Epilogue
It’s Christmas morning, and I’m panicking. Honestly, panicking is a fucking understatement. I’m second-guessing everything I’ve planned for Rosalie this morning while simultaneously trying to act calm.
We’re set to have our whole family gathered at my house later in the morning, and I’m not quite sure I can make it that long.
Frankly, I’m even more worried about the girls.
I entrusted both of them with today’s plans, wanting to make sure I had Paige’s permission to ask her mom to marry me, but now both of them are running wildly through the house, giggling every time they see me.
Rosalie’s dad and brothers are in town from Colorado and staying at her house. We invited them here knowing the first Christmas without Lily would be difficult. While they’ve taken over Rosalie’s house, she and Paige have been staying at mine.
This has been happening more and more often, and I’m hoping if all goes well today, it can become permanent. My family is driving over from Carlsburg and should be here within the hour, but at this point, I wish everyone had just spent the night at my house so I could get to this sooner.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anxious about asking Rosalie to marry me, but the way I plan on asking her could go one of two ways: down dumpster fire lane or off into the sunset. It truly depends on the day.
When I asked Rosalie’s dad for permission, he assured me it would be off into the sunset, and I’m placing all my trust in the man who’s known my soon-to-be fiancée her whole life that he wouldn’t guide me in the wrong direction.
Rosalie catches my wrist as I pace by her for the third time to adjust the nameplates the girls made for each guest on the table.
“Hey! It’s my turn to ask. Are you okay?”
No, I’m not okay. I’m panicking. I’m elated. I’m so ready for what comes next, but are you?
Instead, what comes out of my mouth is “Yes, I’m fine, just excited for everyone to be here.”
Rosalie quirks a brow but mercifully lets it go. It’s the first time our families have been together, so my reasoning is at least plausible.
There’s a knock on the door, and I immediately turn away from Rosalie to answer it.
I need space from her so I don’t spill everything prematurely.
When I open the door, Greg, Carter, and Jeremy are standing outside.
I let out a breath as their presence means I’m that much closer to giving Rosalie her present.
Each hug me, with Greg wrapping me up last and patting me on the back. “Are you ready for today?”
I blow out a laugh that sounds strangled. “I’m more than ready but insanely anxious. Are you sure this plan is okay?”
“Cam, she loves you. She’s entrusted you with her heart that was broken and her heart that’s healing. She’s shared so many moments with you, I know this will be more than okay.”
His words calm my nerves enough to make it through the arrival of my parents and most of the way through brunch, but as soon as everyone is piling the dishes into the sink, they come back full force.
We move to the living room in front of the tree, and I can barely see my gift hidden among the branches.
However, I’m not the only one excited for Christmas.
Paige and Addie are wired. We divvy out their presents first as oohs and aahs and loud squeals fill the air with every box opened, and when they have their piles of opened presents gathered in front of them, I stand and remove the envelope from the branches of the tree.
I walk toward Rosalie and hope she doesn’t see the tremor in my hand as I hand it to her.
“Merry Christmas, Rosie.”
She takes it carefully from my hand and opens it, pulling out the letter written on paper I removed from the very back of her mother’s journal.
She gasps, and her hand flies up to her mouth, shaking as much as mine while she reads what’s written on the pages.
Dear Lillian,
We met several months ago when your daughter bravely shared pieces of you with me through the pages of your letters, so I feel it’s only fair you get to know me. My name is Cameron Brown and I’m madly in love with your daughter.
I was fortunate enough to meet her during one of the most exciting times of her life and lucky enough to love her through some of the hardest. Our road to each other has been filled with unimaginable loss, yours included, but it’s also given us an unparalleled understanding of each other’s needs and an unwavering devotion to see those needs met daily through our love for one another.
We’ve weathered some hard times, but I’d walk every difficult path beside your daughter hand in hand if it led me to this moment.
Rosalie is kind, loving, and so funny. She has this amazing ability to simultaneously bust my balls and make me feel so damn loved, it’s genuinely baffling, and I wouldn’t trade a single second of it, ball-busting and all.
She’s unfathomably beautiful, and she’s the most incredible mother. Seeing the unconditional love she shows Paige and my daughter Addie every day is a gift. I have no doubt she got many of these amazing qualities from you and Greg, who’s here today. As are Jeremy and Carter.
It was important for me to include the entire family when I ask Rosalie to marry me today, and I felt like this was a more than appropriate way to include you. Thank you so much for being here and it’s so nice to officially meet you on such a special day.
Love,
Your future son-in-law, Cameron
When Rosalie looks up from the letter with tears sliding down her face, I’m on my knee holding a small velvet box cracked open to reveal a sparkling round cut solitaire ring.
“Rosalie Whittington, from the moment we met, I knew you were someone special. Your sass and strength were on display the instant I walked up to you on the side of the road. To this day, I swear you didn’t need my help at all. But I’m so glad you accepted it, that you accepted me…”
Rosalie’s eyes are trained on me, and her lips are curved into a smile that shows a slight quiver, so I place the ring down beside me and take both her hands in mine.
“You trusted me and allowed me to be there for you during some of the hardest days of your life, and I’ll never take that for granted.
In turn, that privilege gave me some of the best days of my life.
I want a million more days of your trust, your sass, your strength, and anything else you’re willing to give me because I want a million more days with you. Will you marry me?”
She’s nodding before I even finish, but before I slip the ring on her finger, I show her the engraving on the inside. Rosalie reads it on a choked sob. “Remember, I believe in you.”
That sentiment was at the end of every letter Rosalie’s mother wrote in the book destroyed by chocolate milk. I knew it was important to her, and I wanted her to have those words somewhere they wouldn’t get destroyed.
I slip the ring on her finger, and she flings herself at me, knocking me to the floor and kissing me fiercely.
“Oh, gross,” comes a voice I have come to recognize as Carter’s.
“Hey, man, she hasn’t even said yes yet,” says the other, belonging to Jeremy.
We both laugh as Rosalie cups my face and smiles down at me, whispering so only I can hear, “Yes.”
The smile that stretches even wider across my face must be a good enough indication she said yes because before I know it, two small bodies pile on top of us.
I wrap my arms around all three of my girls as their joyful laughter fills my ears, and I feel so damn grateful for this life we’ve been given.
THE END