Epilogue
Susie
Two years later.
“Baby, what do you want for dinner?” Brady asks me from the kitchen while I sit in our living room.
“Um, how about some spaghetti? And your homemade garlic bread!” I suggest. He smiles and walks over to me before pressing a kiss to my lips.
“Fantastic suggestion. I’ll run to the store and pick up what we need. Text me if you need anything while I’m out!” he says.
“Okay I will. Be safe,” I tell him. With another kiss, he grabs the keys off the hook and heads out the door.
I turn back to my laptop, trying to find the motivation to finish this paper that is due next week.
I’m near the end of my second year of junior college and have one last paper for my English Lit class.
Ironically, it’s an analysis of Cyrano de Bergerac.
Brady smiled wickedly when I told him about our final assignment, and suggested that I write something about our love story.
Although slightly out of scope, I decided to incorporate a few themes from our relationship while answering the required discussion questions.
School is amazing, and I’ve been doing really well.
I’ve already been accepted as a junior transfer at Duckworth University, a small college not too far away.
It’s perfect, because our new house is only a fifteen minute drive from campus.
After all, I couldn’t stay in Remford. After my mom found out about us, we tried to all have a sit down with my parents to explain that we were in love and in a real relationship.
But they just weren’t buying it. They felt like Brady took advantage of me and was a “sicko” that liked little girls.
No matter how hard we tried to explain it to them, Jim and Jackie wouldn’t budge.
I moved all my stuff out and into Brady’s house the very day, but living next door to my parents was too weird.
I dreaded going outside and seeing them, and it was as if everyone in the neighborhood knew of our forbidden love.
We were treated as pariahs. Even Ankle Weights Joe had the audacity to turn up his nose at us while he ran around the neighborhood in those ridiculous short shorts.
It became unbearable, so we decided to move and start over, and it was the right decision.
We’re so happy in our little home together, and sometimes, I work in the yard planting begonias.
Brady has quite the green thumb too, and he’s working on a few fruit trees so that we’ll have our own fruit next summer.
I finish typing the last few paragraphs of my essay and submit it right when Brady walks back in the door.
He has a handful of groceries that he sets on the counter.
I go and sit at the island, watching him work magic in the kitchen.
He does most of the cooking because he’s the better chef, while I do the bulk of the cleaning. It’s a perfect set-up.
“Done with your paper?” he asks me with a smile.
I nod.
“Yep, finished it right when you were walking through the door. I think I’ll land an A in this class and get another four-point oh,” I tell him, smiling at my accomplishment.
He grins brightly and gives me a fist bump across the counter. “Great job, honey. I’m so proud of you. I told you, you’re amazing.”
After all, my boyfriend has been my biggest supporter. He stays up late with me when I need to study and is more excited than I am when I land an A.
“It’s perfect. Only two more years before I finish my English degree and can start teaching!” I say excitedly.
He winks while chopping some vegetables.
“I can see it now. Mrs. Firestone, ninth grade English teacher, Kleinfeld High School,” he says.
I pause, hardly believing my ears.
“Mrs. Firestone? Is there something I need to know?” I ask him coyly, raising my brow at him.
He grins. “When there’s something to know, you’ll know. Until then, don’t worry your pretty little head about it.”
I roll my eyes. We have talked about marriage, and I’ve been waiting for him to propose to me. I know it’s going to happen, and it’s just a question of when.
“Okay, but I don’t want to be married to someone who leaves me for months at a time,” I say in a serious voice. “Deployments are really difficult.”
He nods, and then smiles. “I definitely get it. I know it’s hard for you to be here all by yourself.
It’s definitely hard for me to be across the world, wondering about you and wanting to make sure you’re okay.
I was going to wait to tell you this, but I actually applied for a desk job at the nearby base, so I won’t have to be deployed anymore. ”
I stop.
“But will you be happy? A desk job? Brady, you’re a soldier. Will you be happy staying state-side, doing paperwork all day?”
He smiles.
“I know, sweetheart. But I think it’s time. I’m getting older, and no match for the young guns on tour. It’s time for me to focus on my family, and that family is you.”
He puts down the knife and walks around the island to me. Taking both of my hands in his, he pulls me close, his strong jaw line pronounced and his piercing blue eyes overwhelming.
“Susie, nothing tears me apart like having to leave you. I thought the first time was hard, but it’s gotten worse with time.
Pictures and letters just don’t do it for me anymore.
If I’m not with you, I’m antsy and grumpy and fucking mean.
So yes, I’m serious. I already turned in my application and have an interview with them on Monday. ”
I jump off the stool and into his arms. Tears run down my face, and yet I’m happy.
“I feel the exact same way, Brady,” I say in a choked voice. “I need you, now more than ever.”
He pulls me in close and holds me. “I know, and I’m sorry to put you through that stress and worry. I know your anxiety goes sky-high when I’m not here, but I don’t plan on going anywhere anymore. You don’t have to worry, baby girl.”
He sits me back down and cups both sides of my face, kissing me passionately, lingering on my lips.
I wipe my tears, nervous about what I’m about to say next.
“Well, it’s a good thing I don’t have to worry about you anymore because we’ve got someone else to worry about now.”
He looks up at me suddenly, curiosity all over his face. “What was that, sweetheart?”
I go to my purse and pull out the ultrasounds I got from the doctor’s office this morning. “You’re going to be a father, Brady. We have an addition to our family coming in about seven months!”
He drops the knife and pauses for a second, taking everything in. Then in a swift motion, he’s back to the other side of the counter and embracing me in a hug so tight, the baby has to be feeling it too.
“Thank you, Susie,” he murmurs in my ear, his voice choked. “A father? It’s exactly what I want, and what I’ve hoped for for a while now. You’re going to be an outstanding mommy, and I can’t wait to see you round and heavy with our child.”
I smile at him gently.
“I know, Brady. This is my gift to you, and our gift to cherish together forever. I love you, Brady Firestone.”
With that, our lips meet and our passion flames once more. This soldier is mine, and maybe we were once neighbors, but now, we are so much more.
THE END