Epilogue
BOBBY
Eight months later . . .
“Is everyone the fuck ready?” We’re at José’s place with the crew, their significant others, and families.
Babies are crying, dogs are barking, and the single guys are avoiding both. They don’t want fur or baby snot on their suits.
“I’m ready.” Ever walks over with two big mutts. They’re a mix of goodness and overprotectiveness. She hands me Samson’s leash. He whines, preferring Ever over me. Lily, or Lily Bug, sticks her nose in the air. Laughing at her proverbial middle finger to Samson, I scratch him behind the ears.
I don’t mind that they prefer their momma over me. I feel better knowing they will die for Ever should I not get there in time to save her.
Most of my time had been spent in Alexandria, overseeing the revitalization of East Alexandria. Thank fuck I have the support of Ever’s side of the family, the McCabes, and my side, the Lexingtons and the Blisses.
Their names strung in one sentence alone cleared the area of hardened criminals and the lowlifes who had preyed on the weak and took advantage of the emptiness of the Eastside to do whatever the fuck they wanted and could get away with. No more.
We cleaned up that part of the city, built shops, houses, schools, libraries, and parks, made the city walkable, and installed security cameras monitored by a company that Zach started.
My family and Ever’s were there when we did the ribbon cutting. Maddox and Blaise were there too. To say I was surprised by their nuptials was an understatement.
Holding my wife’s hand and Samson’s leash with the other, we pile into our SUV and drive to another ribbon-cutting, the most important one.
The drive is short. The line of cars behind us is long. The large crowd is more than I expected, but I shouldn’t be surprised.
Carlos was loved and respected by so many in his twenty-nine years on this earth. I park in the reserved parking, right up front.
“Wait,” I instruct Ever.
I get out of the car, run around, and take her hand before I grab the dogs’ leashes and hand them over to a waiting Slate. The dogs run up to him with their tails wagging. I shake my head. Traitors.
“Ready, sweetness?”
“Yes.”
We walk up to the podium. The guys and their families move forward.
The crowd parts for them. I see my father, Gwen, and the rest of the family, including Genevieve, in the crowd.
I wave. They wave back. After this, we’ll have a sit-down meal with everyone who can make it and fit inside the three large tents set up on the backside of the community center. Food tastes better when it’s shared.
I tap my finger on the mic. Static. It’s on. The crowd goes quiet.
Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I thank the crowd for their presence.
“Carlos was taken from us too soon. He was a light in the darkness. A friend to everyone privileged enough to come across him, whether for a few minutes or a lifetime of years.”
My voice is hoarse. Tears burn the backs of my eyes. I can’t do it. I’m going to embarrass myself and bawl.
Ever squeezes my hand. “I love you, Bobby Bliss,” she says in a low voice, for my ears only. “Honor Carlos. You’re honoring his memory by living and doing good.”
She’s right. I have to go on, for Carlos.
“I want to believe that invisible strings connect us all.” I sweep my gaze over the crowd, then direct my eyes on Ever.
I don’t look away when I say my next words.
“Through these invisible strings, Carlos brought us together. We’re here today to throw Carlos’s strings into the air, have them soar, and let his influence and passion for bringing people together spread and inspire others to do good by one another and for one another.
Everyone, please join me as we open the doors to the International District’s Carlos Sanchez Community Center, where all are welcome. ”
The tears flow, and I can’t see jack shit when José hands me a pair of scissors. Ever takes the scissors and my hand. She reaches for José, gesturing for him to stand next to me.
My girl, my woman, she steps up to the mic, and with one word, she robs me of breath and steals my heart forever.
“Together.”
José and I lean into the mic and repeat Ever’s word.
Such an important word.
One I never thought I’d hear in my lifetime of rejection and self-doubt.
The crowd chants, “Together. Together. Together.”
I take José’s hand in mine and Ever’s in the other. We raise our arms in the air and shout, “Together.”
Happy. At peace. I turn, and wrapping her in my arms and lifting her feet off the ground, I kiss her until she melts against my body.
“I love you, Mrs. Bliss.”
“And I love you, Bobby, my husband, my dominant lover, my best friend.” She skims her finger over my scarred brow. “I love you so much.”
Smiling, I murmur on her kissable mouth, “Oorah.”