Epilogue #2
They stood there for a minute, as traffic and the sounds of people going about their lives filled the silence between them.
Then, almost instinctively, they each leaned in and hugged.
It wasn’t emotional, or tender, or more than a brief moment that was enough to say we’ve been through hell together, but once again, we made it to the other side.
Sarah stepped back first, and Beth gave her a small smile—one Sarah recognized from years ago. The one that always meant we’ll figure it out. And, for the first time since that conversation in April, Sarah believed it.
The ferry terminal in Downtown Seattle was busy with people milling about, waiting for the boat.
As she stepped off, she scanned the waiting area, looking for Nell.
She spotted her, standing off to the side of the room, speaking quickly into her phone.
Her breath caught the second she saw her.
Only Nell could look that good in a striped button-down with rolled sleeves and cream trousers draped perfectly over her narrow frame.
It was infuriating how easily she managed to embody effortlessness.
Sarah didn’t care if it was shallow of her; the last few months had only given her a deeper appreciation for just how hot Nell looked in business attire.
As she approached, she caught the tail end of Nell’s conversation.
“Thanks again. I feel better knowing this is taken care of.” Nell quickly hung up the phone, eyes sparkling as they met hers.
“Hi—” was all she managed to get out before Sarah swooped her up into a kiss, one hand slipping behind the back of her neck, pulling her lips toward hers.
“Hi,” she answered back, breaking the kiss, her own smile stretching wide across her lips, eyes sweeping over Nell’s figure, and only smiling more. “I don’t know how anyone manages to pay attention to you in any of your meetings when you look this damn sexy,” she said affectionately.
Nell gave her that smile of hers—the one she knew was her favorite—the one that unfurled across her lips in the cutest way. “Sarah, you should know by now, I’m very good at making people listen to me.”
“Don’t I know it.” She grinned and took the weekender bag from Nell, slinging it effortlessly over her shoulder, before sliding her free hand into Nell’s as they boarded the ferry returning to the island.
Sarah led them up the green metal stairs to the observation level and found a quiet, tucked-away bench to sit where they could still take in the panoramic views of the Cascade Mountains.
The weather was too beautiful to be inside.
Living in a place where it rained through so much of the year, Sarah had always appreciated the way life seemed to slow down a bit whenever the sun was out on full display.
“How was your meeting? Did you get everything wrapped up with VYSE?” Sarah asked, crossing one leg over the other and draping an arm across the back of the bench.
Nell leaned into her side with a little sigh. “Yeah. Everything is squared away. Breakfast with Beth went okay, I assume?”
Sarah pulled her sunglasses down over her eyes as she hummed her confirmation. “Yup. It was time. I got what I needed from the space, and now we each get on with our lives. You were right.”
“I usually am.”
She caught Nell’s smirk. “I know, and it’s infuriating,” she mused quietly, enjoying the slight weight of Nell leaning up against her. She looked out over the glittering water stretching before them as the Seattle skyline shrank.
Nell gently patted her hand on her thigh. “You didn’t have to come get me, you know.” She smiled as she slid her sunglasses on, covering her eyes. “I could have taken a helicopter, saved you two hours of your precious time.”
“Yeah? With what money? Those helicopter rides aren’t cheap, and since you put me in charge of the finances . . .” She trailed off as Nell gave her thigh a playful squeeze. “It’s time well spent if you ask me. Plus, I missed you.”
“I promise it won’t be so long between visits next time. That unexpected trip to Minnesota really threw off my schedule.”
Sarah took Nell’s hand in hers, bringing it to her lips and pressing soft kisses along her knuckles.
“Six weeks was a little long for my liking,” she said, “but you told me when we first met that you’re a busy woman, and it really doesn’t bother me.
I like watching you be successful.” She smiled as she dropped Nell’s hand.
“Are you going to tell me what you’ve been up to in Minnesota? ”
“I don’t think you’re ready for that yet.” That Cheshire-cat smile Sarah adored was firmly in place as Nell spoke.
“You’re impossible, you know that?”
“That’s not what you were saying in June, on that balcony in Paris . . .”
Heat immediately flooded her as her mind snapped back to that warm evening spent on a balcony, looking out at the Eiffel Tower, Nell’s hands doing incredible things to her as she sipped champagne.
“So, uh, I’ve been working on that plan for how we’ll be distributing your money,” Sarah said, straightening a little, trying not to reveal to Nell where her mind had gone.
It was no use; Nell was grinning at her and tracing small circles on her bare thigh, just below the hem of her shorts.
She took Nell’s hand in hers, effectively putting a stop to the motion so she could focus.
“Tell me.” Nell’s perfectly shaped eyebrows lifted, her curiosity showing.
Sarah ran her thumb over the back of Nell’s hand before diving in.
“Well, it’s only been a few months, and I can’t exactly funnel away eighteen billion dollars overnight—though God knows I’ve fantasized about it.
I figured the best place to start was to build a framework.
My official proposal is already with Rowan.
We’ll go over it next week. I’m also bringing Avery on to my staff full-time, so we’ll need to discuss her salary and benefits.
The short version: I’m establishing a private foundation to serve as a centralized vehicle for giving.
The foundation will focus on scalable impact, directing funds to areas where they can have an immediate and lasting difference.
I’ve outlined in detail different organizations in my proposal, but I’d like to start with a continued focus on investment in women’s sports and scholarship funds for LGBTQIA+ students. ”
Nell was beaming. She felt that surge of pride she so often experienced when Nell looked at her like that. It completely took over her body and made her feel like she could do anything she wanted to.
“I’ve also been lining up some conversations with a few different Political Action Committees,” Sarah continued, “but haven’t made any official moves there yet. Figured you would want to sign off on those first.”
Nell shook her head once. “Hold off on those for now. I’m working on something presently, but when the time is right, I’ll bring you in.” She squeezed Sarah’s hand gently. “You’ve done so much already in such a short amount of time. I knew I picked a good one when I chose you.”
Sunlight danced around them, the breeze picking up loose strands of Nell’s hair, twirling them around.
Her shirt collar opened enough that Sarah could see the neat stack of thin gold chains Nell wore draped across her collarbone.
A thought slipped into her mind before she could stop it—one she had been circling back to more and more lately.
This might not be forever, but we’re exactly what each other needs right now.
“What is it?” Nell asked.
“Nothing. I’m just happy you’re here. Thanks for clearing a weekend for me.”
“I told you before—I always make the time for the things that are important to me.”
Sarah knew that. Nell had done nothing but prove that to her time and time again over the last year. She shifted slightly, reaching into her pocket, and pulled out a small, square box.
“I have something for you.” She handed the box to Nell, who looked at her in confusion. “Open it?”
Nell’s delicate fingers flicked the lid of the box open, revealing a set of simple diamond earrings, and a note wedged inside the box in Sarah’s handwriting. No one shines quite as bright as you. Happy birthday, N. Love you with a lowercase l.
“I can’t believe you finally got Nate to cave.” A wide smile stretched across her face.
“I can be very persuasive,” Sarah said. “Also, can we talk about how fitting it is that you had me come out to the Hamptons last year to celebrate your birthday unknowingly!?” Sarah gave Nell’s thigh a playful push.
“How on earth did you get Nate to crack? For being as chatty as he can be, he is usually pretty good at keeping secrets.” Nell’s giggles filled Sarah from the inside out.
“Now, why would I share my tactics with you? I might need them in the future.” She pressed a kiss to Nell’s cheek, breathing in that signature woody scent. “Do you like them?” She gestured to the box in Nell’s hand.
“I love them. They’re absolutely perfect.”
The following afternoon, Sarah pulled into the parking lot of a large warehouse. Several other cars were already there.
“Are you going to tell me what we’re doing yet?” Nell asked from the passenger seat.
“Nope. You’ll find out in a minute. Put this on,” she said, handing her a blindfold and slipping around to the other side of the car.
“You know I’m pretty much good, giving, and game for anything, but what exactly are we doing?” she said, fingers tracing over the fabric of the eye mask Sarah had handed her.
“Be patient,” Sarah insisted.
“I’ve never been particularly good at that.” Nell slipped on the mask as she unbuckled her seatbelt, sliding out of the car with Sarah’s help.
They walked hand in hand into the building together. “Is this payback for all the sketchy places I’ve taken you over the last year? Because each of those had a purpose.”
“Will you be quiet for a minute? You’re going to ruin my fun if you keep talking through this.”
She led Nell into the building and through a set of double doors to where a small group of people wearing matching canvas coveralls was gathered. Sarah couldn’t help the laugh that was already building in her as she tried to contain her excitement.
“Okay,” she whispered in Nell’s ear. “Mask off, please.”
Nell slid the fabric up over her eyes, blinking as a wave of noise hit her.
“Surprise!” the group gathered before them shouted, jumping up and down with excitement.
Standing before them were Lily, Wren, Nate, and her sister Kelly. Amanda had her arm draped over Kelly’s shoulders, and Jamie stood next to Amanda, with Beth, then Sean and Pat standing beside her. Everyone was smiling, looking ridiculous in their matching getup.
“For you,” Nate said, with a flourish, handing Nell a set of coveralls.
“What on earth,” Nell said, looking around in disbelief. “How—”
“Welcome to your birthday party.” Sarah beamed as she stepped into a pair of coveralls herself, indicating that Nell should do the same. “We’re gonna destroy some stuff.”
Sarah had rented out a rage room for the afternoon—a warehouse filled with rooms and rooms of things they could smash and shatter and beat till they were perfectly content.
An attendant for the space gave them all a quick rundown of the ground rules and covered a few safety guidelines before letting them loose inside.
Lily and Wren made a beeline for some metal baseball bats and a crate filled with empty wine bottles. Beth naturally gravitated toward the cans of spray paint, while Amanda, Jamie, and Kelly ventured deeper into the building and out of sight, along with Nate.
Sarah and Nell moved together further into the building, broken glass crunching beneath their shoes. They turned a corner into a room where Beth was spray-painting across old TVs as Wren smashed them with a bat. Beth caught her eye and gave her a weak smile from behind her face shield.
“How did you know that I would love this?” Nell asked, leaning close enough so Sarah could hear her over the sounds of smashing glass.
“You might act like you’re too good for it, but I know deep down you love to take care of your inner child.
You do it every Christmas with Nate when you go to Disney, and you do it for yourself through Mother Goth.
I figured this might be something a nineteen-year-old you could have used.
” Sarah reached out and grabbed a sledgehammer that was resting against the wall.
“So, what is it going to be first?” she asked, with a grin.
“Do you want to take this sledgehammer to a car? Or grab some spray paint and go to town?”
Nell looked at her with complete and utter delight in her eyes, and Sarah committed that look to her memory forever, promising herself that she would always do her best to pull that look from Nell for as long as their lives were intertwined.
“Sledgehammer, hands down,” Nell said, flipping down the front of her plastic face shield and taking the sledgehammer from her. Sarah laughed before following her into the next room.
“Let’s fucking go, baby.”