Epilogue
TWO YEARS LATER
Ruby
“Do not follow me.”
Ruby waddled into the hallway, holding her belly. “I want five minutes to myself.”
But Chase wasn’t listening. “What if something happens?”
“We’re in a hospital. Doctors and nurses and midwives are everywhere.”
Another contraction came, stealing her breath. Ruby moaned and bent over, bracing against the wall. She pointed a warning finger in Chase’s direction when she heard footsteps.
“Don’t. Even. Think about it.”
She’d forgotten how much labor sucked. And she was sick of people hovering. Even her husband, who was usually one of her top two favorite people in the world.
Ruby breathed through the contraction until the overpowering pain had passed. Then she resumed her slow walk down the hall, keeping hold of the railing on the wall.
Another mom-to-be was coming toward her on the opposite side. The woman kept looking at her. Which was annoying. The entire universe right now was annoying.
Then the other mother said, “Ruby? Is that you?”
Ruby squinted at her. She wasn’t sure how anyone would recognize her in her current state, not unless they’d seen her nine months pregnant, dressed in cheap institutional cotton, and looking like a mess before.
But Ruby remembered the face across from her, and it all started to make sense.
“Destiny?”
It was her cell mate from that night in West Oaks County Jail over two years ago. Ruby waved a hand at Destiny’s huge stomach. “You too?”
“I know.” Destiny hooked her thumb at the man with her. “Blame this guy and his strong swimmers.”
“Mine’s the one back there. Being all supportive. Like that's so hard when he doesn't have another human being inside of him that refuses to come out.”
“Wait, I remember him. The cop?”
“Yep. We’re married.”
“So you two ended up together after all.” Destiny lowered her voice to a stage whisper. “Happy ending? Or is the jury still out?”
Ruby looked back at Chase. He had his hands in the pockets of his jeans, leaning one shoulder into the wall, wearing a patient smile. Looking handsome and charming as ever.
During their two-plus years of marriage, they’d had fights and tough times. Especially when she’d been starting her salon business. And when Chase had been stressed during his first months as a detective. Or when Haley had broken her arm at preschool.
But she could say with certainty that those had been the happiest years of her life so far.
And now they were about to add to their family. Haley would be a big sister. If Ruby could just get this freaking baby into the world.
“The jury’s out,” Ruby said, “but they’re impressed by what they’ve seen so far. What about you?”
“Doing a lot better than when I last saw you. I’m working towards a degree in social work. This baby will slow me down, but I’ll get there.”
“I’m sure you will.”
“I feel like you and I only get to see each other for the tough parts.” Destiny’s face pinched. “Shit. Here comes another one.” She held out her hand.
Ruby crossed the hallway and grasped Destiny’s fingers, counting as the other woman breathed. The moment Destiny’s contraction had finished, it was Ruby’s turn.
She squeezed her eyes closed and crushed Destiny’s hand with hers.
Maybe they’d only met during the tough parts. But those had also been the moments that they’d needed one another.
Finally they hugged, and Destiny shuffled off with her man. Ruby went back over to Chase.
Some of her friends, like Destiny, had only intersected with her life in brief, intense moments. Others had been with her day after day. Chase was the very best kind. Her closest friend, her partner. The man she loved. The person she’d always want on her team.
“Hi,” Ruby said. “Want to walk with me?”
“I’d love to. Am I going to get yelled at?”
“I never yell.” They continued down the hallway side by side. “But if you say ‘No grumpy allowed,’ I can’t legally be held responsible for my actions.”
Chase
They renewed their vows barefoot, right at the edge of the water. Chase held Haley, while Ruby had baby Kayla in a wrap over her sundress. Ruby had tucked flowers into Haley’s braids, though she’d left her own hair loose. The strands moved in the breeze.
“The rings?” the officiant asked.
Chase tickled his daughter’s stomach. “Haley, this is your part.”
“Oh. I forgot.” She pulled the two rings from the pouch she was holding. “Why did you take them off if you want them back on?”
There were a few laughs among their friends and family. People often joked that Haley sounded wise beyond her three and half years.
“It’s part of the ceremony.” Chase slid the band onto his wife’s hand. He recited the vows that he’d crafted carefully, that he’d pondered and agonized over until the words were just right to capture what was inside him.
“Ruby, you know me better than anyone does. You’ve accepted me exactly as I am, and at the same time you inspire me to be more. I promise to love you and our children with my whole heart. Forever.”
Haley held the second ring out. “Here, Mommy.”
“Thank you, bug.” Ruby smiled and took his hand.
“Chase, because of you I know what it’s like to feel truly safe and content.
Your love has given me the courage to take risks I never would’ve imagined.
I choose you as my partner, as the love of my life, and I can’t wait to keep giving you all the love you deserve. ”
She replaced Chase’s ring on his finger.
These were the rings they’d used at the county clerk’s office over two years ago.
Chase had bought them from the only jewelry store that had been open in West Oaks that Monday morning, a fancy place on Ocean Lane.
He’d never told Ruby that they were platinum and had cost half a month of his patrol officer’s salary.
Chase had offered to buy her something flashier, like a diamond or sapphire or fire opal.
Whatever she wanted within the limits of their current savings, which were depleted after buying a condo and renting a space for Ruby’s salon.
But he was glad she’d still wanted their original rings.
Not because of the expense, but because it was sentimental. Chase was a softy like that.
After the vows, they got to his favorite part—the kiss. He leaned over and pressed his lips to Ruby’s. Their audience clapped and cheered.
Haley tapped his shoulder. “That’s enough, Daddy.” The cheers turned to laughter, and the little girl frowned. “Why are they laughing?”
“Because they’re having fun.”
Chase had wanted to renew their vows sooner, but time had gotten away from them.
There’d been too much everyday stuff to deal with.
Not just adult responsibilities but rich, meaningful moments, too.
Spontaneous afternoons driving along the coast. Weekends spent camping with Devon and Aurora and their little boy.
“I want to play now,” Haley said.
Chase set Haley down and grabbed Ruby’s hand, pulling her into another kiss. He longed for a few minutes alone with her. But their guests had surrounded them, eager to offer congratulations.
Megan swooped in for a group hug. “So proud of you both.”
“I know this isn’t the high-class shindig you were hoping for,” Chase said.
“Nonsense. This is perfect. Besides, I got to dress up for Devon and Aurora’s.”
Bennett Security employees Sylvie and Tanner appeared next, along with their significant others, Nic and Faith. “I’ve never been to a beach wedding before.” Faith elbowed her husband. “We should’ve had one of these!”
“And my mom would never have forgiven me.” Tanner and Faith had gotten married on his family’s farm the year before. They’d announced Faith’s first pregnancy just a few months ago. Tanner shook Chase’s hand. “Good job, man. Happy for you.”
“You, too.”
“And congrats on baby Kayla!” Sylvie said. “She slept through that ceremony like a champ.”
Ruby patted the baby, who continued to snooze inside her wrap. “She’ll sleep anywhere and everywhere except at home at night.”
Sylvie had become one of Ruby’s closest friends, and as far as Chase could tell, the woman practically lived at Bennett Security. She had an army of underlings and must’ve made serious bank, if you judged by Sylvie and Nic’s swanky new home in the West Oaks hills.
Nic owned a contemporary art gallery on Ocean Lane. Chase had been getting to know Nic and learning about photography from him. Chase didn’t think he’d ever be artistic, but every dad needed some camera skills, right?
There were friends here from West Oaks PD, too. Angela Murphy, Sean Holt. Shelby, who was Kayla’s godmother. Jane Simon was talking to Lana, who’d just been appointed the West Oaks District Attorney after her boss had left unexpectedly. Lana planned to run for the spot in the next election.
Noah and Danica were in New York right now, so they hadn’t made it today.
They’d sent their love instead. The pair had eloped earlier that year in Hawaii, and Noah had retired from his duties as a bodyguard to work with Danica at the Foster-Grant Foundation full time.
But the two had a tendency to show up in magazines, which Ruby loved bringing home whenever she spotted them at the grocery store.
These days, Tanner and Devon shared captain duties at Bennett Security, wrangling their team of two dozen bodyguards to protect the wealthiest citizens of Southern California. But Max still contributed his company’s resources for free to law enforcement and to some criminal defendants.
Every once in a while, Chase got to work with Devon on a case. Half the time they bickered, but damn, they got shit done and laughed really hard, too.
Ruby got roped into a conversation, so Chase went to check on Haley. He found her over on the playground, where half their wedding guests had migrated.
Haley ran over to him. “Daddy, I want to play with that girl, but she won’t let me.” Haley pointed at the three-year-old Max and Lana had recently adopted. The little girl was holding fast to Max’s leg.
“Sweetheart, not everybody wants to do the same thing. Why don’t you go down the slide? Maybe she’ll see how much fun you’re having and come join you. But it has to be her choice.”
Haley’s frown said she didn’t appreciate that advice.
“Or you could go swing with Kellen.” Haley’s cousin was in the baby swing, pushed by Aurora and Devon.
Haley liked that even less. “Kellen’s too little. He can’t do big-kid things like me. I’m going to build a sand castle with Grandma Tessa.”
“Okay, bug. You do that.” Chase didn’t call her princess anymore. He’d eventually come around to Ruby’s side on that issue. He figured Haley could be a princess if she wanted, but she had lots of other options too. Like warrior, firefighter, ballerina, or president. Just to name a few.
Haley ran over to Tessa Waverley, who was chatting with Chase’s dad, of all people. But the two of them didn’t know many others here. And they both lit up with smiles at seeing Haley. They had that much in common.
Chase’s sister hadn’t been able to make the trip for the renewal ceremony, but she’d visited California with her family several times in the last couple of years.
She, Chase, and their father had been mending their relationship.
They probably would never be as close as Ruby’s family, but they’d made progress.
Chase’s dad had been kinder since he’d met his grandkids, as if their influence had softened him.
As for Tessa Waverley, the court-ordered visitations had continued for a while, until they’d no longer been necessary.
Chase was proud of Ruby for making such an effort to bring Mickey’s family into their daughter’s life.
When Haley had asked, Chase and Ruby had explained that her biological father had died, but that Chase was her father now.
He’d adopted Haley. Chase loved Kayla every bit as much, but there was a special connection that came with choosing to make Haley his daughter. A bond that wasn’t based on blood but purely on love.
Chase saw his wife was alone, and he went over to steal a few moments with her. “Hey, having a good time?”
She smiled up at him. Ruby looked beautiful every day, but today she was especially stunning. Her hair had lightened a bit from Sundays spent outside planting vegetables in the community garden near their condo. Her cheeks were flushed with sun and contentment. “Never better.”
Chase bent to kiss Kayla’s sleeping head. “We’re lucky,” he said. “We have so many amazing people in our lives.”
“We do.”
Together, they watched their guests chatting, laughing, playing.
Ruby put her arm around him. “I’ve been thinking about something Destiny said when I saw her at the hospital.
She asked if you and I have a happy ending.
But I don’t think it’s the ending that makes the story.
The best stuff happens along the way, probably when we’re not expecting it.
And I love getting to share all the in-between stuff with you. ”
Chase couldn’t think of anything better to say than that. He didn’t want to think about endings. He just wanted to keep loving Ruby—loving all his girls—as long as forever lasted.