Epilogue - Six Months Later
Vera
Today was moving day. In more ways than one. Not only was Ben moving into the dorms in Springwood, but I was moving in with Wyatt.
I had sold my house. The new owners took possession in a month, so I had some time to get the whole place cleaned out. Still, this day was going to be a long one.
It was stressful, but not overwhelming. Not when I had Wyatt and the loyal group of people from Wild Timber Homes who were always willing to lend a hand.
I looked around me at the house where I’d raised my son, where I’d struggled and persevered, where I’d decided to try again when it came to love.
There were so many good memories here, but I was ready to move on.
Wyatt had set up half of his garage as a workspace for me to build the night stands so I was there a lot during the day anyway, and we hadn’t spent a night apart since we told Ben about us.
Wyatt came into the room wearing work boots, jeans, and a white t-shirt that would be dirt-colored by the end of the day. He pulled me into a hug, and I melted against his chest. “Are you ready for this?”
“The hard work, leaving my house behind, or my son going off to college?”
He laughed, “All three, I guess.”
I blew out a breath. “No, yes, and sort of.” The front door opened and my ex, Scott, came through it. He had arranged his schedule so that he could see Ben off to college, too. Wyatt stuck out his hand, and the two men shook.
“Ready to drop our kid off at college?” he asked me.
“Ready or not, today’s the day.”
“Jace, Elias, and Zane are going to help me start moving your stuff to my place while you guys are moving Ben’s stuff. Does that work?”
“I feel bad leaving you to deal with all this.”
He laughed and kissed my temple. “I don’t mind. I know Ben says he’s all grown up, but he’ll want you there, both of you.”
“He’s right,” Scott said. “We never could help him with his math homework; at least we can move some boxes.”
I laughed. “Alright, let’s get this kid’s stuff loaded up.”
Ben, Scott and I each took our own cars, filled with stuff to Springwood. Ben was staying. Scott was headed to work afterwards, and I was headed to Wyatt’s, so we each needed our own vehicles. It was weirdly symbolic of us each going our own way.
Damn it, now I was fighting back tears.
When we pulled up to the dorm building, the parking lot was packed, and there were people everywhere. We managed to find spots and grabbed a cart to move things in.
It was a disorganized disaster, but we got him all moved in.
“Well, I guess that’s it,” Ben said, looking around the cramped space. They were single-occupancy rooms, about eight by ten feet, with a bed, desk, fridge, and a small counter with a hot plate. Four rooms connected together into one common area with a bathroom.
“Proud of you, son,” Scott said, pulling Ben against his chest and hugging him tight. Ben was tall like his dad, but still on the skinny side. He looked very much like a kid next to his barrel-chested dad.
Ben pulled away and came to me, letting me hug him tight. “I’m going to miss you, Ben, you call if you need anything, okay? Anything.” I’d been reminding myself to call him Ben, not Benji, after Wyatt mentioned it.
“I know, Mom, and thanks.”
“You don’t have to thank me; this is what parents are for.”
“I know, but still, thanks.”
We had come to a compromise a week before. Ben would pay for his living expenses, but Scott and I were splitting the cost of his tuition. It was a compromise none of us were happy with, so that is how we knew it was right. Ben wanted to pay all of it, and so did we.
One of the other kids in his dorm arrived, and Ben waved to us so he could go introduce himself.
“We raised a good kid,” Scott said as we walked to the parking lot.
“We did. You off for another long haul trip?”
He sighed. “Yeah,” he sounded tired, and I reminded myself it wasn’t my place to suggest he find a career that let him sleep and see his kid more.
“You off to Wyatt’s place?”
I nodded.
“I like him. I’m happy for you guys.”
“Thanks, you’ll find someone one of these days too, assuming that’s what you want.”
“We’ll see.” He was as resigned to his fate as I had been before I met Wyatt.
I made the drive back to Wildrose Bend, filled my SUV at my old house, then headed to Wyatt house. Our house now.
I pulled into the driveway around dinnertime. It had taken longer than I’d expected to move things at Ben’s dorm, and now my energy for moving things was flagging.
Wyatt bounded down the steps and met me at my car door with a kiss. “How did it go?”
“Good, took a while, but he seems happy.”
He nodded. “Let’s get your SUV unloaded, then get some dinner.”
We did exactly that, and by the time the sun started to dip. We were cuddled together on his couch with boxes and suitcases strewn around the room. “Thanks for doing all the moving today,” I said, head resting on his shoulder, eyes closed as the TV droned quietly in the background.
He kissed my temple. “You don’t have to thank me. Partners, right?”
I nodded, breathing in his scent. “I love you Wyatt.”
“Love you too, Vera.”
I tightened my arms around him.
After my divorce, even though it was civil as far as divorces went, I’d fought for everything. I’d worked, and I’d scraped and saved and compromised and given more than I took.
Finally, I’d found some semblance of peace, and I’d risked it all. I’d gambled on the goofy carpenter with the too-long hair and the sweet smile, and I’d won.
I’d won a peace that was deeper and richer than I ever thought I’d have again.