Epilogue
FAYE
One Year Later
ANNIVERSARY PERFORMANCE CHECKLIST
Priority Level: PERFECT
Status: BLISSFULLY CHAOTIC
ONE YEAR ASSESSMENT:
Red dress located
Wedding ring polished
Sam properly distracted
Contingency plans updated
Heart: Still racing (acceptable)
NOTABLE IMPROVEMENTS FROM LAST YEAR:
1. Control: Strategically relaxed
2. Lists: Now include heart emojis
3. Sam: Officially permanent
4. Happiness: Off the charts
5. Love: Exponential growth
Note: DATA SUPPORTS ALL FINDINGS
CELEbrATION PROTOCOLS:
A) Kiss husband at midnight
B) Ignore Justice's commentary
C) Remember every moment
D) Make new memories
THINGS THAT HAVEN'T CHANGED:
- Sam's smile still melts me
- Still making lists
- Still planning everything
- Still madly in love
Note: SOME THINGS DON'T NEED CHANGING
New Year’s Resolution:
Nil.
Personal Note: Best impulsive decision ever
The thing about New Year's Eve is that sometimes the best moments come full circle.
"You're not seriously wearing that dress again," Sam said from the doorway of our bedroom, his eyes dark as he took in the red fabric.
"It's tradition." I smoothed down the fabric, fighting a smile as his gaze tracked the movement. "Besides, you like this dress."
"I like you in anything." He crossed to me, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind. "Or nothing."
"We're going to be late."
"We're the main act." His lips found that spot behind my ear that still made my knees weak. "They can't start without us."
"Sam..."
"Five minutes?"
"That line didn't work last time either." But I leaned back into him anyway. "And we were an hour late to the studio."
"Worth it."
A knock at our door saved me from giving in to the look in his eyes.
"If you two are having sex again, I swear to god—" Justice's voice carried through the wood. "We have a show in forty minutes!"
"We're coming!" I called back, laughing as Sam muttered "not yet" against my neck.
"Better not be!"
Sam's hands squeezed my hips once before releasing me. "One of these days I'm changing all the locks."
"No, you won't." I turned to straighten his bow tie. "You love them."
"I love you more."
"That's not in the data." But I kissed him anyway, quick and soft. "Come on. We have a show to do."
The energy in the venue was electric, reminiscent of that night a year ago when everything changed. The crowd seemed to pulse with anticipation as midnight approached.
One minute and thirteen seconds to go.
"Before we start the countdown," Sam's voice carried over the crowd as he stepped up to the mic. "I want to say something."
I paused in my usual spot in the wings, something warm unfurling in my chest as he found me with his eyes.
"A year ago tonight, I married the love of my life." The crowd cheered as the spotlight found me. "She thought it was the tequila." Laughter rippled through the audience. "But I knew. I'd known since high school that she was it for me. I just needed her to catch up to my data set."
"Nerd," Justice coughed into his mic, earning more laughs.
"Says the man who cried at our vow renewal," Sam shot back before turning back to me. "Anyway, my beautiful, organizational wizard of a wife made me promise not to do anything spontaneous tonight."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Sam..."
"But..." His grin was wicked as he gestured to the screen behind the stage. "She never said anything about planned spontaneity."
The screen lit up with a PowerPoint slide:
A Comprehensive Analysis of Why Samuel Dogg Continues to Fall More in Love with Faye Moyo
Year One Performance Review
"Ten seconds!"
Tears burned my eyes as Sam walked to the edge of the stage, holding out his hand just like last year.
"Nine!"
"What do you say, love?" His eyes sparkled. "Want to help me present my findings?"
"Eight!"
"You made a PowerPoint?"
"Seven!"
"With graphs and everything."
"Six!"
"Color-coded?”
"Five!"
"Of course." His smile was soft. "I learned from the best."
"Four!"
I took his hand, letting him pull me into the lights.
"Three!"
"I love you," I whispered as his arm wrapped around my waist.
"Two!"
"I know." His forehead touched mine. "I have the statistical evidence to prove it."
"ONE!"
As fireworks burst overhead and the crowd erupted in cheers, I kissed my husband—planned and perfect and everything I never knew I needed.
Because sometimes the best forms of control...
Are knowing exactly when to let go.
"Happy Anniversary, my brown-eyed girl," Sam murmured against my lips.
And for once, I didn't need a PowerPoint to know exactly where this was going.
Though I had one prepared anyway.
Just in case.
Thank you for reading Faye and Sam’s story!