Briar’s Epilogue
FIVE YEARS LATER
Briar
The smell of churros and popcorn fills the air as I tighten my grip on Hayes’ hand. His little fingers, slightly sticky from cotton candy, curl around mine as we weave through the bustling crowd. Holden walks beside us, carrying our daughter, Harlow, on his shoulders. Her pigtails bounce as she excitedly points toward Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in the distance.
“Mommy! Look! It’s the castle! Just like in the movies!” Harlow squeals, her voice full of awe.
I smile up at her, my heart swelling. “It’s even better in real life, huh?”
She nods so enthusiastically that Holden reaches up to steady her. “Careful, Princess,” he teases, flashing me that grin that still makes my stomach flip, even after four years of marriage.
Ahead of us, our best friends and their kids—18 of us in total—walk together, the kids laughing, talking a mile a minute about which ride to go on next. The dads are already strategizing in that way they do, debating Genie+ times and the best way to tackle the park without too many meltdowns.
“Alright, game plan!” Jake announces. “We do Fantasyland first for the little ones, then split for the big rides.”
“Don’t forget Dole Whip,” Birdie chimes in, tossing her mom, Everly, a knowing look. “It’s tradition.”
“Oh, I would never forget Dole Whip,” Ev say dramatically, making her 14-year-old laugh. I still find it hard to believe that Birdie is a teenager.
The kids cheer as we make our way to Peter Pan’s Flight, the four strollers parked nearby like some kind of parental army base. While the dads keep the younger ones entertained, Holden and I steal a moment to ourselves.
“Can you believe we pulled this off?” he asks, glancing around at our chaotic, beautiful group. “Four families, ten kids, and we’re all still standing.”
“Miraculous,” I agree, watching as Holden leans down to help Harlow fix her Mickey ears. The sight of my husband—the man who started out as my temporary roommate and pretend boyfriend, now a father to our two little loves—makes my heart ache in the best way.
“Ready, Mommy?” Hayes tugs on my hand, his green eyes filled with excitement.
“Ready!” I say, squeezing his fingers.
As we step onto the ride, the laughter of our friends and children surrounding us, I realize this moment—right here, in the middle of the chaos, in the middle of Disneyland—is pure magic.
As the ride begins, the ship tilts forward, gliding over the miniature London below. Hayes gasps beside me, his tiny fingers gripping mine tighter.
“We’re flying, Mommy!” he whispers, his voice filled with wonder .
I smile, soaking in the joy on his face. Next to us, Holden has one arm wrapped around Harlow, who lets out a delighted giggle as we soar past twinkling stars. For a moment, the world outside disappears, and we’re just here—suspended in magic, in laughter, in love.
As we step off the ride, the rest of our group is waiting just outside the exit. The dads are wrangling the strollers while the moms are handing out snacks in a well-rehearsed assembly line.
“Next stop?” Tucker asks, lifting his son, Theo, onto his shoulders.
“Teacups!” the older kids shout in unison, making all the parents groan.
“Oh no,” Jake chuckles. “Not again. You’re on your own for that one.”
“Come on,” Everly teases, nudging him in his side. “You survived last time.”
“Barely.” He gives his wife a playful glare before leaning down to kiss her forehead. “But for you? I guess I can risk it.”
As we make our way towards the teacups, the midday sun casts a glow over Main Street, U.S.A. The scent of sweet waffle cones drifts from the ice cream parlor, mingling with the distant melody of a barbershop quartet. There’s an energy in the air—the kind that only a first time to Disneyland can create—when you see your husband’s face light up seeing it for the first time.
Grayson walks ahead with Sierra and their daughter, Sadie, whispering and giggling like co-conspirators. Their other daughter, Stella, is in a stroller shooting a bubble wand into the crowd.
Behind me, Tucker and Daisy push their younger kids, Rosie and Jack, in a double stroller, while Daisy negotiates with their older two, Evie and Theo, about whether they really need another stuffed animal. Jake and Everly, the last of our group, are wrangling West, who is covered in chocolate from a half-melted Mickey bar.
“You know, I’m proud of you for getting on the plane,” I say to Holden.
He raises an eyebrow. “I’m not sure I had a choice when you came up with this whole idea to get me to Disneyland.”
I sigh dramatically. “Call me the dream maker. Just making sure my husband gets to see the one place he’s always wanted to go.”
“I love you, Bee.” Holden tangles his hand in mine as we reach the teacups. “Tell me the truth,” he whispers. “Did you ever imagine this would be our life?”
I glance around at our little tribe—the people we fell in love with, the children we brought into this world, the friendships that have only deepened over time.
“Maybe not exactly like this,” I admit, watching Grayson chase Stella, both of them laughing. “But I wouldn’t change a thing.”
He squeezes my hand, smiling. “Me neither.”
“This is where friendships are tested,” Grayson mutters. “Who’s actually willing to get on one of these things with the kids?”
“I’ll take one for the team,” my husband says, lifting a hand.
Tucker grins. “Well, if you’re suffering, I guess I have to as well.”
I watch Hayes run to the ride with Holden, while Harlow, who’s three, curls against my hip, her fingers gripping the fabric of my shirt.
Unlike her brother, who thrives on speed and adventure, Harlow prefers to take everything at her own pace. While Hayes runs full speed ahead with every experience, Harlow observes first, carefully deciding whether something is worth her time. She’s sweet, affectionate, and adores her daddy—but she also has a quiet stubbornness like him too. If she doesn’t want to do something, no force on earth, including bribery with Mickey-shaped treats, will change her mind.
When the ride is over and Holden manages to wobble off with Tuck and the four kids they brought on the ride with them, he takes a moment to center himself.
“That,” he manages to say, “was a terrible idea.”
“ That, Dad,” Hayes corrects, jumping up and down, “was awesome!”
“Now princesses!” Harlow squeals.
Hayes immediately makes a face. “Princesses are boring .”
Harlow’s little brow furrows. “No.”
“Yes.”
“No!”
Holden chuckles, ruffling his daughter’s hair. “If my girl wants princesses, then we’ll find princesses.”
She grins, satisfied, and I feel that familiar sense of gratitude—because this? This messy, chaotic, love-filled time with my family and best friends? It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of.
“I love you, babe,” I say, going up on my toes to press a kiss against Holden’s lips. “Your kids are the luckiest.”
He laughs, kissing me one more time. As we make our way toward Tomorrowland, with our best friends beside us, our kids bubbling with excitement, and the afternoon sun stretching golden across the sky, I take a deep breath and let it all sink in.
This is everything I ever wanted.
Maybe even more .
The End.