Epilogue
Six Years Later
Charlie
Six months after we returned from Paris, Luca moved to New York and attended Columbia with Ashley and Ashton. I wasn’t happy when she told us, but I saw the way they looked at each other and knew they were meant to be together. Ashley sobbed on the plane the day we left Paris to return home and for days afterward. She was miserable, and I hated seeing her that way. I was impressed that Luca moved from his home and away from his family to be close to my daughter. Not just any man would do that unless he was in love.
The more I got to know him, the more I liked him. Marley loved him right off the bat, but it took me a little longer. I looked at the game he developed and saw he was on to something. While he attended Columbia, I brought him into my company as an intern. Considering he was my future son-in-law, I hired him full-time after he graduated. On the other hand, Ashton was playing the field and refused to commit to anyone.
I walked into the suite at the Plaza Hotel, and tears filled my eyes when my daughter turned and looked at me. I couldn’t believe the day had come when I’d give her away to another man. She was twenty-four years old, very strong and independent like her mother, and my marketing manager, who worked alongside her brother at Stone Game Ventures—the company they would run when I retired.
“Hi, Dad.”
“God, look at you—my baby girl. You look so beautiful, sweetheart.” I brought my hand up to her cheek. “You remind me so much of your mother.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“It’s time. Are you ready?”
“I’m more than ready. I can’t wait to marry him, Daddy.”
“I know the feeling, sweetheart.” I held my arm out.
I stood at the top of the aisle, Ashley’s arms wrapped around mine and slowly walked her to her future husband. After placing her hand in Luca’s, I took a seat next to my beautiful wife.
“Are you okay?” Marley asked, squeezing my hand.
“I’m fine, babe.” I smiled.
After the ceremony, and many pictures later, we went to the ballroom for the reception.
“You have outdone yourself with our daughter’s wedding.” I kissed Marley’s lips.
“Thank you. Nothing but the best for her.”
I walked over to the bar, where Ashton was getting a scotch.
“Hey, Dad. Want one?”
“Yes, son.” I patted his back.
“Hi.” A lovely young woman smiled at Ashton.
“Well, hello there, beautiful.” He grinned. “Dad, I’ll catch you later.”
I inhaled a sharp breath and shook my head as I walked away and over to Marley.
“Who is that girl Ashton is talking to?” she asked.
“Just another casualty, babe. Just another casualty.”
One Year Later
“I’ll miss you.” Marley wrapped her arms around my neck.
“I’ll miss you too, babe. I’ll be back in three days.” I kissed her.
“It sucks you have to fly commercial.” A smirk crossed her lips.
“Don’t remind me. I can’t believe the private jet isn’t fixed yet.” I sighed.
“You’ll be fine. Ashton will be with you, which reminds me. Keep him in line, please.”
“Trust me. I will. I’ll see you when I get back. I love you so much.” I hugged her tight.
“I love you too.”
Our business trip went great. As we were sitting in the Chicago airport, it was announced that our flight was delayed due to severe storms.
“Great.” I shook my head.
“Yeah. No kidding,” Ashton spoke.
As we were both scrolling on our phones, a young woman sat in the empty seat next to Ashton.
“Yay! I can’t believe I got upgraded to first class.” She waved her boarding pass.
“That’s nice,” Ashton said, and I chuckled.
“I’ve never been in first class before.”
“I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.” Ashton sighed.
He was in a mood, and I wasn’t sure why. His phone rang.
“What do you want, Kristen? You know I’m on a business trip with my dad. Listen, I’m not discussing this now or ever. Great. You’ve saved me the trouble. Have a good day, Kristen, and lose my number.”
I sat there, trying to mind my own business and ignore what I’d just heard.
“Trouble in paradise?” the young girl spoke.
“Um, no.”
“It kind of sounded like your girlfriend broke up with you.”
“First of all, she wasn’t my girlfriend, and second, do you always listen in on other people’s conversations?”
“No. But it’s hard not to listen when there’s screaming coming from the other end.”
I leaned forward and stared at the young and beautiful woman.
“Excuse me. Do you live in New York?” I asked her.
“Yes, I do.” She smiled.
“Dad.” Ashton lightly smacked my arm.
“I’m going to get a coffee. Can you watch my bag and make sure nobody takes my seat?” she asked.
“Of course he will.” I grinned.
“Thank you. Can I get either of you one?”
“I’m good. Thanks,” I said.
“Since I’m watching your bag and seat, I’ll have a medium Americano with an extra shot,” Ashton said.
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
“She’s kind of annoying.” Ashton looked at me. “Beautiful, but annoying.”
“I’m going to head to the restroom, son,” I said as I stood up.
“Okay, Dad.”
I followed the young girl to Starbucks.
“Excuse me,” I said. “Which seat are you sitting in?”
“Um, 3B.” She glanced at her boarding pass.
“How would you like to switch seats?” I smiled. “I’m not really feeling the window seat today.”
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“I’m positive.” I smiled.
As I walked away, I heard they were starting to board our plane.
“Here’s your coffee,” the young woman said, handing the cup to Ashton.
He took a sip. “This is not an Americano.”
“Are you sure? It says Americano on the cup,” the young woman spoke.
“I know an Americano when I taste one, and this isn’t it.”
“Then the barista messed up. There’s no need to act like a child about it.”
“Excuse me?” Ashton cocked his head.
“By the way, you owe me eight dollars for the coffee,” she said, and I chuckled.
“Eight dollars for this crap?”
“Pay her, son.” I placed my hand on his shoulder with a smile.
She took the money from Ashton’s hand, scanned her boarding pass, and walked ahead of us.
“I hope that woman isn’t sitting anywhere near us,” Ashton said.
I smiled all the way down the loading bridge to the plane. When Ashton reached his seat, he stopped in the aisle and stared at the young woman.
“Uh, you’re sitting in my dad’s seat.”
“Your dad told me I could sit here. He wasn’t feeling the window seat today.”
The smile never left my face as he stared at me while I placed my bag in the overhead and took the seat behind him. A few moments later, a text came through from him.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“You’ve just met your future wife, son.”
He immediately turned around and looked at me.
One Year Later
Anna and Ashton married one year after meeting at the Chicago airport. Ashley was due to give birth to our first grandchild, a little girl, in a month, and Marley and I couldn’t wait to become grandparents.
After saying goodbye to Anna and Ashton as they left for their two-week honeymoon in Aruba, I hooked my arm around my beautiful wife.
“Who would have thought our son would settle down.” She smiled.
“I knew it the second Anna sat next to him at the airport. My God, babe. It was like you and me all those years ago.”
“You did good, my love. We’ve waited for this day for a long time.”
“Do you regret not having any more kids?” I asked.
“Nope. We did right by the twins, and now, we’ll have a granddaughter to dote on and help raise. You know what the best part will be?”
“What?” I tenderly kissed her lips.
“We get to send her home.” A bright smile graced her face.
“We do, don’t we?” I smiled as we walked to the car.
“Yep.” Marley popped her lips. “We’ve paid our dues and put in our time. Now, it’s our children’s turn to do the same.”
“It sure is, babe. Have I told you how much I love you?”
“A few times.” She smirked as we climbed into the back of the car.
“Well, when we get home, I’ll show you just how much I love you.”
“Promise, you bad boy?”
“Have I ever broken a promise to you?” I kissed her soft and beautiful lips.
Thank you for reading Baby Drama III! I hope you enjoyed it!