Epilogue
WREN - FOUR AND A HALF YEARS LATER - MAY
The Tortured Therapists Department
What time is everyone getting to Jacks and Lacey’s tonight?
Poppy:
I told Lace hopefully no later than 6. There was a mixup with the car salesman (longggg story ), so we’re waiting on the new one to come see us and then hopefully it’ll be quick.
Chloe:
You’re going to LOVE your minivan. It’s a total game changer!
Lacey:
We’re ready for everyone whenever! Jace said Donovan, Enzo, and their girls will be here around five.
Gray:
We should be there around 5:30. Hoping Max takes a nap so he’s not totally cranky.
Chloe:
My crew will be there around 5:30 too. Ava has a soccer game, so we’ll be coming from that.
Sounds good!
Poppy:
Wren, Logan showed me the picture T posted today of you two and Cody at the campground a couple weeks ago. I think the pregnancy hormones are getting to me because it made me tear up. Y’all look so happy! I’m so sad I can’t volunteer this year. I miss it.
It’s okay! You’re six months pregnant. I wouldn’t let you come if you tried!
Lacey:
Jace and I are so excited for this weekend!
He’s seriously saving my life by agreeing to take pictures! I owe y’all big!
Gray:
Stop! You’re making me jealous. I wish I could come help. Maybe later this year when my little guy is older.
Chloe:
Same!
Lacey:
Perks of being a DINKWAD and the forever cool aunt and uncle! And don’t mention it. J was beyond thrilled you asked him to bring his camera
Y’all are too sweet. At this point I have a waitlist for volunteers. It’s insane. Y’all help enough with the day camps and stroll and roll every year. I’m forever grateful!
Gray:
Respectfully, waitlist or no waitlist, if I can come help I get first dibs as one of your best friends.
Yes, LMAO! You all get first dibs at volunteering.
My phone rings, interrupting our conversation, and I swipe up on the screen.
“Hey, mom,” I say, walking out onto the back porch of the home Tanner and I share. Dolly runs by me, jumping up into a chair sitting in the sun.
“Hi, sweetheart,” my mom says. “How are you?”
“I’m good. Y’all okay?”
“Oh, yeah. Dad and Cody are watching baseball, and I’m crocheting a new blanket.”
My eyes find Tanner as she talks. He’s sitting on our porch swing, shirtless, with gym shorts slung low on his hips. A backwards hat sits on top of his long blond hair, and a short beard covers his jaw.
Need pools low in my belly at the sight of him.
God dammit, my husband is hot as hell.
He gestures to his lap, and I walk over, sitting down and curling against his bare chest. His hand finds my back and he trails his fingers down my spine, causing my skin to erupt with goosebumps. Kissing the top of my head, he gently rocks us with his feet.
“You there?” Mom asks.
“Oh, yeah, sorry. I got distracted.” I set the phone down on the seat of the swing, tapping the speaker button. “You’re on speaker and Tanner’s here. What were you saying?”
“Hey, Charlotte,” he says.
“Hi, honey. I was just calling to go over the plan for next weekend. What day are y’all heading up, and do you need anything?”
“I think we’re good. We’re leaving for the campground on Monday,” I explain.
“The volunteers are set to show up on Wednesday night, and then the campers will arrive Friday. We figured Cody could just stay in our cabin again this year, so we’ll be close by if he was to need us.
Did you see the email with the packing list? ”
“I did, and you know you don’t have to do that. He could stay with the other campers,” she says.
“We’re looking forward to spending some extra time with him,” Tanner explains. “Plus, as the owners of the camp, we get to stay in the main cabin, so I know he’d be bummed if we didn’t share it.”
“If you insist.”
“We do,” I say. “You know our slumber parties are camp tradition.”
“So you’ve said. Your dad and I will be dropping him off and then heading up to Charleston for a couple nights, so we won’t be too far away.”
“We got him,” Tanner assures her.
My heart expands in my chest at his words. Every night I fall asleep thinking there is no way I could love Tanner Mitchell more than I already do. Then, every morning I wake up and he proves me wrong, making me fall deeper in love with him every day. I’ll never know how I got so lucky in life.
“As you can imagine, Cody’s thrilled! He can’t stop talking about the talent show and dance party,” my mom continues, laughing a little as she speaks.
“Well that’s because those are the two best things. I really hope he and Wren have been working on their jokes and magic tricks.” Tanner chuckles and tickles my sides teasingly. “Because I’ve been practicing my yodeling, and I think I might win this time.”
I giggle. “Absolutely not. You know my stand up routine with Cody is always the crowd favorite.”
“We’ll see about that,” he jests, tickling me again and causing my giggles to erupt into full blown laughter.
“Please make sure someone films it,” my mom deadpans. “Okay, well I’ll let you two run. We’ll see you Friday.”
“Bye. We love you,” I say. “Give Cody and Dad a hug from me.”
“I will. Love you both.”
I hang up the phone and nuzzle deeper into Tanner’s arms. My mind wanders to how far my camps have come.
What started out as a simple art class morphed into day camps, and then last year I officially quit working at Dogwood Manor and Camp Butterfly officially opened.
Now, from May to September each year, we host one overnight camp a month.
Every camp is full of light, life, and the promise of new beginnings.
Cody has attended every one and made so many friends. My parents have gotten to take vacations, and have even connected with some of the other caregivers. Tanner has been by my side every step of the way, and together we’ve built a community of volunteers and families that make life feel so full.
“I love you,” I say.
“I love you too,” he says, continuing to rub slow circles over my back. His phone vibrates, and he swipes up on the screen, letting out a laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“Bella is begging for us to come to my parents’ for Memorial Day at the end of the month. Something about wanting me to make drinks for her and a couple of her friends since she’s now twenty-one.”
“Do you want to go? I don’t think we have anything planned yet.”
“Yeah, not sure how I feel about my little sister drinking, but we can plan on it.”
“Good. It’s pretty crazy how much everything has changed in the last few years.”
He kisses the side of my head. “I’m really proud of us.”
“Me too. I can’t believe we’re about to start year two of Camp Butterfly. I’m so nervous.”
“I know, but you knock it out of the park every time. It’s going to be a blast.”
“I hope so. Is everything set at the bar?”
“Oh, yeah. Tony’s got it covered. I’ve got my best staff working, so it should hopefully be a pretty uneventful week.”
“Good. Speaking of Tony, I meant to tell you to tell him that the girls and I opened a bottle of that wine he made the other night and really enjoyed it. Chloe was asking if she could buy some.”
He chuckles. “I’ll be sure to let him know and see what I can do.” He checks his watch. “What time did you want to head to Jacks and Lacey’s tonight?”
“Everyone is heading over around five thirty. Poppy and Logan might be running a little late. They’re currently buying a minivan.”
He chuckles. “Logan mentioned that.”
“I can’t believe they’re pregnant with twins,” I say. “It’s crazy to think there are going to be more kids running around soon.”
“Right? We’re going to need a bigger place to host group dinners.” He laughs and starts counting our friends’ kids on his fingers. “What will that be? Seven kids?”
“I think so,” I muse. “You know, I’ve been thinking lately. What if there were eight?”
“Eight?”
“Yeah, like what if you and I started to try?” I shrug, sitting up so I can see him better.
“For real?” he questions through a wide grin. His eyes find mine, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him look so damn excited.
I nod my head. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately, and I’m ready. Are you?”
“Yes,” he says, flipping me towards him so my legs straddle his lap. One of his hands finds the back of my head, and the other wraps around my waist. Pulling me towards him, our mouths crash, and he grinds his hips upward, causing the swing to rock.
“Tanner!” I shriek, pulling away and swatting at his chest. “Are you seriously trying to fuck me on this swing right now? The neighbors can totally see us. I was trying to have a sweet moment, and you’re so fucking hard.” I laugh.
“You just told me you want to try to have a baby, so I figured we should probably get to trying. Might’ve just unlocked a breeding kink I didn’t know I had.”
“You’re insane!” I laugh. “I’m still on the pill, so we can’t try until I quit taking it.”
“Doesn’t mean we can’t practice,” he says, standing and lifting me over his shoulder.
Laughter bubbles out of both of us as he jogs back into the house and to our bedroom.
Setting me down gently, his eyes rake down my body, and warmth pools low in my belly. He moves forward, crashing his mouth against mine and backing me up until we both fall into our bed.
“Did we just decide to have a baby?” I ask, pulling away and staring into his blue eyes.
“We did,” he says, smiling. His mouth finds mine again, and our bodies tangle among the sheets. Reminding me once more, that him wrecking my plans all those years ago made all my dreams come true.