Extended Epilogue
PART TWO
Jacob
One year later - July
“Do you need help with anything?” Alex asks.
“No, I think we’re all good.” I pick up the numbered candles, carefully placing the four and zero on top of the cake we finished decorating this morning.
“It looks beautiful, Jake.” My brother is beaming as he wraps his arm around my shoulders and gives me a squeeze.
I thank him, leaning into his embrace, and glance out of the window that overlooks the backyard of our British home.
It still feels a little surreal that this is my home too. The same home where I fell in love with the most wonderful man. Only this time, it’s filled with our closest friends—our chosen family—for the first time to celebrate Ethan’s fortieth birthday.
It’s hard to believe two years have gone by since Ethan and I were first here, but it also feels like everything is new because this time we’re here as a married couple.
Yep! Ethan proposed on Christmas morning. We both decided we didn’t want anything elaborate, so a few days later, on New Year’s Eve, we got married at City Hall. Ethan’s mom, and Alex and Blaine were our only guests, along with their dog Ernie, who came dressed in a bow tie.
After that, we all went to the Kendrick’s, who threw a big New Year’s Eve slash wedding party at their Lakeview home with all our friends.
It was perfect for us.
After Ethan hung up his skates and retired last year, he hit the ground running, launching his foundation to help underprivileged kids.
Seeing him come into his own made me so proud.
Not that his hockey-playing days didn’t, but knowing how much it means to him that he’s able to help a child in need—a child like he once was—is something else entirely.
And seeing the joy on his face when he receives an email from a thankful parent, knowing it means the world to him, is all I could ever ask for.
Now the backyard is buzzing with activity.
Elliot is playing monsters with the kids. Jackson’s daughter, Isabela, although a bit older, still hangs on to his leg like a spider monkey as the dogs chase them, making them giggle and squeal.
When I suggested inviting everyone to England to celebrate his birthday, Ethan was nervous they wouldn’t want to come. Because while the carefully constructed walls have come down, Ethan still worries he hasn’t done enough.
Sometimes it takes time to change deep-seated habits, but seeing him now, all bright-eyed and smiling widely, laughing with his closest friends, makes my heart swell. He may not think he’s come that far, but I know he has.
He might love quietly, but he loves fiercely.
But he wasn't the only one who had to get used to change.
The bakery is now one of the most successful bakeries in Chicago.
Alex has taken a back seat, working more behind the scenes, and I started giving myself a break.
Daniel is now the bakery manager, and Aria is with us full-time now they’ve finished college.
They’ve taken over the commission orders, and we’ve added a few more members to the team.
Plus, when we started planning this trip, we decided to close the bakery for two weeks so Daniel and Aria could join us.
It’s been a big learning curve for me. I’m learning to put myself first and that it’s okay to have sad days, and with Ethan by my side, it’s been easier.
Alex twists the white gold band around his left ring finger. It’s still crazy to me that him and Blaine have been married for nearly a year now.
I hear him sniff, then let out a shaky breath.
“It’s wild, isn’t it? Not too long ago, it was just the two of us. We were barely keeping our heads above water, and now look at us. We’ve got this incredible family that keeps growing—hopefully more soon.”
For the last nine months, Ethan and I have been going through the process of surrogacy.
We met Willow, who has become one of our closest friends, but we haven’t succeeded yet.
She keeps telling us not to give up, but I see Ethan becoming more and more withdrawn with each negative test. I wish there was something I could do, but sometimes you’ve just got to leave things for the universe to figure out.
I take a deep breath.
“Maybe. Hopefully.” I nod, not wanting to get my hopes up.
Maria Kendrick steps into the kitchen with Paisley on her hip, her other hand resting her growing baby bump.
Since meeting her at Blaine and Elliot’s birthday party two years ago, Maria has become one of my best friends.
She found out she was pregnant with Paisley shortly after we met, and seeing her blossom as a mom has been special.
“Ready for the cake?” She grins.
“Cake!” Paisley giggles, reaching out with grabby hands.
“I think so!” I grin.
Alex lights the candles, then I carefully pick up the cake from the counter and carry it outside.
Jennifer is the first one to spot me and begins to sing “Happy Birthday”. Everyone joins in, and when my eyes land on Ethan, he’s hiding his smile behind his hand. Those dimples I love so much pop in his cheeks more often now.
Placing the cake down on the table in front of him, I take the empty seat next to him.
“Make a wish!” Blaine hollers when the song comes to an end.
Ethan closes his eyes for a moment, then blows out the candles. We cheer and clap. Whistles pierce the air before the celebration is interrupted by Ethan’s phone ringing. He casts me a concerned look as he slips it out of his pocket .
Frowning at the screen, he angles it toward me. Willow’s name flashes on the caller ID.
“Answer it,” I say, trying not to let my panic show.
Ethan swipes his finger across the screen to answer, and everyone goes quiet.
“Hello? Willow? Is everything okay?”
I rub soothing circles on his back as he listens, the crease between his brows deepening, and then I see it. Relief washes over him, and tears begin to pool in his gorgeous brown eyes.
“Really?” he croaks. “It worked? Are you sure?” He looks at me with another dimple-worthy smile on his face, and my heart swells in my chest.
I cover my mouth with my hand, my own tears falling down my cheeks.
“I’m here with him now; I’ll tell him the good news. Thank you, Willow. Thank you so much.” He ends the call and pulls me onto his lap. His hands cradle my face. “It worked. The test is positive. She’s just had a scan to confirm and it shows a healthy heartbeat.”
A choked sob escapes me. I wrap my arms tightly around his neck as he holds me close, hiding his face in my shoulder.
I’m aware our friends erupt in celebration around us, but all I see is Ethan.
All I see is the man I love with every fiber of my being.
I kiss him, wiping his tears away from under his eyes with my thumb.
“This is what I wished for,” he whispers.
“For it to work? ”
He nods. “When I blew out my candles, I wished for it to work this time.”
I steal a kiss from my man before our friends surround us. Getting up from his lap, I accept every embrace. Maria cries happy tears, along with Jennifer. Alex engulfs me in a tight hug, and when Blaine wraps his arms around me, he says, “I think the baby should be named after me.”
“Why?” I laugh.
“Because if it wasn’t for me interfering, you two would still be pining for each other from afar.”
I snort, but he’s right. If it weren’t for Blaine subtly—well, not so subtly—pushing us together, and planting the fake relationship idea in Ethan’s head, we might not be here.
Ethan pulls me into his lap again, peppering kisses against my temple.
“I’m going to be an uncle!” Elliot punches the air, and I laugh as his partner shakes his head with an adoring smile.
“Don’t think it works like that, baby,” he says, patting Elliot’s shoulder.
But I don’t care about the technicalities. Every person around this table is family. This is the family we found—the one we chose.
I press a kiss to Ethan’s forehead and glance over his shoulder.
There’s two robins sitting together on a branch, almost like they’re watching it all unfold.
One tilts its head, looking right at me, and I know—my parents and grandparents may no longer be with us in person, but they’re still with me.
With us.
Supporting us and loving us through every moment.
I trace the outline of the two orange-breasted robins Ethan got tattooed on him two years ago, just before the season started. I will never stop missing them, but I learned that a grieving heart can love and grow, and mine has never felt fuller than it is now.
Surrounded by the people who love me, with a man who would do anything for me, knowing I would do the same for him, and a tiny version of us on the way.
It feels perfect.
“So, Ethan, can I call you Daddy now?” Elliot grins.
THE END