Epilogue
Six months later
“SO THIS IS THE PLACE?” Susan asked, settling into a chair with the help of Lila.
Anita smiled at the visitors to the assisted living center. It was currently decked out with holiday decorations, a mixture of Christmas and Hannukah. She and Wyatt sat together at the table, holding hands, waiting for Carly to return with a couple of board games. The room was filled with visiting families, and conversation and laughter buzzed around them.
Sam beamed down at Susan, one hand gripping his walker. “This is the place. There’s an opening if you want to join me.”
Anita’s heart almost melted.
Susan’s blue eyes sparkled. “Don’t tempt me.”
With careful movements, Sam transitioned from the walker and sat in the chair next to Susan. “That’s exactly what I’m hoping to do. Tempt you.”
“Oh, Sam.” She patted his arm, then shook her head. “Let’s take this a day at a time.”
Wyatt nudged Anita, and she smiled. It was definitely amusing to watch the elderly couple across from them flirt.
“What did I miss?” Paula asked, arriving at the table with a festive green bag slung over her shoulder.
Sam looked up as she bent to kiss his cheek. “I’m trying to convince Susan to come to the center,” he said with a wave of his hand. “She’s being stubborn as usual.”
“I’m sure you’ll charm her into it eventually,” Paula said with a wink. “Now, I’ve brought gifts for everyone.” She set the green bag onto the table with a thump.
“For me too?” Carly asked, appearing just then with a stack of board games in her arms.
“Yes, my almost-niece.”
Anita’s gaze snapped to Paula. What had she said?
Paula’s face pinked, and she covered her mouth with one hand. “Oh no. I’m so sorry.” She closed her eyes, dragged in a breath, then opened her eyes again. “Forget I said anything. Rewind. Delete. Erase.”
Wyatt was still holding Anita’s hand, but he’d grown very still. Not moving, not looking at her, not saying anything.
Her mind raced. She didn’t know what to think. What to infer. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe...
“Presents, anyone?” Paula said in a too-bright tone. She began to pull out gift-wrapped boxes from the bag. “This one is for...Gramps.” She handed over a red box with a gold bow. “And...Susan.”
“You didn’t have to do this, dear,” she said, but accepted the gift with a smile.
The next gift Paula pulled out was a rectangular box. “Carly—here’s yours.”
“Oh thanks,” she quipped. “Can I open it tonight?”
“Of course,” Paula said. “Waiting until Christmas is lame.”
Carly laughed.
Paula busied herself pulling out another present. “Lila, this is for you.”
“Thank you so much,” she said, a flush to her cheeks. “I wasn’t expecting a gift exchange. Sorry I didn’t—”
Paula waved a hand. “You’re fine. Christmas is kind of my thing, and I’m not expecting any gifts in return. I’m just excited for the holidays, and we’re all grateful that you brought Susan to visit.
“And next,” she continued, taking out two smaller boxes. “For you, brother, and your sweetheart.” Her brows waggled as she handed over Wyatt’s gift.
Anita accepted the box from her. It was the same size as Wyatt’s.
“All right, everyone.” Paula waved her hands. “Open your gifts. The suspense is killing me.”
“At the same time?” Carly asked.
“Yes,” she said with a laugh.
The paper tearing commenced.
Anita loved how spontaneous Paula was, and she loved how Wyatt was the opposite—methodical and scheduled and organized. She loved him. Absolutely and completely. She’d confessed her feelings last month, and he’d told her he loved her as well, and it had felt like the most natural thing in the world. After all, they spent almost every day together, including weekends. Either visiting Gramps, taking Carly to a movie or another outing, or sometimes just hanging out at home—preparing dinner together, then watching the sunset from the garden bench.
Wyatt had done ninety-nine percent of the work on building a connecting gate to Phyllis’s backyard, and he even helped Cameron renovate a few things in Phyllis’s house so things would be more accessible as she continued to recover. Cameron and Becky had sold their condo and moved in permanently with Phyllis, bringing plenty of life to the house and neighborhood with their toddler.
Wyatt had finally met Bobby, and it seemed that Bobby was committed to becoming a permanent part of Carly’s life. They saw each other nearly every week, and Carly seemed to enjoy her daddy-daughter dates. She had a sweet relationship with Wyatt as well. They could joke around, but she’d also listen to his advice about more serious things. All in all, gratitude brimmed in Anita’s heart for everyone at this table.
“Wow, I love it, Paula,” Carly declared, holding up a Rubik’s Cube. “My friend Sara is a whiz at these, but now I can practice at home on my own.”
“Happy to hear it,” she said. “Merry Christmas.”
As the others were exclaiming over their gifts and thanking Paula, Anita opened her box to find a gold bracelet interlinked with painted ceramic butterflies. “It’s beautiful. Thank you, Paula.”
Paula grinned, then looked at Wyatt and mouthed, “I’m sorry.”
He gave a small shake of his head, and she mimed zipping her lips.
“What’s going on with you and Paula?” Anita asked him in a quiet voice. He didn’t have to tell her, but she was too curious not to ask.
“It’s . . .” he began.
“It’s nothing,” Paula said with a wave of her hand. “I mean, it’s something, but not what you’re thinking or what I implied.”
Apparently, everyone had paused in their gift opening to watch and listen.
“Continue,” Paula said. “Ignore everything I say tonight. I’m the worst at keeping secrets.” She shook her head and began to collect the discarded wrappings. “There I go again! Now, who wants to play Scrabble?”
No one answered. Everyone stared at Paula.
“Say something, Wyatt.” She turned her pleading gaze to her brother. “Bail me out here.”
His mouth edged into a smile. Then he looked at Anita. “I was planning on doing this a little later tonight, but I guess there’s no reason to wait. If I do, then Paula will just keep putting her foot in her mouth.”
“What are you talking about?” Anita asked.
He shifted away from her, moved off his chair, and knelt close to her.
Why was he kneeling. Oh . . . She drew in a sharp breath. “Wyatt . . .” she whispered.
Not only had those at the table gone silent, but the entire room had hushed. Did everyone know what was going on but her?
“Anita, you know I love you,” he said quietly, but somehow it seemed to fill the room. “And I’ll keep telling you every day because I love you more than anything else in the world.”
His green eyes were so intense and so full of love that Anita felt tears burn.
“I’d be honored if you’d marry me and become my wife,” he said in that low voice she loved. He took the small box he’d unwrapped earlier, and only now did Anita realize he hadn’t actually opened it. Now, he did.
Inside was a gold ring, inset with a diamond and two rubies. “This was my grandmother’s, and I want the love of my life to wear it.”
Anita’s tears spilled over, and she looked from the ring to Wyatt. His expression was full of that love and devotion she’d come to cherish, come to rely on. “It’s beautiful, Wyatt,” she whispered. “Are you sure about this ring?”
“He has my permission,” Sam said from across the table, his voice cracking. “The ring is meant to be worn, and I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather wear Norma’s ring. I’ve never seen my grandson so happy.”
She brushed at the tears on her cheeks.
“If I wasn’t clear before, will you marry me, Anita?” Wyatt asked in a teasing tone.
“Say yes, Mom,” Carly said.
Anita smiled and drew in a shaky breath. “Yes, Wyatt, I’ll marry you.”
He grinned, and she threw her arms about his neck. Cheers erupted around them, but Anita could only think of the man in her arms, the man who held her heart, the man who’d given her a second life.
Wyatt pulled her close and murmured in her ear, “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she said, holding on to him for a long moment.
When they drew apart, Carly was there to hug her.
“I’m proud of you, Mom,” she said, and Anita laughed. “Now try on the ring. I want to see what it looks like.”
Anita wiped away more tears, then she let Wyatt slip on the ring. Turning her hand, she watched the diamond and rubies catch the light.
“Beautiful,” he said, his arm coming around her as he kissed her temple.
She looked over at her new family-to-be. Paula was beaming, Sam had his hand over Susan’s, and Susan had tears in her eyes.
“I can’t wait to call my friends and tell them,” Carly said. Then her eyes widened. “Can I be a bridesmaid?”
“Of course,” Anita said with a laugh. Marriage. A wedding. Her mind was spinning.
She turned toward Wyatt and wrapped her arms about his waist. He leaned down and kissed her, lingering until Paula nudged them.
“Hey, I want to hug my new sister-in-law too.”
Wyatt released Anita, and she hugged Paula. “How long have you known?”
Paula drew away. “Oh, I’ve known for months, possibly since that first night I met you. It only took my brother a little longer to realize that you were his future.”
“Not that much longer,” Wyatt said, his gaze finding Anita’s.
She lifted her face to his, and he kissed her again.
“All right, all right,” Paula said, lifting her hands. “I’ll get out of the way.”
“Are you two going to keep smooching, or are you playing Scrabble?” Sam asked.
Wyatt released Anita with a grin. “It’s up to my fiancée.”
She smirked. “I’ll just watch. I think my brain is too scrambled to spell out any words.”
Sitting at the table, Anita linked her fingers with Wyatt’s and leaned her head on his shoulder. She watched the game unfold. Carly’s triumph. Sam’s competitive spirit. Susan smiling at everything he said. Paula coming up with the wackiest words possible. Lila helping her mother sort through word combinations.
And Wyatt...the way he kept her hand, his fingers strong and sure and warm. Locking in their future together. And Anita knew there was nowhere else she wanted to be.