Epilogue
EPILOGUE
5 YEARS LATER
C atherine awoke to the soft light of a Sunday morning filtering through the bedroom curtains, the familiar hum of the house around her. For a moment she just lay there, eyes closed, letting the peace of the morning wash over her. The warmth of the blankets cocooned her as the scent of freshly brewed coffee drifted up from downstairs. The house was quiet except for the soft, distant sounds of Lexi moving around in the kitchen.
The past five years had transformed her life in ways she could never have predicted. It seemed like a lifetime ago that she’d been tangled in the suffocating grip of her marriage to James, the constant fear of being a disappointment, and the loneliness that had gnawed at her even when she was surrounded by people. But that was before Lexi. Before everything changed.
How had five years passed since they’d met? It felt like both an eternity and the blink of an eye.
Catherine shifted quietly, not ready to get out of bed just yet. She let her eyes wander around their bedroom—the soft, muted colors of the walls, the photographs on the bedside table, and the small knickknacks they’d collected over the years. There was a picture of the kids at the beach from their last vacation. They’d grown so much since that picture, even though it was only a year old.
She thought back to the day they’d met, when everything had been so uncertain. Lexi had been there for her in ways she hadn’t known she needed, her steady support the one constant during the hardest time in Catherine’s life. Catherine could still remember the first time she’d admitted out loud how afraid she was—of being alone, of losing herself in the weight of her marriage, of everything she thought she should want. But Lexi had been patient, never pushing, just offering a safe space for Catherine to find her own path.
And now, five years later, Catherine couldn’t imagine her life without Lexi.
She gently slipped out of bed and stood, stretching to shake off the remnants of sleep. There was so much to do today. The kids had a soccer game in the morning, followed by a picnic in the park for Natalie’s birthday, and then a family dinner that evening. It was going to be one of those busy Sundays, the kind they’d grown to love. They’d built a life together, full of laughter, love, and moments like this—small and ordinary, but they meant everything to her.
Lexi was already downstairs, standing by the coffee maker with a cup in her hand as she looked out the window, the morning sun casting a warm glow on her face. Catherine watched her for a moment, taking in the way Lexi’s hair was still a bit tousled from sleep and how comfortably she stood in the kitchen, as though this was just another ordinary Sunday. But Catherine knew it wasn’t ordinary. It was extraordinary.
Five years ago, Lexi had walked into her life at a time when she hadn’t even realized how lost she was. Catherine hadn’t known how much she’d been yearning for someone who would truly see her. And Lexi had done that. She’d shown Catherine that love didn’t have to be complicated or painful. It could be simple. It could be the way Lexi looked at her across a room, or the way she held her hand when they were together, as if she would never let go. It could be in the quiet moments they shared, the laughter that echoed around the house as they navigated their new life together.
Catherine walked up behind Lexi, wrapping her arms around her waist and pressing a kiss to her shoulder. Lexi turned her head with a smile, her eyes still sleepy but full of warmth.
“Good morning,” Catherine murmured.
“Morning,” Lexi replied, her voice rough from sleep. She leaned back into Catherine’s embrace, and for a moment they stood there, just breathing, savoring the calm of the morning.
“How are you feeling about today?” Catherine asked, her voice light, even though there was a deeper tenderness in her tone.
Lexi shrugged. “Excited, mostly. Max is determined to score today. He’s been practicing nonstop in the backyard. And it’ll be nice to see family later.”
Catherine laughed softly, imagining the scene. “Ten years old. Natalie’s growing up too fast.”
The afternoon was warm with the lingering glow of late summer, the park bathed in golden light as families filled the space with laughter and chatter. The air smelled like fresh-cut grass and the faint hint of cake, carried on the breeze from the picnic tables where the birthday celebration was set up. Catherine leaned back against the blanket spread out on the grass, watching the bustling scene around her. It was one of those moments when everything felt just right—calm, full of love and life.
Max was bouncing around like he owned the world, his soccer match still fresh in his mind. He’d scored the winning goal, and his energy was infectiously high. His face was flushed from the excitement, his bright smile never leaving his face as he ran laps around the field with a few of his teammates, occasionally glancing over at the picnic to see if anyone was watching his impromptu victory lap. Catherine chuckled to herself as she watched him, her heart full. She couldn’t help but feel pride surge through her as she watched him.
Across the picnic blanket, Rosie—still a toddler, not quite two yet—was giggling as she chased after a butterfly near the swings. Her tiny hands reached out eagerly, her small steps unsteady but determined. Catherine’s heart melted at the sight. Rosie had her mother’s curiosity, always wanting to explore, to touch, to see the world with wide, eager eyes. Catherine knew she was still a little young to grasp all of the family dynamics, but she was already so loved, her joy pure and untainted. Rosie’s laughter filled the air, echoing through the park as she toddled back toward the group, her tiny hands still sticky from the apple juice she’d had earlier.
Speaking of cake, Catherine glanced toward the table where Natalie was helping Josephine and Ember cut slices of her birthday cake and hand them out. It was hard to believe that not too long ago, their relationship had been so tenuous, full of misunderstandings and doubt. Now Josephine was part of their family in a way that felt effortless, like she’d always been there.
Catherine shifted on the blanket as Lexi joined her, a plate of cake in hand. She handed it to Catherine with a smile, then sat beside her, nudging her gently with her elbow. “You didn’t think you’d escape the birthday cake, did you?”
Catherine grinned as she accepted the slice. Her eyes twinkled as she watched Rosie, who was now holding up a piece of cake like it was the most important thing in the world. “It looks like she’s having her own party.”
Lexi laughed softly, leaning back on her elbows as she took a bite of her own cake. Her eyes flicked toward the table, her expression warm as she observed her niece. “Natalie’s going to love the cake. I swear, Ember’s baking gets better every year. Next year the cake will be three tiers high!”
Catherine chuckled. “I’m sure she’ll try.”
Max bounded back toward the blanket, flushed and breathing heavily from tearing around the playground. He plopped down next to Catherine, his energy still vibrating through him. “Did you see me, Mom? I scored the goal! I won the game!” He grinned at her, his eyes alight with pride.
Catherine placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it affectionately. “I saw. You did an amazing job out there. I’m so proud of you.”
He beamed and took a bite of his cake, barely pausing to chew before he jumped up again. “I’m gonna go see if I can kick the ball to the other side of the park!”
“Not so fast, soccer star,” Lexi called out, laughing. “Eat your cake first.”
Max groaned dramatically, but sat down long enough to finish his slice before bounding off again toward the open field, soccer ball in tow.
Catherine found herself leaning into Lexi, who wrapped an arm around her. “This is nice,” Catherine said softly, her voice almost a whisper. “I can’t believe how much has changed. It feels like a dream.”
Lexi’s fingers lightly traced the curve of Catherine’s hand. “It’s real, baby. This is our family now, and we’ve earned every bit of it.”
Catherine smiled, watching as Rosie held up a cake-covered hand, giggling in delight as the icing smeared across her face. It was the purest form of happiness—a simple, unguarded joy that made Catherine’s heart ache with gratitude.
As the last crumbs of cake disappeared and the kids ran off to play, their sugar-fueled energy evident in the way they darted across the park, Josephine and Ember made their way over to Catherine and Lexi. The two women looked content, relaxed in the late afternoon sun, their hands intertwined as they watched the children with easy smiles.
Josephine, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, was carrying a bottle of sparkling water. Ember, ever the easygoing one, followed with a small cooler bag slung over her shoulder, probably full of snacks for later. They settled down on the blanket beside Catherine and Lexi, their movements a comfortable rhythm, like they’d been friends for years…which, at this point, they had.
Josephine glanced at Catherine, a smile tugging at her lips. “I have to admit, I didn’t think we’d ever get here,” she said, her voice light but sincere. “But look at this. You two—your family—it’s beautiful.”
Catherine chuckled softly, a mixture of pride and disbelief in her voice. “I never could’ve imagined this either. It’s…it’s everything I never knew I needed.”
Ember, who’d been taking in the scene of the kids running around, raised an eyebrow at her wife. “Don’t get too sentimental now, Josephine,” she teased, nudging her gently. “You’ll have us all crying before the cake’s even settled in our stomachs.”
Josephine rolled her eyes, but leaned over to give Ember a quick kiss on the cheek. “Well, I’m feeling sentimental,” she said, her tone playful but full of warmth. “Seeing the kids together like this…it makes you think about everything we’ve been through.”
Ember nodded in agreement, her eyes softening as she looked at Max, still running in circles, and Rosie, who’d finally tired herself out and was sitting in the grass, playing with a small toy. “It’s nice, though. We’ve come so far from where we started.”
Lexi’s smile was wide as she squeezed Catherine’s hand. “Yeah, we’ve definitely come a long way. But I wouldn’t change a thing. This…all of this is everything I’ve ever wanted.”
Josephine leaned back on the blanket, glancing over at the kids playing, then back at Catherine and Lexi. “It’s funny how life works, huh?” she mused, her voice quieter now. “You think you know what your future looks like, then it completely surprises you. I’m just glad it worked out the way it did…for all of us.”
Catherine nodded, her gaze lingering on the laughter and joy radiating from the kids. “Me too, Josephine. Me too.”
As they all sat back, letting the gentle hum of the park wash over them, Ember sighed contentedly and stretched her legs out on the grass. “We’ve got the whole afternoon to enjoy, don’t we?”
Lexi grinned. “Absolutely. And I’ll be here for every minute of it.”
Josephine, looking at her watch, raised an eyebrow. “How long before the kids burn off all that sugar?”
Catherine laughed, her eyes meeting Lexi’s. “Not long, I suspect. But as long as they’re happy, we’ll enjoy the chaos.”
“And,” Lexi smiled with a glimmer in her beautiful blue eyes, “next week, we will have someone new we want you to meet.”
“Oh, who is that?” Ember raised her eyebrows.
Catherine met Lexi’s gaze and smiled. “We are adopting a dog from the shelter. A Golden Retriever named Captain.”
Lexi smiled at them. “Captain is amazing. So good with the kids. We get to collect him tomorrow.”
Lexi took Catherine’s hand and smiled. Catherine had wanted a dog and a family for so long and now she had it all. And she knew she would never ever let it go.