Epilogue
Her body swayed as her fingers glided over each key on the piano. Everyone in the restaurant remained entranced by each note, by the way her emotions flowed through the music that surrounded us. It was Friday night, and like every other Friday, Hannah played at one of our restaurants. I told her it was for her, so she could share her music with others if only for a few minutes, but it was truthfully a more selfish reason.
I wanted to show her off.
Because three years later, she was still my wife.
And three years later, she still drove me fucking crazy.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I still think she should play here every night and make that her career.” Blake’s words earned a chuckle from me.
I’d told Hannah several times to do that—to give up her job at Nathan’s and make a career out of playing the piano, but she refused. She said playing the piano was too personal to her to make money from it and every time I saw her, I understood why.
Every time she played, it was like she bared her soul.
“Thanks for inviting me today,” Blake said.
I shrugged at him, glancing at Lisa who stood to the side, speaking with a friend of hers. L’Etoile had been a huge success, even more so when she’d brought Blake onto the team as her assistant. Blake had given her a hard time, but he accepted in the end. And now, their relationship continued to blossom. Neither of them had to say it, but I knew they spent every waking minute together.
And I didn’t question it.
Despite his mistakes, Blake was a good man.
And Lisa deserved someone who loved her like he did.
Hannah played the final piece of the night, and everyone clapped for her. A beautiful smile lit up her face and she waved awkwardly to the crowd as she walked in my direction, until she stood in front of me and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“Every time you play is better than the last,” I murmured against her lips.
“You always say that,” she whispered before our lips locked in a gentle kiss.
Blake cleared his throat, and I waved him off with a hand while the other fell to Hannah’s waist. If she didn’t care where we were, neither did I.
“We should go home now.”
I hummed against her lips before lacing her fingers with mine and squeezing her hand.
“Let’s go home, baby.”
***
The sound of laughter filled our home.
The giggles of our beautiful niece Lily and our daughters Isa and Annie filled the house, while Noah’s shriek told us they were chasing him around again. He was the only boy in the family, and now he was paying the consequences.
Hannah laughed, shaking her head as we walked to the living room.
Dylan sat with his legs stretched out and his arm wrapped around Carina’s shoulders. Evie sat cuddled next to Nathan who chuckled when Noah climbed into his lap, begging for mercy.
“I’m glad you all didn’t burn the house down,” Hannah said, glancing around each pristine wall, her gaze landing on the piano in the open studio.
She bit her lip. She never thought she would have her piano at home, never considered it a possibility, until she saw it this morning. I promised I would give her everything she deserved, and I planned on keeping that promise as long as I lived.
“I considered it,” Evie said with a grin. Everyone laughed but she stood up, approaching both of us. “I’m exhausted.”
I chuckled, pinching my younger sister’s cheek. “Thanks for watching the girls. I hope they weren’t terrible.”
“No daddy!” Isa exclaimed. “We were good! Right, Annie?”
Annie nodded vigorously.
But they were a team.
They would always cover for each other, as they should. “We were so good Lily even gave us two candies!”
Little Lily widened her eyes and Noah giggled next to her.
“Oh, man…” Dylan shook her head, standing up with Carina’s hand in his. “These kids can’t keep a secret.”
He’d kept his word and moved to New York.
Now we saw him at least once a week.
It wasn’t long before they all left. The house was silent for a few moments until I took my girls in my arms and told them it was time for bed. I ignored their protests, realizing that after the candy it may take a while for them to rest…but I needed to be alone with their mother.
I tucked them into bed, read them a story, and made sure their favorite stuffed animal was to their left side, as always.
“Goodnight, daddy.”
I kissed each of their foreheads and lingered at the door for a few moments.
They had more energy than we did on most days. Their chatter was constant.
But they were perfect.
“Goodnight, Isa. Goodnight, Annie. I love you.”
I closed the door to their bedroom, not before making sure that their nightlight was on.
And then, when I was sure they’d settled down, I walked to the bedroom next to ours, pausing for a few seconds.
Gently, I turned the doorknob, taking a quiet step into the bedroom. It was silent. So silent it was almost like no one was there.
But I couldn’t help the smile on my face as I looked over our sleeping newborn. I swallowed thickly, my chest tightening when little Olivia scrunched up her face, stretching in her crib before settling into a peaceful sleep once again.
I hadn’t missed a second of the pregnancy and if I loved Hannah before, the feeling in my chest wasn’t enough now. She’d shown me real strength and grace…
“Evie says she ate about thirty minutes before we got here,” Hannah whispered. She rested her head on my shoulder, reaching down and caressing Olivia’s little hand. “I can’t believe she’ll be three months old next week.”
I pressed a kiss on Hannah’s head.
I couldn’t either.
I couldn’t believe I was lucky enough to have three beautiful daughters and a wife who was so goddamn perfect.
“Happy birthday, my love. I hope it’s been everything you’ve ever dreamed of.” Hannah looked up at me, her eyes glossy with tears. A trace of a smile appeared on my face. She no longer cried because the world was falling apart around her.
She no longer cried because she felt guilty.
Now they were happy tears.
I swept her off her feet—literally—earning a surprised shriek from her, but carried her to our bedroom. She landed on the bed with a soft bounce. I settled on top of her, taking in the sight of her. So perfect. Hannah bit her bottom lip as her fingers unbuttoned my shirt.
“The piano is beautiful,” she murmured.
“Mmhm,” I mumbled into her neck.
“And I loved having dinner with you…alone, for once.”
Hannah let out a quiet whimper as I trailed my hand down her body.
“But I want one more thing from you.” Her face flushed as she settled her hands on my chest, as my fingers caressed the soft skin of her neck.
“What is it?” I asked.
Her throat moved as she swallowed, her lips parting with a shaky exhale but she didn’t tear her eyes from mine. She didn’t hesitate to respond.
“Make love to me, Derek. Remind me how irrevocably yours I am.”
My perfect wife.
My perfect partner.
My Hannah.
I leaned in, brushing my lips against hers, whispering a single word.
A single truth.
“Mine.”
I kissed her then, doing as she asked.
As she needed.
I buried myself in her. Made love to her. Made her feel mine, because she was.
She was everything.
Hannah—our life, our daughters—they were my reason for living.
And yeah…she doubted it for a moment.
But damn right, we had our happy ending.
And it was only just beginning.
THE END