Epilogue
Four Years Later
“Hey, Leena.” Walking by the front desk of Ethan’s building, Bethany greeted the receptionist in charge.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Lee.”
Having been convinced by Ethan that it made no sense for her to continue paying rent for an apartment she barely lived in anymore since she was spending most of her time at his place, she’d made the leap and officially moved in with him a year or so ago and it still took a bit of adjustment. She was pretty sure some of her neighbors sent their dogs to doggy spas and bought them organic gourmet kibble. And sent their actual kids to private schools that charged more per year than her entire undergrad education.
But Bethany couldn’t deny that it hadn’t taken her long to become spoiled by the perks. She loved working out in the gym, and the business center and onsite dry cleaners were a nice bonus. She already had a standing order at the coffee shop attached next door and was addicted to their pecan croissants. To the point she got a bit pouty when they ran out and was forced to make do with the almond instead.
And she felt super fancy when one of the doormen opened the doors for her.
She made her way up to the twenty-fourth floor, already looking forward to seeing Ethan. For the past two weeks, they’d been ships passing in the night as they were scheduled on opposite shifts, so they’d barely seen each other. But today, they had at least two or three hours before Ethan left for the night shift.
Bethany turned the lock in the door and walked in. Home sweet home. She still got a thrill every time she entered the apartment and she hoped that would never change.
Ethan heard her come in and his eyes lit up.
And she would never ever get tired of that. Ever.
“You look disgustingly well rested and bright-eyed,” she commented as set her bags and purse down. But mostly wonderful. Some days she couldn’t believe this was her life now. How far things had come in such a short time.
She flopped on the couch and stretched out, making herself comfortable. Familiar with the routine by now, Ethan joined her and rested her head on his lap. He tilted his head down and dropped a kiss on her forehead. She grinned up at him as he passed her a can of Waterloo sparkling water. Oohh black cherry, her favorite.
“Any chance I could bribe you for a foot rub? Been on my feet for ages and they’re killing me.” She took a sip and gave Ethan her best cheeky grin.
“If you really want, I can hire a masseuse. And you can have your drink in a fancy glass with a cucumber, so it feels like a spa,” he deadpanned, having had this discussion numerous times before. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t still fun.
“It’s not the same.” She pouted.
“Drink your fancy, expensive carbonated water.”
“Not that fancy. It’s not Pellegrino. I’m surprised you haven’t made fun of me about this before.”
“I’d rather get to see you naked.”
“Men,” she said with sham resignation.
In retaliation, he tweaked her nose and she squealed.
“Bad day at the office?” he asked, running his fingers through her hair, almost making her purr in satisfaction.
“Nothing out of the ordinary. Spent two hours getting maggots out of this middle-aged guy’s foot. He’d given himself a nasty cut a week or two back but wasn’t taking proper care of it so it became a gross, infected mess. Don’t really want to talk or think about it anymore,” she said with a slight shudder.
“Seconded.”
“Who said our jobs aren’t glamorous? Anyway, what about you? What have I missed since the last time we talked?”
“Oh, nothing really. I got something interesting in the mail.”
“Not season tickets for the Met,” Bethany begged. As hard as she tried, opera just wasn’t her thing. It had taken Ethan weeks to forgive her for nodding off in the middle of Carmen.
“No, but I’m taking you to see Carmen again the next time it’s on the calendar. It’s the most accessible opera I know for beginners, and it’s a crime you slept through the third act.”
“Fine. Be that way,” Bethany said, sticking out her tongue. She pulled herself up to a sitting position.
“I’ll show you.” In one fluid motion, Ethan rose, and grabbed an envelope. He laid it on her lap in a nonchalant manner.
“What’s this?” Curious, Bethany wondered if it had anything to do with her birthday next month. Her heart rate picked up when she saw the return address. USCIS.
“Is this…” She looked up at Ethan, whose face was an inscrutable blank.
Her hands trembling, Bethany read the letter, her eyes widening by the second as she continued to read.
“Holy shit. Your permanent resident application was approved!” With a loud squeal of joy, Bethany jumped up and threw herself at him.
Ethan, now sporting a mile-wide grin, laughed and spun her around until they were both breathless.
“Part of me still can’t believe it,” he confessed. “Leigh got a copy two days ago, but I wanted to wait and see it for myself. It doesn’t feel real. This is a real dream come true.”
“Believe it. I never had any doubts of course,” Bethany said, peppering his face with kisses. “I’m so happy I’m not even annoyed that you waited two days to tell me.” She undermined the statement with a smack on his arms. She scooted down, still beaming.
“I’ll have to tell my mother,” he said quietly. And suddenly the mood in the room deflated a bit. While Ping Mei was still not happy about Ethan’s decision, she had come to grudgingly accept it. Which hadn’t stopped her from laying on the occasional guilt trip, however. And threatening to come for an extended multi-month stay. It was a work in progress.
Bethany squeezed his hand. “It’s okay. She may carry on for a bit but she’s had years to prepare. Besides, it gives her more of an excuse to visit more. Maybe she’ll go to Carmen with you instead.”
“Nice try.” Ethan cut her a look, but it was obvious he appreciated her attempt at levity.
“I’ll take one for the team and take her to a Broadway show. If Hugh Jackman decides to come back for a limited run as Professor Harold Hill, she’ll be all over it. Ping Mei thinks he’s cute. Ash could hook us up right? He knows everyone, so he’s bound to have a contact.”
“What do you mean my mother thinks Hugh Jackman is cute?” he demanded, his brows furrowed in consternation.
“Your mother is old, not dead, Ethan. Her eyes still work. Really, can you blame her? She has good taste. And I think Hugh is available. If Ping Mei plays her cards right, Hugh could become your new stepdaddy.”
“Why are you punishing me?”
“That’s for not telling me your green card was approved as soon as you found out,” she winked. Then made up for it with a kiss.
“You said you were too happy for me to be mad about that.”
“Not my fault you believed me. You should’ve known better.” But they both knew the truth.
Bethany grabbed her phone and started tapping away.
“What are you doing?”
She looked up. “Letting everyone know so we can plan a celebration party. Everyone will be so excited that you’re here to stay. Officially.” Seeing the look on his face, she paused.
Crap. Had she done something wrong? “Sorry. This is your news isn’t it? You should be the one to let everyone know.”
Ethan shook his head. “It’s not that. Just hearing you say that makes it more real. I’m really staying. It’s really happening.” He gave a rueful laugh. “I honestly didn’t think this day would ever come.” His breath hitched and Bethany’s heart squeezed.
“You’re allowed to be a little emotional. This is a big deal, and it means something to you. I’d be worried if you were calm about this, honestly.”
He was silent for a moment, then laughed again.
“What’s so funny?” Bethany huffed, hands on hips. Here she was, trying to be a supportive girlfriend and he was laughing.
“I was thinking about the day I was in Leigh’s office when she walked me through the visa and permanent residency application process. She mentioned I’d need the hospital to sponsor me and reference letters from co-workers and friends. And I imagined what you’d have written for me if I’d asked. I was sure you’d write something that’d totally sabotage me while making sure USCIS knew you were a better resident than me. And make fun of my suits. This was when you still hated me,” he explained.
Bethany rolled her eyes. “I never hated you; you know that. Just to be clear, I would have taken it seriously and written you an excellent letter if you’d asked. Because I would’ve known Ash would write you a reference too, and no way I would’ve let his letter be better than mine. You’re the one who said it may be too much of a conflict of interest.”
“Of course,” he murmured, lips twitching.
“The only thing is I would’ve had to remember not to mention to USCIS that it was a quid pro quo situation and that you were providing me with mind-blowing orgasms in exchange for vouching for you.”
“And you wonder why I didn’t ask,” Ethan drawled. In response, Bethany just shrugged.
Then she cocked her head. “Out of curiosity, what were the other options Leigh suggested?”
Fascinated, she saw his face redden slightly. “Out with it, Wu.”
“I would’ve had to have a family member sponsor me. Or marry a US citizen and gain permanent residency and possible citizenship via my spouse.”
“Well I can see why you went the work visa route. Marrying someone just to get a green card? That’s a lot.”
“Not to mention illegal.”
Ignoring him, Bethany plowed on. “I remember when Lucy got married. Lucy Callihan—we went to med school together. Anyway, Lucy did six months with Doctors Without Borders and fell in love with Callum, who was from Scotland. It was such a bureaucratic nightmare for them to marry and have him move here and live here legally.”
“Well, they must have really loved each other to do all that.”
“Seriously.”
“Well, if I ever ask you to marry me, you know it won’t be because I’m using you to become a citizen,” he said lightly. Too lightly.
“Obviously. You’re far too upstanding for that sort of thing. Your conscience would smite you before the idea even took root.”
“Obviously. But for the sake of argument, if I were to ever propose, it would be important to me that you know that I was doing it for the right reasons.”
“Duly noted.” And suddenly Bethany found it a little hard to breathe. “And what would those reasons be?” She did her best to make sure her voice didn’t quaver.
“Because I love you and can’t imagine my life without you. Because you’ve made me incredibly happy and I love coming home to you every day. Because you inspire me to be better, not just as a doctor but as a man. We make each other better. Because you’re the most incredible woman I’ve ever known and I’ve never met anyone as strong, funny, hardworking, and loyal. Even if we’re fighting and you drive me up the wall.”
“You forgot beautiful,” Bethany reminded him, dangerously close to tears.
“That goes without saying. Anyway, I’m not proposing or saying I plan to propose.”
“Of course. And I’m not saying you’re the best man I’ve ever known and that I love you with all my heart. That you make me better too and make me wildly happy. That I know every day how lucky I am to have found someone who loves me just as I am, who loves and accepts me at my worst, but pushes and inspires me to be my best. That I would of course say yes if you proposed. Which you’re not.”
He sat next to her, laced her fingers with his as he gave her a deep, tender kiss.
After breaking the kiss, she laid her head on his chest and sighed contentedly. Then a thought intruded, and she faced him with a warning look.
“Just so we’re clear, when you’re planning this proposal that you’re not planning to do, keep in mind that if you decide on some big public spectacle, I’ll have no choice but to kill you. Do not propose to me on the Jumbotron at Madison Square Garden.”
“You don’t even like basketball.”
She gave him a swift whack. “You know what I mean.”
“Understood.”
“And Pri would never forgive us if we didn’t make her flower girl.”
“Naturally.”
Bethany slid him a look. “My birthstone is aquamarine. I may prefer that to a boring, predictable diamond. Just so you know.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“See that you do.” She gave him another hug.
Then his phone pinged. He picked it up, read the message, set it back down.
“Who was that?”
“Dr. Ortega. Sending her congratulations.”
Bethany narrowed her eyes. “So that’s another person who found out before me. You’re beyond lucky you’re cute and I love you.”
“I had to tell her, she was one of my sponsors,” he protested.
“I guess.” Bethany pouted.
“She also wanted to remind me the clinic is doing another vaccine day in two weeks.” He arched a brow. “Care to join me?”
Bethany grinned. “Sign me up. I beat you last time and I’ll beat you again.”
“That was pure luck,” Ethan insisted. “Besides, I won the Lee family dumpling contest last month.”
“I maintain that was rigged,” Bethany muttered, still a tad salty. Then she brightened. “I won the Raskin Fellowship two years ago so we’re even there.” And she’d kept her word. She’d sent her parents on a two-week Caribbean cruise and donated the rest of the prize money to the Whitford Nash ER department to help compensate for the ever-constant budget cuts.
“I’ll grant you that,” Ethan conceded. But there was a mischievous glint in his eye. “Care to make things interesting? I have a forfeit in mind for whoever loses and vaccinates fewer people. Which will be you.”
Intrigued, Bethany nodded. He leaned over and as he whispered her grin grew.
“I’d say the terms you proposed would result in a win-win for both of us, and for once I’m okay with that.” She wrapped her arms around his neck as he lowered her onto the sofa.
“Perfect. I’m looking forward to dinner with our friends and family but if you don’t mind, I’d like to continue our private celebration.”
The Bethany Way said only a fool would turn down an offer like that, so Bethany gave in gracefully.
Just this once.
The End