Epilogue #2
“Because we belong together,” I said, my pulse pounding and my body humming.
“That, we do. Get dressed, I have something for you.” He pushed off the bed, immediately going into the bathroom. Once he got to the doorframe, he turned and frowned. “That was bossy, I can hear it now.”
“You just now learn it?” I rolled my eyes and pushed up, but he was there, holding out a hand. “Jeez, better late than ever. I’ll be sure to tell your mom you learned at the old age of 37.”
“Hey, leave her out of it.”
His parents came back the week after Juniper was born.
They were beyond furious with both Nate and Amanda for hiding it, but the second they met Juniper, they forgot their anger and we saw them every week for a family dinner.
While I missed my dad every single day, being a part of the O’Brien clan helped heal that part of my life.
“Cassidy, would you please get dressed so I can take you somewhere for a surprise?”
“A surprise?” That perked me up. “What surprise? It’s four on a Tuesday. What is it? It’s not dinner.”
He grinned, clearly amused at me, and shook his head. “Surprise means I’m not telling you. But, you’ll want to wear something you’ll get photographed in.”
“Oh, good to know then. Is this like a fundraiser event or a secret proposal?” I asked, moving toward our closet to look at my clothes. “Or a baseball thing? Cause that all matters, you know.” I slid on panties and a bra, but Nate was silent. “Hello? Your hearing already disappearing on me?”
“Just put on a nice shirt or something.”
Okay, his tone was weird. My stomach clenched and I found him in the bathroom, reading over a notecard. He caught me staring and shoved it in his pocket. “Why are you not dressed?” he barked.
“Sweetie,” I said, softly, like I was chatting with a small puppy. “Why are you acting so weird?”
“I’m not, you are.”
“Cool deflection.” I approached him and placed my hands on his shoulders. “You’re being weird.”
“I have a surprise for you and I’m nervous so could you just, listen for once, please?”
The tips of his ears turned pink and my heart clenched. I never saw him nervous and I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. “Sure, I’ll be a good girl and listen just this once.”
“Brat,” he mumbled, but it made me grin.
Ten minutes later, we were in his truck but he kept glancing at me, jaw tightening before he focused on the road.
I decided not to prod because he was being kinda pathetic.
It wasn’t my birthday nor an anniversary of any kind so I had no idea what the surprise would be, but I recognized the cemetery in the distance and froze.
“My dad…” I swallowed the lump in my throat.
Of course, we’d been back to visit. I’d come numerous times. Once with Amanda and Juniper, introducing them to him. A few times with Pavin and Garcia. Nate didn’t love that so he now came with me every time.
“Just, trust me, okay?” he whispered, taking my hand and kissing the back. “I probably messed this up but just, I love you.”
Shit. My eyes prickled as he parked and held out a hand for me.
I chose a red summer dress and jean jacket, the February phoenix air holding a hint of a chill.
My gaze sought out the gravestone, the first place I met Nate.
Weird how the worst day of my life led me to meet the best person in my life.
Or maybe that was how it was supposed to be.
A tear fell down my face on its own, and I stared up at the sky, smiling. Thank you, dad, for bringing me Nate.
“Fuck,” Nate mumbled, tripping over something. “Wait, should I not cuss here?”
“It’s not church, Nate.” I almost laughed, but he was so so serious. It freaked me out. I’d never seen him this nervous before. “What is going on?”
We got to my dad’s stone, Calloway large and present.
My throat always got tight here, thinking about how differently my life would be now if he was still here.
There were daisies there and baseballs all around it.
I knew the team did that from time to time, but the flowers were new.
I bent down, smelled them, and when I turned around, Nate was on one knee with a ring box.
“Nate,” I gasped, my hands flying to my mouth.
“Cassidy, you are the woman of my dreams. Of my life. Of every fantasy I could create. You are…” he trailed off, his voice cracking.
“I only want to do life with you. I want to experience new and wild and weird things with you. I wanted to propose to you here, in front of your dad, so he could be a part of it.”
“Oh god.” I fell to my knees in front of him, tears spilling down my face and taking mascara along with it. I griped his hand, urging him on.
“I love you with every part of me and will always love you, be there for you, support you, hold you.” His eyes got all glistening and his hands shook. This big, brave, perfect man shook for me and I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Of course, of course I want to marry you.”
“Let me finish, damnit.” He sniffed and opened the box, a beautiful diamond glistening in the middle.
“I want you to be my wife, but you keep your Calloway name. Your dad raised one hell of a woman and if I could be half the man he was, I’d be proud.
I want to be your husband and make you laugh for the rest of your life.
Even if you’re laughing at me, I want it because when you smile everything is okay in the world. ”
“Shit, Nate.” I sniffed, loud, and he reached over and cupped my face. “Is this why you were so weird in the closet?”
“Yes! You said is this a random proposal outfit? Do you know how long I planned this? I had this speech memorized in my head?”
“You did so great, honey,” I teased, kissing his wrist. “My only advice would be to put the ring on now.”
“God you are such a menace,” he laughed, taking out the ring and putting it on my finger. “I love you, you beautiful, wonderful chaotic woman.”
“And I love you, my old grump.” I stared at the ring, grinning wide. “Thank you for knowing me so much that this is the only place I’d ever be proposed to.”
He smiled, proud and content, and I jumped into him, hugging him. “I should warn you, Amanda and Juny are hiding somewhere taking photos.”
“Oh, I want to see them! It’s been too long!”
“We saw them yesterday.”
“And I love them so as I said, too long!” I stood, taking my now fiancés hand and smiled up at the sky. Thank you, dad for giving me this second family.
I thought my life was done last year at this time in this location, but as the great Yogi Berra once said It ain’t over till it’s over. My life was just getting started.