EPILOGUE
SHE SWAYED HER HEAD in time with the music that poured out of the speakers, their symphony surrounding the theatre.
A proud smile graced her face as the Queen of the Dryads began her variation.
“She’s doing so good!” Beverly leaned over to whisper, awe clear in her voice.
Amber nodded. “She’s magical. And that tiara is so sparkly! I can’t wait to tell her about it.”
“No need. I got it all here,” Emmett whispered beside Bev, the video camera steady in his hand as he recorded his twin’s moment in the spotlight. Their sister, Evangeline and their parents sat on Emmett’s right, expressions of pride on their faces. It had been a pleasure to meet them. They were as warm and kind as Mrs. Rhodes was to Amber.
Noah shifted on the armrest, his hand finding hers in the shadows. She grasped onto his seeking fingers, appreciating the warmth and solidness of him.
“Are you okay?”
She sighed. He could read her so easily.
“It’s weird being on this side of the crowd.”
“Good weird or bad weird?”
“Good,” she answered. “It's relaxing to be in the audience for once, not having to worry about my every move or panic because I almost skipped a position.”
Her heart beat in time with the music, her mind attuned to the variations but a large part of her was glad to be out of the spotlight. To be the spectator and not the spectacle.
Noah hummed, his fingers lifting with hers to land on his cheek. “You don’t regret quitting? You don’t blame me for putting the idea in your head?”
“Not one bit.” Her forehead fell softly on his, finding those dark eyes immediately. “Also, if you ever insinuate that I didn’t make this life-changing decision by myself, I’ll end you.”
His lips curved, but she wasn’t able to see his smile when he leaned in, meeting her lips in a soft kiss that reached down to her toes.
“Noted, m’lady.”
“My baby is all grown up! You were magnificent up there, honey.” Mrs. Davenport cried, a handkerchief pressed beneath her eyes as she hugged her daughter.
“Mom, you’ll make me cry.” Evelyn hugged her mom. Her skin sparkled with glitter dusted on her to emphasize the bejeweled costume and tiara. The black and green costume with gold detailing complimented her olive eyes, her smile a beacon fixed on her face.
“It’s true, sweetie. No one could take their eyes off you. We’re proud of you.” Mr. Davenport joined the hug, bestowing his daughter with a bouquet of lilies, her favorite.
“Aww, Daddy.” Evelyn gushed, blinking away tears.
“Don’t forget your other two children,” Emmett muttered, the camera still up as he recorded the touching moment. “Just saying.”
“Shut up and let them have their moment.” Evangeline rolled her eyes. She was a replica of her siblings, except her hair was a few shades lighter than Evelyn’s brunette.
“Can you not be a brat today?” Evelyn shot at her twin as she rushed Amber into a hug. “Thank you so much. None of this would have been possible without you.”
Amber squeezed her back, grateful for this girl and the love, acceptance and friendship she had gifted her. “I only helped you practice the steps. The confidence and awesomeness came from you.”
Evelyn giggled. She continued down the line of well-wishers, including Beverly, Casey, Willow and a lot of other Redmigton students who had been invited to see the performance. The lobby of the Fleur Elysian Ballet Theatre was full of activity, from dancers receiving praises, still decked out in their costumes, to doting parents and guardians crowding around. Talent scouts stood at the back wall, looking over the crowd.
Amber had invited her mom, but she’d had a scheduled appointment with Miss Theron, the therapist she’d begun seeing at Dottie’s insistence. She’d explained to Amber that she wanted to avoid the world of dance so she wouldn’t stir old feelings of resentment. Her mother was moving forward. Amber wasn’t ready to let go entirely, but she was ready to follow in her mother’s steps. She would start weekly sessions with Miss Theron next week.
She’d returned to her house after the accident. Their relationship healed as her injuries did and Amber couldn’t recall ever being so close to her mother. She smiled more, she opened up to Amber and spent time with her. It was exactly what Amber wanted for years and now that it was coming true, she was almost scared to blink and find out it was some kind of mirage.
Noah’s arm around her shoulder jostled her from her thoughts. His brow lifted, the question clear.
Everything okay?
It was now that he was beside her. Like he’d always been, even when she was blind to it. She nodded, a smile sneaking onto her face.
“Time to take this party home,” Emmett announced as he clicked off the video camera. He smacked his stomach. “You promised me grilled chicken, Mr. Rhodes.”
“Want a refill, mom?” Amber asked as she stood from the deck chairs.
“I’m good, darling.” Her mom tipped her half full glass. She sat next to Mrs. Davenport and Mrs. Rhodes at the picnic table, her usually pale cheeks now stained red with laughter, her eyes no longer ice cold.
A part of Amber jumped in joy every time she saw her mom this way. She wished her dad was here to see it too.
“Don’t worry about me. Have fun, okay?” Her mom pressed a hand to her cheek. Amber smiled, her chest unbelievably warm at her mother’s touch.
“I will,” she promised, patting her hand. Her mom’s attention returned to the other women as Amber slipped away, basking in the sight of her mom interacting with them. A smile was quick to grace her face, her head nodding along to the conversation. It was like a burden had been lifted from hermom. She’d been in living in grief, she had been broken but she was slowly returning to the mom Amber remembered when her father was alive.
She stepped into the Rhodes’ house from the backyard. Deciding against a refill, she washed her cup at the sink, having a clear view of everyone bustling about. The women were lost to their conversation, the men hung around the grill, laughing loudly. Now changed out of her costume, Evelyn sat with her siblings, Noah, Beverly, Willow and Casey on a large blanket they had pulled into the grass so they could soak up the last of the spring sun.
As May flew by, she and Noah had recovered from their injuries, she’d taken the family trip with the Rhodes to Hudson Valley and met with her agent, a lovely woman in her mid-fifties who gushed about Amber’s book and how excited she was to be aiding her on the journey. They’d graduated a week ago. Noah had been Redmington Academy’s valedictorian and Principal Ellis had congratulated him for his excellence and expertise as the school’s best student body president.
June was coming in, and with it a new season and era. Speaking of a new era, Amber wiped her wet hands on a dish towel and climbed the stairs to Noah’s room. She’d plugged her phone earlier in an attempt to keep her mind off it, but it had proved impossible. With a sigh, Amber unlocked her phone, swiping to her emails. With a deep breath, she prepared to open the app when the phone was yanked out of her hand.
She whirled to face the culprit, her glare ready.
“I’m not gonna let you get yourself worked up. It isn’t time yet.”
Her glare didn’t die down. “We don’t know that. They could have decided to send it before time.”
“Nope. Not a chance.” He raised her phone above his head. “Beth said they would send it at 2pm. There’s ten minutes left. You should listen to your agent.”
“It’s an email, Noah. It sends at the click of a button. Ten minutes is probably a million years to it.”
His lips quirked but he held back his smile. It was hard to keep hers off her face. He attempted to look stern, pointing a finger at her.
“Behave.”
She rolled her eyes, ignoring the admonition and jumped at him. She grabbed his arm, pulling herself up to reach the phone.
“No, you’re not getting it.”
“I just want to check.”
“It’s not ten minutes yet.”
“Only a little peak–”
Her words cut off as Noah stumbled, his legs hitting the bed frame as he fell back onto the bed, taking Amber down with the arm he’d wrapped around her waist. He landed with an ‘oomph’ as she collapsed on his chest, his arm above his head. When she looked up though, he had a mischievous grin.
“M’lady, if you wanted me, all you had to do was ask. I already belong to you.”
Amber scoffed even as her face flared bright red. The joking moment slid into a warm one as his hand grasped her cheek. His eyes met hers, that flash of gold she looked out for streaking across his dark irises.
“You’ve been nervous about this.” It wasn’t a question.
She blew out a soft breath, emotion rising in her throat. But with Noah, she wasn’t scared to face them.
“What if they don’t accept the manuscript? What if they hate it? It’s a publishing house. They’ve probably seen a dozen others like it.”
His gaze was warm and understanding. “They won’t hate it.”
“You sound so sure.”
“I am. You poured your soul into that story. Amber. Anyone who reads it will feel the emotions captured on the page. They’ll be as enchanted as I am.”
“And where will you be?” She reached for his cheek, swiping back and forth to trace those freckles she was obsessed with.
“Where I’ve always been. Right by your side,” he said softly.
Her grin was so wide, she was sure she looked like a loon. “I guess I’m stuck with you.”
“I guess you are. It’s time.”
His gaze drifted to the digital clock on the bedside table that read exactly two o’ clock. A sudden wave of nerves flooded her. They sat up, arranging themselves on the bed. She leaned into Noah as she opened up her emails and gave it a second to load. A new notification appeared instantly and she shook out her damp palms. She clicked on it and read out.
“Good afternoon, Miss Coleman. After a review of your manuscript submitted to us via your agent, Miss Beth Weathers, we are pleased to inform you–”
Noah jumped off the bed, a loud whoop leaving him. He had the widest smile she’d seen on him as he yelled in joy. “You did it! You did it!”
Amber blinked, disbelief settling in her bones. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her heart about to beat out of her chest. She had been accepted.
“I did?”
“I knew you could do it! You’re gonna be an author, Amber!”
A gasp left her, her brain kick starting as Noah spelt it out for her. A tingle started in her fingertips, her cheeks hurting from the wide smile that graced her face.
“I did it.” The affirmation followed a shriek of excitement. “I’m gonna be an author!” she exclaimed, joining in the celebration. Shock washed away, leaving an abundance of joy and tears. Noah whooped again, sweeping her off her feet and into his arms. She held on to his neck, laughter escaping her freely. Her hair formed a curtain around them as he pulled back and kissed her, skyrocketing her pulse.
The boy she loved was kissing her.
And she would never tire of it.
“I’m so proud of you, m’lady. I hope you know that,” he whispered.
“I know,” she nodded, her forehead falling against his as she savored the moment with Noah, storing it into the deepest part of her. Her eyes flew open when she realized their families were right outside, also waiting on the news.
“We need to tell everyone,” she gasped.
Noah lowered her and they rushed downstairs to the yard. Throwing open the door, Amber stepped out first, her phone high in the air like she was waving a victory flag.
“I’m going to be a published author!”
The yard exploded with shrieks and cheers as they raced toward her and Noah on the deck. She was passed from one person to another, each one congratulating her, telling her how happy they were for her. The tears she’d struggled to hold back now cascaded down her cheeks. Her mom was in a similar state. She held on tight to Amber’s shoulders, pressing a soft kiss onto her daughter’s forehead.
“I’m so proud of you, Amber. I haven’t been the best mom, but I’m proud of the woman you’ve become despite everything I did. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I promise I’ll be there for every milestone and every celebration. I promise to be better for you and to make it up to you.”
Amber embraced her mom. For years, there hadn’t been any warm hugs or gentle kisses. No one was perfect. She didn’t expect her mom to become whole overnight. But she was here with her and making an effort to do all she’d promised. For Amber, that was enough. And she told her mom that.
“I love you, Mom,” she added.
“What did I do to deserve you?” Her mom cried. “I love you, Amber. You are the greatest treasure I could have ever wished for.”
Finally, she landed back in Noah’s arms. His grin hadn’t dimmed a single bit, his eyes wide and bright as he stared at her like she was the most precious thing to him. “This is only the beginning. You ready for the ups and down?”
“Bring it on. I’m ready for this new chapter.”
“Then let’s turn the page, m’lady.”