Epilogue
Cole
Sometimes when you meet you someone, you just know. You know that they’re the one you’re going to spend the rest of your life with. It makes looking at the past hard, because you wonder how you went so long without them.
Delaney and Amaryllis were unexpected, but now I can’t imagine my life without them. My world consisted of school pick-ups, taking Amaryllis to the ranch to ride Pepper, school programs, and tucking her in at night along with all her stuffies. She’s the daughter I never knew I needed or wanted. She may not be mine by blood, but she is mine and I would do anything for her.
Amaryllis yelled for me, “Coley, come on!” She was standing by the fire. I looked up and all our friends were standing there too.
Making my way over to her, I asked, “You ready, sweetheart? Do you remember the plan?” I looked down at her and she was nodding.
Delaney was arriving straight from work. I hated that I didn’t get to see her every day at work anymore, but it was worth it to leave the university for this life with the two of them.
“Does everyone know what they are doing? Amelia, you good?” I checked on Amelia because she wasn’t big on fires. I wanted everyone there, including her, but didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable.
“I’m good, Cole. No worries. It’s different now.” She smiled and that made me feel better.
Amaryllis was jumping up and down. “Finallyyyy!” We looked up and saw Delaney was parking the car.
I ran over to her, opened her door, and helped her out. “Hey you,” I said with a kiss.
“Hey! We have one excited little girl, don’t we? She’s been dying for this dance around the fire.”
I said, “You have no idea. Come on,” and took her hand while we walked back over to everyone. “Amaryllis, you ready?” I asked her. She was jumping up and down. “You’re in charge here, sweetheart.”
“Ok. Um, please everybody, hold hands.” She instructed us. “Now, let’s begin to move around the fire. Stay holding hands, okay?”
Everyone answered in unison that they understood the assignment. Amaryllis looked up at me, so I gave her a wink that made her giggle. We were all moving around the fire as she started her chant. I knew it wasn’t going to be the same as The Secret Garden because we had a plan. I just wasn’t sure exactly how her words would come out. She started by talking. “Magic is all around us. Magic is nature. Magic is this fire. Magic is you two.” She giggled and she was so damn adorable. “Repeat after me, everybody. Magic is all around us.” We all repeated it. “This is my family.” Everyone smiled as they said that part because it was true. We were moving and laughing and smiling as we danced around the fire and then it got quiet.
Amaryllis said, “Shhh…now I’m going to talk. You guys stay quiet but keep moving.” When Amaryllis said that, I knew it was time for the big moment. My nerves were all jumbled together. I’d thought over and over how I was going to ask Delaney to marry me, and this was the absolute perfect way. With our friends. Our family. With Amaryllis chanting about it, and dancing around the fire like she planned. She was so excited when I told her what I wanted to do.
Everything was quiet and we were still slowly moving around the fire when Amaryllis whispered, “Magic is all around us. I’m as happy as can be. I’m begging you tonight, would you be my daddy, please?” I stopped in my tracks and looked down at Amaryllis. She had tears in her eyes and was staring up at me. It wasn’t what we talked about. When I looked back at Delaney she was smiling and had her hands held together up near her face. It seemed they had their own plan, all along.
I kneeled down in front of Amaryllis and grabbed her hands. “What did you say, sweetheart?”
“You’re my Coley. Will you be my daddy?” She reached out and hugged me and whispered, “I love you, Coley. You’re better than my stuffies.” That made me laugh.
I hugged her and pulled her back in for a hug. Laughing I said, “We didn’t talk about this you sneaky little girl. I would love nothing more than to be your dad. Come here.” She hugged me again and everyone cheered. “You ready for our plan now?” I smiled at her.
She nodded so we both turned to face Delaney and I got down on one knee. “We aren’t finished yet. While Delaney and Amaryllis’ plan was absolutely amazing and not to be outdone, Amaryllis and I had a plan of our own.”
Pulling the box that held the ring out of my pocket, I looked up at Delaney. “Laney girl, you had me from the first time we met. Then the carnival. One night turning into so many more. I didn’t see you coming, and I didn’t see this little lady coming either. But you both have cemented yourselves in my heart and been the greatest surprise and blessing that I could’ve ever hoped for. I promise to love you both and protect you both with everything I have until my last breath. Will you marry me?”
Amaryllis was very impatient and blurted out, “It’s rude not to answer him, mommy!” Everyone broke out in laughter.
Finally, Delaney whispered, through tears in her eyes, “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you, Lowell.” That made me laugh louder than anyone. I hopped up and kissed her, hugged her, and swung her away. Then I picked up Amaryllis and hugged the both of them.
“I’m a lucky, lucky man.”
Hudson spoke up and said, “Well, looks like we’re planning two weddings now.” He tossed his arm around Amelia.
Vinny said, “Congratulations! It’s hard work but so worth it, no matter what comes your way.” We knew what he meant. He leaned in and kissed Bianca on the side of her head.
Carter said, “Welcome to the life, Coley, and welcome to the family, Delaney and Amaryllis. You’re stuck with us now.”
Delaney looked at me and said, “There’s no other place in this world that I’d rather be stuck. I love you, Cole.”
“Love you, Laney girl.”
Some of the best times in your life haven’t happened yet. That’s what meeting Delaney showed me. And Amaryllis, well, she’s showed us all that there is magic in the everyday, all around us, and no matter how old we get, we can all still dance around the fire and sing chants together like we’re kids.
The End