.
She shrugged off my hold before taking my hand. “I’m pregnant, Jake, not an invalid.”
I grinned, memories of a year ago filling my mind.
I still couldn’t believe how close I came to losing my girls. Looking back, I realized that I hadn’t dealt with the grief of my parents dying. I wasn’t over it, but my therapist taught me that we couldn’t change the past; we could only control our future. Luckily, my future was going to be filled with weddings and babies.
Tink grabbed my hand, pulling me to the grass representing our dance floor. “Come on, Jake. We need to hurry. We’ve got guests coming later.”
I started leaping and twirling with Tink. “What do you mean, we’ve got guests?” As the words left my mouth, a deep bark of laughter sounded behind me.
“Nice moves, Jake,” Tommy yelled. “Smile.”
I whipped around to see my friend and Ellie pointing and laughing at me. Tommy held his cell phone up and snapped a picture.
“Sorry,” Katie called over. “I forgot to tell you that Tommy and Ellie are coming for dinner.”
I froze, stomach sinking as my so-called buddy bent double with laughter, holding onto Ellie, who had tears streaming down her cheeks.
I scraped a hand down my face.
I’d never live this down.
Fuck my life!
The End