EPILOGUE
Sara
Three years had passed, and my life with Archie felt like a dream.
Every morning, I woke up to the warmth of his embrace, the soft brush of his lips against mine, and the quiet promise of another beautiful day together. Then I would find his eyes watching me, softening as they took me in, shimmering with unwavering devotion and glazed with undeniable desire.
Our life was simple, yet filled with laughter, late-night talks that stretched until dawn, and the kind of love that felt steady, peaceful. I was living in heaven.
Archie had left behind the dangers of his old life, choosing instead a path that kept him closer to home, closer to me. Even though sometimes, I caught a flicker in his eyes—a longing for the adrenaline, for the rush of chasing stories in places most people feared to go. I knew he didn't regret his decision, but I also knew that part of him would always reminisce about the man he used to be.
But besides wanting to be with me all the time, he also said that the trauma of his last deployment had made him pledge to himself that he would never take on that kind of job again. So, I shouldn't worry.
We had built something substantial, something worth holding onto. I believed this happiness was ours to keep.
It was more than I could ask for.
I was a lucky woman.
Since our relationship began, I had been practically living with him in his new apartment. I knew he would feel out of place in my house, in my bed, surrounded by memories of my past with Cole, and truthfully, I found I liked being in his space.
I had lived nowhere else before, but moving into a new place with him felt like a fresh start, a new chapter just for us. And it was a beautiful one, indeed.
Archie and I got married last year. A quiet, beautiful ceremony at John and Jeremy's café, right by the deck, where the summer breeze carried whispers of love and new beginnings. With only a handful of family and friends surrounding us, it felt intimate, perfect, magical.
As I walked toward him, my heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and overwhelming love, Herston at my side giving me away, Archie leaned down, his voice low and filled with emotion as he whispered, "I'm the luckiest son of a bitch in the world. You're stunning, Peaches. The most beautiful woman I've ever seen. I love you so much, and I can't believe I get to marry you."
And then, with the sun dipping low in the sky, painting the world in shades of gold, we pledged our lives, our love and our souls.
He took both my hands in his. His vow to me was heartfelt and full of promise.
"Sara, you are my heart and the love that makes my world whole. You are my sun in the morning, my stars in the dark, my constant, my home. I love you in a way that words can barely hold—so deep, so fierce, it defies definition. I don't know the name for it anymore, only that it is endless, boundless, and entirely yours. From this day forward, I promise to love you, to stand beside you no matter what, and to cherish every moment we share."
And when it was my turn to speak, I had to swallow the lump in my throat, overwhelmed by the rush of emotions swelling inside me. But somehow, I found my voice, and I said a vow that was tender yet full of conviction.
"Archie, you've always been there, caring for me, protecting me, loving me. I know I didn't make it easy for you, but you never gave up. And you will never fully understand how much that means to me, how deeply I cherish your patience, your love, and your unwavering presence. Today, I promise to love you with all that I am, to choose you again and again, with every sunrise, every heartbeat, for the rest of our lives."
In that moment, surrounded by love, with our hands intertwined and our hearts beating as one, we became us.
Before the wedding, I called Cole to tell him the news that I was getting married. And then, I asked him if he wanted to come.
I really wasn't sure what the right choice was. Not inviting him felt wrong, like shutting him out completely. But inviting him? That would hurt him, and I knew it. Either way, there was no perfect answer, only a decision I had to make. So, I invited him. He said he'd rather not come.
I understood, of course.
But he was earnest when he wished me a happy marriage, and to my surprise, when Archie called him, he offered his congratulations. And as someone who knew Cole just as well as I did, Archie said he truly sounded sincere.
I no longer lived in my house. I had rented it out to none other than Julian, who now shared it with Emma, despite their relationship still being a mystery to me. Letting it go completely felt impossible, so I held onto it, unable to bring myself to sell it just yet.
Archie, ever thoughtful, bought us a beautiful four-bedroom house—another historic gem over a century old. He knew how much I loved homes with history, their character, their stories. Decorating it, making it ours, had been a joy.
And it was closer to my office, easing my commute, even though it meant a longer one for him. It was just one of the many ways he put me first, and I loved him all the more for it.
This house was the beginning of our forever. This was the life we were building together.
I was now living my life with a calmer heart, more accepting of the unexpected, learning to trust and appreciate everything fate brought my way. I refused to let heartbreak or pain dictate my path; instead, I chose to move forward, to embrace the present, and to find joy in the life unfolding before me.
Because I came to understand that no matter how much you try to map out your life, the future will always remain uncertain. You could plan until your head ached, meticulously plotting every step, but fate had a way of unraveling even the most carefully laid intentions. In the end, life would take its own course, whether or not you were ready for it.
So, I learned to surrender, to welcome the twists and turns, the unexpected detours, and the lessons hidden within them. Instead of resisting, I chose to trust that every moment, every change, was leading me exactly where I was meant to be.
"Are you ready, Sara?" His quiet voice broke through my thoughts, and I looked up to find him smiling at me.
We were about to shop for furniture—for our baby's room.
Yes, we were having a baby. I was six months pregnant.
And it's a boy!
We decided not to wait. We weren't getting any younger, and somehow, the thought of starting a family filled me with excitement and anticipation. I was eager for the life we were building together to feel whole.
One evening, Archie asked me how many children I wanted. I told him, "Until we have a boy and a girl, then we stop making babies."
He smiled and agreed, because that was exactly what he had wanted too.
I slipped my hand into his waiting one, and together, we walked out of the house and toward our car.
The drive to the shop was fairly long, as I had chosen one of the biggest furniture stores in town. Given its size, it was in the suburbs, all the way to the other side of town.
When we finally arrived, excitement bubbled inside me, just as it did every time I stepped into this place. I beamed, practically giddy, like a child in a candy store, eager to explore every corner and find the perfect pieces for our baby's room.
"Okay, this place is huge!" Archie's eyes went wide as we stepped inside, looking around the place like he couldn't believe it. Then he turned to me. "Will you be alright walking around a place this big?"
"Of course," I replied immediately, my eyes gleaming with excitement as I glanced around. "Besides, we're only heading to the nursery section. I won't be wandering too far."
"You'll tell me if you get tired, okay?" he said, his brows knitting with concern as he reached out, rubbing my belly affectionately. "We'll find somewhere for you to sit and rest if you need to."
"Okay," I nodded, offering him a reassuring smile.
I was practically bouncing on my feet as we made our way there, my excitement impossible to contain. Archie chuckled beside me, shaking his head fondly.
But just as we were about to enter the nursery section, we passed through the young girls' section and that's when I saw something, or rather, someone, that made me stop in my tracks.
Cole.
He stood there, his attention fixed on a charming bed frame in a soft blush color, its padded back shaped like a cloud. The sight of him stunned me. It had been years since I'd last seen him, and I never expected to run into him here, of all places.
Archie noticed him, too. His steps slowed, and I could feel the same surprise radiating from him as we both took in the unexpected encounter.
But before we could do anything, Cole turned around—and froze.
I saw the way my name almost formed on his lips but never quite made it out.
I offered him a small smile and decided to walk over. Archie followed, staying close beside me.
Cole's eyes stayed on mine until they dropped to the noticeable bump of my belly. His gaze flickered, softening, but there was something else in it too.
Sadness. Maybe regret.
And strangely, I could feel it, too. Maybe because he had been such a big part of my past, I could still read him so clearly. I could still sense what he was feeling.
His smile grew, bittersweet but genuine. And somehow, that made it even more heartwarming.
"Sara," he breathed when I stopped in front of him. His eyes flickered down to my belly again. "Congratulations."
"Thank you," I replied softly. "How are you?"
"I'm good, thanks."
It was only then that he seemed to register Archie standing beside me. His gaze shifted, and he gave him a nod.
"Cole," Archie acknowledged, his tone calm but beneath it, there was a hint of nostalgia. I knew he missed his best friend.
"Are you buying a bed?" I asked, guessing that it might be for Elena.
He nodded. "Yeah. Elena's birthday is coming up, and she wants a new bed, so that's what I'm getting her."
"This one's adorable," I said, pointing to the bed he had been looking at. "Any little girl would love it."
"That's what I was thinking, too." He glanced at it again before turning back to me. "And you?"
"We're shopping for the nursery," I said with a smile.
"Right," he replied, his voice slower, thoughtful.
For a moment, our eyes met, and I could have sworn I knew exactly what he was thinking. The past, the what-ifs, the unspoken thoughts that hung between us like a whisper. That this could have been us. That in another life, maybe it would have been.
But the past belonged in the past. And I wouldn't trade my present for anything.
Sometimes, I still thought about him, wondering if he was doing well and if life had been kind to him. Because despite everything, I wanted the best for him. Deep in my heart, I hoped that if he hadn't already, he would one day find the kind of happiness that felt whole. The kind that stayed.
And then, a woman approached us, stepping up beside Cole with an easy familiarity. She had golden-blonde hair that cascaded over her shoulders, striking deep brown eyes and stood about my height. She was beautiful—model-like gorgeous, with striking features that made it impossible not to notice her. There was a quiet confidence in the way she met my gaze, not quite a challenge, but more like a silent acknowledgment, as if she understood exactly who I was and the history I shared with Cole.
She slipped naturally into place next to Cole as if she had done so a hundred times before.
My eyes flickered between her and Cole, who seemed to need a moment to shake himself out of his daze before finally glancing at her.
"Um... this is Katya," he mumbled, his voice oddly unsure. "And this is Sara... and her husband, Archibald."
Katya turned to Cole, her eyes narrowing slightly at his hesitation—something unspoken passing between them. But with effortless grace, she shifted her focus to me, extending her hand.
"Call me Kat. It's nice to meet you, Sara. I've heard a lot about you."
"Oh," I murmured, my gaze flickering to Cole, who suddenly found something else to look at, evading my eyes.
I took her hand, offering a polite smile. "Nice to meet you too, Kat."
She then turned to Archie, shaking his hand before her attention snapped back to me. Her eyes widened in surprise as they landed on my belly.
"You're pregnant!" she exclaimed, her voice light with enthusiasm. "Congratulations!"
"Thank you," I said, instinctively resting a hand over my bump.
Her eyes flickered to my face, studying me for a moment before she smiled. "Your baby is going to be gorgeous, just like you," she said, her tone sincere.
I felt warmth in her words, even as I became more curious about the dynamic unfolding.
"Thank you," I replied with a smile.
An awkward silence settled between us, stretching just a beat too long. None of us seemed to know what to say next.
Cole was the first to break it. "Umm... I better go place an order for this bed—"
"Oh, so now you're choosing this one?" Katya interrupted, exasperation in her tone. "That's what I've been trying to tell you! But you said it's too fluffy."
"When did I say that?" Cole let out a small huff, his tone defensive. "I was just not sure if this is the right one."
Katya crossed her arms over her chest, tilting her head at him. "It's the right one. Trust me. You just hate admitting that I'm right."
Cole opened his mouth, clearly about to defend himself, but then seemed to think better of it. With a small exhale, he pressed his lips together and said nothing.
I watched the exchange with quiet amusement. There was an ease between them, a push and pull that felt natural. I liked this woman. She seemed kind but didn't hesitate to challenge him, which was a good thing. Cole needed someone who wouldn't tiptoe around him, someone strong enough to hold her own.
Thinking that it was time to go, I offered him a sincere smile and said warmly, "It's good to see you again, Cole. Archie and I need to get going. Kat, nice meeting you, too."
"Yeah..." He trailed off for a moment, his gaze flickering between me and Archie. Then, with a small nod, he said, "I hope everything goes well for you and the baby."
Archie and I both said our thanks. As we walked away, I faintly heard them bickering again about the bed. I couldn't help but smile to myself. There was something oddly comforting about the way they went back and forth. It wasn't tense or bitter, just the playful disagreement that came from familiarity.
That gorgeous woman might be a new beginning for Cole. Maybe, with her, he could finally find what Archie and I had—something solid, something real. And maybe this time, he would cherish it. Maybe he had learned. Maybe he would be truthful and faithful, not taking the love given to him for granted.
I hoped so. Because love, the right kind, didn't come around often. And when it did, it deserved to be held onto with both hands.