Epilogue
Epilogue
One year and three months later
Elissa
Brandt and I pass through the backyard gate of Riley’s parents’ house. Birds dance and sing in the air as the tantalizing smell of barbecue hits us. I can see my mother and Riley’s father over by the large grill, talking up a storm while Mr. Jaimeson cooks the sizzling hotdogs and hamburgers. Over in the corner near the cluttered food and drink table are Rhys and Riley’s mom, talking and laughing hard with people who look like they might be Rhys’ parents. His father looks exactly like him, but older and with more salt and pepper in his hair. His mother has soft features and is a little on the heavier side, but no less gorgeous, with her chestnut hair flowing in the light breeze.
Brandt gives my hand a squeeze and I look at him, finding his beautiful eyes. My heart flips in my chest as I squeeze his hand back. It took a while to find each other again, but I’m glad we did. I can’t imagine my life without this man beside me.
“’Lissa!” I hear a familiar voice call my name. I look and it’s Riley, holding the baby on her hip over by the present table, little Kiana tugging on and playing with her mother’s hair. Kiana is the spitting image of Riley and Rhys. She has black hair like the both of them, beautiful brown eyes like Riley, and a mischievous little attitude already, which I think she’s inherited from Rhys. She also has a light smattering of freckles across her nose, though where she got those from, I have no idea. Riley looks radiant and happy, even in the unrelenting August humidity. She’s shaded by a big maple tree, but it’s hard to escape the summer heat in Ontario unless you’re heading indoors. I wistfully let go of Brandt’s hand as I walk over to Riley. Brandt makes a beeline toward Rhys. The warmth his hand provided fades as we walk away from each other, and the longing in my heart grows.
When I reach Riley, she’s set Kiana down in the playpen and pulls me in for a long embrace. It’s been a while since I’ve seen her. We talk everyday, but with her raising a family and working on her new business more steadily, and me running Black Wells, it’s hard to carve time out of both of our busy schedules. Her sleek black hair is smooth against my face as we break from the hug, and I bend down to pick up Kiana, her bright face beaming up at me and arms stretched wide.
“Hey Kiwi,” I coo. “How’s my favourite little lady?” I wriggle my fingers into her belly and she shrieks before letting out a boisterous laugh. Riley and I laugh along with her. The screen door smacks in the background and little feet pound against the cement, then the grass. Little lungs yell out my name.
“’Lissa!” I quickly pass off Kiana to Riley so that we can avoid a disaster as Knox comes barrelling toward me.
“Knox, slow down! You’re going to knock someone over!” a very warm and familiar voice calls out. Lana. My heart squeezes the moment I hear her, and I look around to find her trailing after Knox. I crouch down, opening my arms wide, and prepare for impact from Knox. He slams into my body, almost sending us both careening over. I steady us and give him a big squeeze.
“Hey bud! It’s been a while.” I let go of him and ruffle his hair before he runs off to find a toy to play with. Lana finally makes it over and the warmest smile lights up her face. A light breeze blows past us and I catch a whiff of her coconut and shea butter scent. It smells like home. She pulls me in for a hug, and we hold each other for a few moments.
“Thanks for coming, Mom.”
“I wouldn’t miss Riley’s little one’s first birthday. She’s just as much like a daughter to me as you are.” She pulls away and her hands slide down the backs of my arms until they grasp my hands. “Now, I want to see this thing.”
She takes my hand and raises it up. Sitting on my left ring finger is the most brilliant three-carat diamond solitaire ring set in 18K white gold. As she turns my hand to really inspect it, it catches the light and gives off a beautiful sparkle. Never in my life did I think I’d be wearing an engagement ring. But for the man that means everything to me, he’s worth it.
Lana lets my hand drop and kisses my cheek. “I’m so happy for you, Elissa. He’s a wonderful man, and he chose the most perfect ring for you.” Her eyes tear away from me to the commotion behind us. “Knox! Be careful with Kiana! She’s only a baby…sorry, baby girl, I gotta go get that little rascal.” She hurries off to get Knox and show him how to play with Kiana gently.
As I stand and look around at all these people in my life, I finally realize that I do have the family I always wanted, it’s just one I had to make — and fight for. My eyes find Brandt, and he’s casually standing with Rhys and his parents, chatting and laughing while he sips on his beer. My roaming eyes take in my gorgeous man. His broad shoulders are covered in a grey and white plaid short-sleeve button-down shirt, his ass looks amazing in beige cargo pants, and his golden-brown hair is styled to perfection, like it always is. You’d never know that my hands were running through it ten minutes before we got here. He’s literally perfect. Perfect for me, and I’m a little pissed it took me as long as it did to realize this.
It’s taken me a long time and a lot of therapy to get here, but I think I can finally be happy. I actually think I am happy. And for the first time, I don’t feel like I need to run from my problems or my anxiety, because everything I need to help me is right here.
“Time to eat,” Mr. Jaimeson calls out as he finishes pulling the last burger off the grill and places it on a platter, then hands it off to Rhys. He carries it over to the long table that’s covered in a pink daisy-printed tablecloth. In one smooth motion, everyone gravitates toward the food, making a small line with their plates. I stare at all the people I love in one place and feel incredibly grateful. It took a long time to come to this point, being able to have everyone together, including having my mother even be a part of an event like this. Before my father died, this is something that would never have happened. It’s going to take a while longer, but I think my mother and I finally have a chance at some sort of relationship. We’ll never be as close as Lana and I, or like a normal mother and daughter are, but whatever we have now is something more than what we had.
I stand here, staring at all my loved ones in one place, and it warms my heart. Using my thumb, I twirl my engagement ring around my finger a few times and bite down on my lip. I hold out my hand and take a long look at the ring I’m not quite used to wearing yet. But it is beautiful. And just like the brilliant sparkle that shines in the sunlight, it reminds me of that brilliant spring day when everything changed.