27. Epilogue
Epilogue
April
Elise
Y oung Jae guides me, gravel crunching beneath my feet. The blindfold covering my eyes is disconcerting, but I know that he will not let me fall. Baby girl is due in two weeks and he has been planning this special afternoon for days.
He’s been attentive my entire pregnancy, but as we get closer, he’s been even more loving and I’ve never felt more cherished.
We stop and he adjusts me until he’s happy before removing the cover from my eyes.
In front of us is the gazebo, looking a lot like that one surprise picnic less than a year ago. Tears fill my eyes, courtesy of pregnancy emotions, and I turn into him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
“This is incredible.” My voice trembles with the emotions of how different my life looks from this time last year.
Happiness is a daily emotion and I never dread going home.
We go into the gazebo and he helps me sit on the cushions spread out.
He grimaces a little. “I didn’t think this part through. Are you okay?”
Adjusting until I’m comfortable, I stroke my belly. “Perfect, but I will need help up.”
His lips twitch. “Of course.”
The food before me is simple, my appetite waning the bigger I get. I feel heavy and full all the time. Young Jae dishes up some fruit for me before opening a container of soup. It’s a lighter version of kimchi jjigae, something I have been craving constantly.
He sets up a little tray so I don’t have to hold everything and sets it before me.
The food is delicious. I barely utter two words until everything he set before me is gone. Glancing up as I set my spoon down, I cover my mouth to stifle a giggle when he looks at me with his brows raised.
“Did you breathe?”
“Of course. It’s your fault for making such delicious food available to me.” Sighing in contentment, I groan a little as my stomach pangs.
“Do you want more?” He looks concerned as I adjust again, but I wave him off. Every day is uncomfortable.
“No. That was perfect.”
He packs all the food away, clearing space before coming to settle in next to me. He’s shifting, adjusting pillows around me with an oddly intense look on his face.
“Everything is perfect.” I take his hands into mine, giving him a soft smile.
He nods but still looks uncomfortable.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were the one who has to push a baby out in two weeks.” Rubbing my belly, I feel around to see if I can find baby girl. She stretches, my stomach moving with her.
Young Jae smiles, his hand joining mine as we feel her move.
He licks his lips, looking a little nervous.
I’m about to ask him what’s wrong when he starts to speak.
“Elise, I can’t believe I get to live a life I never even thought to dream of. Being with you, I’ve never known happiness like this before. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Continuing to build this life together.” Young Jae pulls a dahlia out from the basket behind him, in the center is my mother’s engagement ring.
Gasping, my heart starts to pound as my eyes shoot to meet his.
“Elise, will you marry me?” His tone is pure love. All nervous energy is gone as he gazes at me, waiting for my reply.
“Yes, absolutely one hundred percent yes.” There is no doubt in my mind that he’s the person I will spend my life with.
His smile is radiant as he slips the ring on my finger, the fit perfect. When he asked me for it after Uncle George gave it to me, he said it was to put it into his safety deposit box. I didn’t want to wear it, not feeling right at the time, but the idea of leaving it in the house was also uncomfortable. I never imagined he would propose so soon, but I did tell him I wanted my mother’s ring when we talked about marriage a few months ago.
Young Jae wraps his arms around me, kissing me. My hands twine into his hair, the moment perfect.
He deepens the kiss when I freeze.
“What’s wrong?”
“I think my water just broke.” The pangs I was feeling and thinking were just normal pains make more sense. I thought they felt more frequent but they have been more annoying than painful.
Glancing down, I grin sheepishly. “That or I peed myself from excitement.”
Young Jae barks out a laugh. “Well, let’s go just in case.”
He stands, bending to help me up before making a quick call. “Hey, Cam, can you please come clean up the gazebo? We might be having our baby early.”
The call ends as quickly as it starts. He turns and grabs the hospital bag I missed amongst all the pillows he’s spread out so I would be comfortable.
“You brought the hospital bag?” He never ceases to amaze me.
“Of course. It’s also why we drove here, just in case.” He takes my hand and leads me down the path to the parking lot.
I’m in the car and he’s buckled me in, his calm demeanor helping me stay calm as I feel what I now know is a contraction.
“We better hurry, I don’t think I peed myself,” I grunt out as he starts the car.
His hand reaches for mine, his thumb grazing over the skin as he starts driving.
***
I hold our baby girl in my arms, the love flowing through me like nothing I have ever experienced before. Young Jae sits next to me, half his body hanging off the hospital bed, which can’t be comfortable, but I know he wouldn’t change anything.
“She’s so perfect. And you, you are amazing.” He kisses me before looking back at our sweet girl.
We decided to name her Hana. A popular Korean name that also has an English version.
Young Jae’s mom peeks her head in, the joy on her face radiating as she comes in, followed by the rest of the family.
“Meet Hana.” Young Jae introduces our daughter. He takes her carefully at my nod and hands her to his mom.
She looks up at me, reaching with her free hand. “Thank you for this precious gift.”
They all hover near her, taking turns coming to check on me. Ari has a bouquet of dahlias with one daisy snuck in. “To remind you of how far you’ve come.”
We laugh. A year ago, I was miserable and underappreciated. And now I have a family I could only dream of. They were right under my nose the entire time, but I can’t imagine the timing being any better.
Young Jae comes over as his family fawns over Hana. “I love you more than I can ever describe.” He takes my hand, my mother’s diamond glinting on the ring finger, kissing it.
“I love you too.”
Opening my arms, I welcome our daughter back and feel complete. Staying with Young Jae was the best decision I could’ve ever made.