Epilogue
2024
Sam
T he morning rays streaming in from our bedroom window stirs me awake. There’s a gentle breeze coming in from the outside, making the light curtain blow with the wind. I adjust myself so that I’m more comfortable by turning on my side … to face my wife.
Her unruly blonde hair cascades across her face, making it difficult for me to see her beauty. With a gentle swipe, I brush it off and just stare, taking her in.
My God, she is gorgeous.
Her left hand is resting on the white sheet. I reach over and grab it, her wedding ring grazing my hand.
I’m not sure I have ever been this happy. Every single day with her gets better and better.
After that day three years ago at the Point, we have spent every waking moment together. It was almost as if we were trying to make up for the years we were apart. Maria even transferred back to her old office so that we see each other every day and drive to work together. Then eat lunch together, drive home together, eat dinner together.
Because that is what we are, together.
Our kids were thrilled. After that day, we drove straight back to my place so that Maria could meet Mikey. This was important to me. And just as I predicted, he fell in love with her. Parting with her that night was so difficult. We went to our separate homes, then talked all night on the phone and, for the first time, made plans for the future.
The following day at work was a bear. But it was worth it.
Then, the day after that, I met Brielle and Mason. It’s crazy because we meshed together perfectly. Mikey isn’t Maria’s, and Brielle and Mason aren’t mine. But for some reason, it feels like we belong with each other. Like this is how it was supposed to be.
We are a family. Not in the traditional sense, but it makes sense to us.
Not long after we got back together, we heard another bit of surprising news. Our exes, Cara and Geoffrey, started dating. Apparently, they ran into each other at the gym (shocker) and bonded over their mutual hurt. One thing led to another, and honestly, we couldn’t be happier for them. The match makes sense. Now they are married and, from what we have heard—through Ricky, of course—blissfully happy.
Everything worked out as it should have.
As I stare down at the diamond ring, memories of the day I proposed fill my mind. Only two months after we found our way back to one another.
I contemplated buying a different ring. But that original engagement ring was Maria’s. It belonged to her, and there had to be a reason I held onto it for years. There were times in my life that I was broke beyond belief. That ring could have fetched me enough money to help me survive. But the thought of pawning it for cash never crossed my mind. Not once. I think because, deep down, I knew she would wear it someday.
So, on bended knee, at our spot, in front of the fountain, I asked her to be my wife. And despite knowing what her answer would be, my nerves were still shot.
She said yes.
Well, actually, she threw herself in my arms and screamed yes. After I slipped it on her finger, her mouth gaped open in shock .
Tears spilled from her eyes as she watched it glide over her finger. A perfect fit. “Wait. Is this the ring? You bought it? Our ring?” Her question trailed off into a whisper as I wiped the tears from her face. “How? When?”
“That day in the mall,” I explained, “I went back after we went to dinner and bought it. Maxed out the one and only credit card I had.”
“But you never asked.”
I composed myself, knowing that the time had finally come to tell her.
“The day you gave me the letter, The Chad ,” I paused, bracing myself for the impact of my next words. “I was going to propose that night.”
A sob escaped her mouth, and she buried her face in my chest. I pulled her close to me and let her cry. All these years later, and even after we made our way back to each other, I never told her this one truth.
I gently pulled her away from me so that I could see her face. “Maria, would you look at me, please?”
When she did, tears tracked down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Sam. I will never be able to forgive—”
To keep her from saying anything further and beating herself up, I gently pressed my finger against her lips. “Maria, I didn’t tell you that to make you feel bad. That is the past.” I pulled her hand up and kissed the ring. “This is our future. There is no turning back, no looking back. There’s only forward.”
She nodded her head in agreement, and then I kissed the crap out of her.
Something I do a lot.
We were married three weeks later. Seems fast, I know, but there was no point in waiting. Few people can say they had two quickie weddings in one lifetime. But this marriage was going to be different from my first because it’s going to be my last.
Our ceremony was exactly what we wanted. Everyone that was important to us was there. Mikey, Mason, and Brielle, our parents, my siblings, Ricky and his new girlfriend (he’s finally settling down), Big C, Jasmine, and the little girl they adopted, now their daughter. Richelle and Amanda, along with their husbands, rounded out the guest list.
It was small, intimate, and absolute perfection .
My favorite part … watching Maria float down the aisle with Mason on one arm and Brielle on the other. A sight I gave up on ever being able to see. Yet there I was, watching her walk to meet me and become my wife. The one thing I have wanted since I was sixteen years old.
I cried.
I broke my promise that day to never cry over Maria.
Totally worth it.
We promised to love and cherish each other, in sickness and in health, until death parts us. I slid the wedding band on her finger. Five diamonds. One for me, her, Mikey, Brielle, and Mason. She placed my band on my finger, five diamonds as well.
Our family, with us always.
After that, we spent the next two weeks on our honeymoon. The first week we were in the mountains of Montana in a rustic cabin (my favorite), the second week was on a beach in Hawaii (her favorite).
I’ll leave the details of those two weeks to myself. But yeah, it was fun.
Since then, we spend a lot of quiet nights together. Mostly, in front of the TV or in bed. Together, just the two of us. Then on the weekends, we venture out and discover new places, making new memories.
That may sound boring and mundane, and perhaps it’s our age, but just being is enough for us.
All those years apart were torture. I missed her constantly. So now that we are together, that’s what we want to be. Together.
Maria and Sam.
Sam and Maria.
All in.
Finally, Maria stirs, breaking me from my thoughts. Her eyes open, sleepy, green, and beautiful.
“Hi.” Her voice comes out hoarse from the night’s sleep.
“Morning.” I swipe another stray of blonde from her face.
“How long have you been lying here staring at me? ”
I trace my fingers up her arm, and goosebumps erupt on her smooth skin. “Not long enough.”
With a subtle shift of her body, she closes the gap between us and plants a tender kiss on my lips. She moans, and her body sinks deeper into the bed. “What do you want to do today?” she purrs.
It’s Saturday morning, so the entire weekend is ahead of us.
I shrug. “I don’t know. Just be together, I guess.”
“Mmm…” She smiles. “Sounds wonderful.”
I roll her over onto her back and cage her in with my elbows on either side of her head.
I kiss her.
And we spend the morning in bed, as well as the rest of our lives … together.