Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER
“I cannot believe you remembered me saying I wanted to stay here if we ever came back. That was over a year ago, baby!”
Vera and I had just arrived at our resort in Bali. When we had our cooking class there before Drea and Blair’s wedding, I had made a comment that I wanted to come back to Bali and stay in this resort. I couldn’t believe she’d remembered that.
She took me into her arms and kissed me softly. “I remember everything you say, princesa. Let’s get to our room. Rumor has it that your amazing girlfriend got you a suite with a jacuzzi.” She winked. I squealed and rushed down the hall, eager to see the room.
When I opened the door, I gasped. The room was roughly the same size as the one we stayed in last year, but the set up was vastly different.
For starters, it did, in fact, have a jacuzzi, but the other resort didn’t look like a honeymoon suite from Vegas.
Rose petals everywhere, champagne chilling in ice, a vase of local flowers, and candles placed all around the jacuzzi, with silk robes and massage oils I’d definitely be taking home.
I knew something was off about this trip, and looking at this room, confirmed it. She was going to propose.
I’d been having sneaking suspicions all week leading up to this trip. She was being very quiet about the whole thing and wouldn’t tell me anything. She didn’t even tell me where we were staying until we got here.
I overheard her talking with Blair the other day. I didn’t get in until the end of the conversation, but all I heard was, “I’m nervous, Blair. I mean, what if she says no?”
What else would I say no to? Of course, she’s proposing! That’s why I made sure everything on my entire body was waxed and prepped for this trip. I’d even gotten a mani-pedi.
Come to think of it, I should’ve suspected something when Blair offered to take me, and demanded I get a neutral color. It goes with everything my ass! Yeah, an engagement ring!
I turned around to look at Vera, trying not to give away any clues that I knew exactly what she was planning.
How romantic, though! A proposal in Bali, the place we made it official?
Ugh, talk about cute! Well, she had nothing to be nervous about.
I’d thought a lot about it over the past week when I thought it might happen, and I wouldn’t be saying no.
“It’s so romantic. I love it. And I love you.”
She smiled and brought me in for a soft kiss. “I love you too, Cara. Truly."
We shared a long kiss after that and I started to unpack everything. We were staying there for a week and I didn’t want to be going in-and-out of my suitcase the entire time.
When I finished unpacking, we decided to order some room service for lunch and we were going to just spend the rest of the day in the room and out of clothes.
“I think we should go for a walk, what do you think? It’s beautiful out and we can watch the sunset. You love the sunset here.”
I smiled, nodding my head. While I did love the Bali sunset, I was comfortable. We’d been snuggling on the patio couch for the better part of an hour, reading our respective books and exchanging looks and touches.
We’d been in Bali for three days, and I was starting to wonder if I’d gotten it all wrong.
We’d done loads of romantic outings together, and she still hadn’t proposed.
Maybe she was talking about getting a dog together or something.
We already lived together, so I knew it wasn’t that.
She’d moved into my house a few months ago, and things were going really great.
“That does sound amazing, but I’m also content right here. We can be naked and watch the sunset from right here.”
“Come on. It won’t take that long. We can stop for ice cream on the way back.” She wiggled her eyebrows like she knew that would get me to say yes.
It did. I was a sucker for some good ice cream. I wasn’t sure why she insisted on picking out my outfit, though. But I let her because she was really persistent about it.
“Is there a dress code at this ice cream stop we’re going to?” I asked when I put the outfit on. It was a white halter top dress with matching sandals. Very proposal looking attire. Especially when I was standing next to her.
We looked like we were getting vacation engagement pictures done. She had on black board shorts but a nice looking white top. Okay, was I crazy? Or was she definitely going to propose? She was, right?
“No. I just wanted to look fancy. No reason at all.” Her poker face was awful. But I nodded and kissed her anyway.
We walked hand in hand down to the beach but I stopped us before we got to the bridge that took us into the beach. She seemed like she was nervous. Her palm was sweating and she kept touching her shirt, like it was uncomfortable.
“Are you okay, honey? Are you nervous about something?” I asked, knowing the answer.
“What? No. Why would I be nervous? We’re just going to watch the sunset and get ice cream.”
I gave her a look. “Okay. Well, you’re fussing with your shirt, and kind of sweating. You have nothing to be nervous about. I promise.” I whispered.
I knew she heard me because her hand left mine. I looked down at it and frowned. “What?”
She wiped her hands on her shorts and cleared her throat.
“It’s just a little hot and this shirt, I don’t like the material, I don’t know what it is.
I should’ve worn a shirt or something underneath, just in case.
I’m fine. I promise. Shall we?” she motioned for the beach and I nodded, taking her hand and letting her lead the way.
When we finally made it to the beach, I motioned to the set up on the right side of us. It was blocking the perfect view of the sunset, but it was so gorgeous, I couldn’t have been mad.
“Oh, how gorgeous is that? It reminds me of Drea and Blair’s set up. I love a small and intimate wedding! And having Bali as their destination? Ugh, so romantic! I wonder who’s getting married. Maybe we can ask around and see if we can crash it? I’d love to see it.”
We stopped walking and she turned to face me. “I’m sure we can. It’s happening tonight.”
“What? How do you know that?”
She shrugged, turning away from me and pointing down the beach, toward one of the other resorts. A line of people were coming towards us, and when I recognized all of their faces, my knees almost gave out. “Lucky guess.”
“What? What is happening?” I asked, so confused. My voice was barely there and the line of people were becoming blurs of moving objects.
“Are we late? I was told to be here at seven exactly, but it doesn’t look like the brides are here yet. Oh, there they are.”
I turned back around when I heard Drea’s voice leading the line of my friends. Blair by her side. Kaia and Daisy behind her. Fallon, Mackenzie, and little baby Niko, the almost one-year-old sleeping on Mackenzie’s chest.
In the past year, Daisy and Kaia had recently gotten married.
They had a beautiful ceremony at an Inn in Fairview, the same one Drea and Blair went to on their honeymoon.
Fallon had given birth to Niko Bennett. And I thought I was getting engaged, but perhaps I was actually wrong. I still had no clue what was going on.
“Don’t forget about me, Mija. I know I’m old, but I’m still kicking!” Vera’s abuela was the last one in the group.
“Abuela? What are you doing here?”
“You think I’d miss my granddaughter's wedding? I’ve been putting off death for this day. I wouldn’t miss it for anything!”
I turned back to Vera. “Wedding? What is she talking about? What’s going on?”
“Did no one tell you you’re getting married today?” I frowned. My mom?
I turned around to see my parents walking toward me. My parents? They were here? In Bali? Everyone was here.
“Wait, where’s your brothers, and the rest of your family?”
As if my question summoned them. I saw them all coming up behind us. I couldn’t stop the tears coming down my face and I couldn’t find any words to say. I couldn’t wrap my head around what was happening.
Vera still hadn’t said anything, but without even a hug or explanation, everyone took a seat in front of what I assumed now, was my alter? Blair stood at the front and motioned for me and Vera to approach her.
On shaky legs, I took Vera’s hand and stood in front of Blair. “What’s going on?” I asked for what seemed like the billionth time.
Blair looked at Vera and nodded for her to speak. Finally! She cleared her throat and took both of my hands, which happened to be shaking and sweaty and so gross. I hadn’t been able to stop the tears since I’d seen Blair and the rest of my friends and my parents!
“Cara. From the moment I saw you in that red dress and masquerade mask, I knew there was something missing in my life. I knew I’d spend the rest of my life regretting it if I didn’t talk to you.
That night wasn’t supposed to be what it turned into.
It was just supposed to be one night to get my family off my back.
Yet it brought me here. One year later, to you.
Before you, I’d never known what peace felt like.
With you, I’ve never not known what peace feels like.
After you, I don’t want to know what anything feels like. ”
I looked out to everyone sitting down looking at us. All our family and friends were there, witnessing whatever was happening. I still felt like I was dreaming. My parents were there! How’d she manage that?
We’d gotten a lot closer since they finally moved back to Seattle. We tried to get together once a week, for dinner, or lunch. Just anything to keep our relationship strong.
When I introduced them to Vera, they loved her. They kept telling me not to let her go, and that she was good for me. I never knew what they meant by that, until I was standing up there listening to her speech in front of everyone we knew and loved.
“I’ve known since day one that I wanted to marry you. The question is, have you caught up yet?”
I chuckled. “That’s how you’re asking me to marry you?” I tried to sound cocky, but the tears pouring from my eyes told a different story.
“Cara. Thanks to the lovely state of Washington, the wonders of the internet, and $39.99 plus tax, I have officially been ordained. So if you get married here today, it will be legal and binding and forever. But no pressure.” Blair had the softest smile on her lips.
I sobbed out a laugh and looked back towards Vera. And said the only thing I could think of. “Si, Veronica Elena Rojas. I will marry you in front of everyone we know. Legally and forever included.”
I could barely get my words out the entire time, but I was now Mrs. Cara Wells-Rojas. I was a blubbering mess. Listening to her vows telling me how long she’s loved me and how long she’ll continue to love me.
There was something so special about an intimate wedding, all our friends were there and my parents. That was the part I couldn’t get over the most. That she’d planned this entire trip, including getting my parents and her abuela out here without me knowing anything.
I felt like my adult life had come full circle. I’d met Blair, who started off as a client, and ended up being my best friend. I’d met Drea, who started off being a stranger I did business with, and now she was one of my closest and dearest friends.
I’d met Fallon and Mackenzie, who I’d had dated both briefly before they ended up together, now married with a baby!
I’d met Kaia through business and she introduced me to her best friend, Daisy, who was now her wife.
My parents had finally moved back home and we saw each other once a week. And the best surprise of them all, was meeting Vera.
That was the last thing that I’d expected. To not only go to the masquerade ball and meet someone I connected with. But to have it lead to something worth so much more than just a memory.
It just goes to show that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. If I’d never gone to the event that night, or if I’d not given her a second glance like I normally wouldn’t have, I would have never been standing on the beaches of Bali, having my best friend officiate my wedding.
“So, are we still getting ice cream? Or was that a ploy to get me to marry you?” I asked. We had just left the beach without our friends still cheering us on and waving goodbye.
She grinned. “We can absolutely get ice cream. But if I would’ve thought that was all it took, I would’ve just gotten you a scoop back home.”
I stopped to look at her. “Oh, honey. All you had to do was ask. I would’ve said yes even if you’d asked in the middle of the kitchen. I’ve always been yours.”
“And I’ve always been yours, princesa.”