Epilogue
Kellan
Seven months later….
The beer tasted good, the company was great, and the annual fantasy football draft was under way in my favorite college sports bar. Thankfully, there was no ex-girlfriend this time, and even my cousin Brandon had come up to attend the mini-reunion with our college pals.
But as was always the case, Layla was never far from my thoughts. I smiled, thinking about the fact it had been a year since she’d walked through the front door and changed my life forever. She was driving up here to Bellingham tomorrow when we’d all gather at her parents’ house for dinner.
“How’s Layla feeling? Still healing okay?” Russ asked.
“Yeah, fortunately no complications.” About six weeks ago, with a clean bill of health and no traces of the cancer left, she’d had her breast reconstruction surgery.
Internally, I’d been a mess, going so far as to reread the letter she hadn’t meant for me to see unless something happened to her.
Of course, I hadn’t told her I’d done that, nor how unnerving it had been for me to see her back in the hospital.
It made me think of when I’d almost lost her.
I was supportive of her reconstructive breast surgery as I knew how important it was to her, especially now that she was done with chemo and radiation.
But I’d hated the idea of her going under anesthesia.
I hadn’t breathed easy until I was informed she was in recovery, and I could go up to see her.
Now that she was out of the woods as far as complications, I was finally feeling better about things. But I could go the rest of my life without seeing her in a hospital bed again.
“She’s excited about her new job. Has her first event in two weeks.” She’d taken a position with the hospital to do their public relations and plan their community events. I couldn’t think of a more perfect role for her.
“I know she was anxious to return to work,” Russ commented as he made his next selection in the draft.
Yes, she had been. And I was thrilled she’d found a career which combined her talent for organizing parties with raising money for causes she believed in.
Between her surgery, wedding planning, and the new job, we’d definitely been busy these last couple of months.
But with her energy returning, I had no worries she could handle it all.
As for me, business had been booming. Partnering up with Brandon had not only given me the opportunity to work on more jobs, but it also ensured I was able to spend time with my love.
“She’s going out with the girls tonight?” Brandon inquired.
“Yeah. She and Patty have a tattoo night planned.” She’d wanted to get the little pink ribbon tattooed on her wrist. I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when she realized she wasn’t the only one.
“Must’ve ended early.” There was a smirk on Brandon’s face as he pointed his thumb toward the front door.
I turned to see a vision. Layla walking toward me, reminding me of the very first night we’d met.
Her hair was much shorter, but if any woman could rock a pixie cut, it was my fiancée.
She was stunning in a long black dress which hugged every curve.
Adding to her sexiness was the fact she only had eyes for me.
My grin was the goofy, sappy kind, I’m sure. But I didn’t care. Her returning confidence was a sight to behold. She made a beeline for me and sat on my lap the same way she had a year ago.
“Hi, handsome.”
My face nuzzled her neck, and I breathed in her scent. I’d never get enough of this woman. “Hello, gorgeous. This is quite the surprise.”
“I thought a reenactment of our first night might be in order.”
She pulled back, waggling her brows.
I realized she had more in mind than just the surprise bar visit. “Guess we won’t be staying at your brother’s house, then.”
“Thank goodness,” Russ chuckled. “No offense.”
She smirked, holding up a key card for the hotel next door. “None taken.” She leaned over to give her brother a hug. “Hi, Russell.” She looked across the table. “How’s it going, Brandon?”
“Good, thanks.”
I didn’t miss the way she scanned the rest of the place.
“She’s not here,” I whispered in her ear and watched as she relaxed.
“Merely making sure nobody else had anniversary plans.” She planted her lips on mine.
The same zing ran through my body as the first time. Only now I got to tell her exactly how I felt. I leaned in to whisper in her ear, “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Oh, you wanna see?” She lifted up her right wrist to show the bandage and peeled it off slowly to reveal the tiny pink ribbon tattoo.
“I love it.” And because I couldn’t exactly hide it for very long, I held up mine, peeling back the bandage. “Not a bad match.”
Her eyes rounded and then teared up when Russell held up his, too.
Layla
I would not cry. I would not cry in a bar in front of a bunch of guys doing a fantasy football draft just because my fiancé and brother had done the most incredibly sweet thing. “Quick, say something funny.”
“Your brother screamed like a girl when the tattoo artist put the alcohol pad on his arm.”
Russ objected. “Dude, what happened to that staying between us guys? In my defense, it was cold. It took me off guard.”
It did the trick. I burst out laughing. “I can’t believe you both did this.”
Kellan stroked my cheek. “That little ribbon isn’t only about being a survivor; it’s also about supporting one. All of us were in this fight with you. We all wanted to do this.”
“Wait. My mom and dad?”
Russ sighed, clearly reluctant to let the cat out of the bag. “Act surprised tomorrow at the family dinner. They wanted to show their love, too.”
I was unbelievably moved. It was about support, love, and a whole lot more.
Now that I’d made the transition from cancer patient to cancer survivor, I finally got it.
The symbol was about hope. Even when I’d felt as though I was unraveling, hope had held together in that perfect little ribbon.
And when I hadn’t had enough hope to get me through, those who loved me had provided enough to make up the slack.
“Dance with me later?”
He smiled. “Of course.”
We ordered appetizers and a last round of beer while the boys finished up their draft.
I loved this new normal. My body was slowly regaining its energy after chemo and radiation had taken so much from it.
And my new breasts from reconstructive surgery were healing right on target.
In fact, I couldn’t wait to take the girls for a spin tonight with Kellan.
It had been way too long since he’d seen me completely naked.
And I, for one, had plenty of ideas about how we’d spend tonight.
As the group wound down the draft, Kellan took my hand to lead me out to the dance floor.
My arms went around him naturally, my body completely in tune with his. “I can’t wait until we dance at our wedding.” We were planning a November wedding in Hawaii on our lucky date. We planned to honeymoon in Tahiti. Nothing like hitting two of my bucket list destinations in one trip.
We were saving a visit to Iceland for after my five-year cancer-free anniversary. I refused to stress over whether or not it would happen. I could only take one day at a time, living each to its fullest. Life gave us no guarantees. We could merely hope for the best and not waste a moment of it.
“I can’t wait, either. I have a couple of surprises for our honeymoon that may mean we don’t see a lot of the beach, though.”
I laughed, thinking we were of similar mind when it came to some kinky times in the bedroom.
“I have a few things I’m packing as well.
But I actually have a surprise of my own tonight.
” I’d had an IUD inserted a week ago to prevent pregnancy.
Long term, we wanted kids, but that would be after I’d healed completely.
“Do I get a hint?”
I pulled down his head to whisper in his ear, “You won’t need any condoms from now on.”
He stopped dancing in the middle of the floor, expression shocked. “I’m afraid I’m gonna have to take a rain check on the rest of this dancing. But first. This.”
“What are you doing?” My giggle escaped when he dipped me carefully before giving me a kiss for the ages.
He tipped me back up vertical to cup my face. “I’m fulfilling a promise. I’m officially kissing you like you don’t have cancer.”
No sweeter words could ever have been said.