Epilogue - Emily
The sun hung lazily in the clear blue sky, casting a warm glow over the sprawling backyard. With a drink in his hand, Sebastien chatted with Leo as he manned the grill, the tantalizing aroma of grilled burgers drifting through the air, mingling with the soft laughter of family. By the pool, Lucy ran barefoot, her curls bouncing as she chased shimmering bubbles from the bubble machine Nathaniel had set up earlier, her giggles the sweetest sound.
I stood, cradling three-month-old Lillian against my chest. Her tiny hands clutched at my blouse, her warm breath a steady reminder of how precious life could be. Dominic’s arms rested around my waist, his presence warm and welcoming as we watched Vincent and Axel locked in a spirited volleyball match in the pool, their laughter and splashes carrying across the yard like music.
Just then, Kristi breezed in, on Ethan’s arm. Ethan and Kristi actually met the day she picked me up from Seb’s restaurant and they’ve been inseparable since. I couldn’t help but smile. I’d never seen her so happy.
It’s funny how she used to be the one telling me that commitment wasn’t for her, but here she was glowing in it. I was genuinely happy for her, that love had come into her life when she least expected it.
And then it hit me, we both had found it when we’d stopped looking for it. I guess love really does have a way of finding you when you least expect it.
“Sorry, we’re late!” Kristi called out, her voice melodic and confident, with just the right touch of sass. She kissed Ethan briefly before making her way toward Dominic and me, her eyes twinkling mischievously. Ethan gave us a nod and made his way over to Nate and Alec, who were lounging by the pool chairs.
Kristi leaned down, scooping Lillian from my arms. “Give me this sweet girl. You two have hogged her long enough.”
Lucy bounded up to Kristi, her face lighting up. “Hi, Kristi! I missed you!”
“Hi, Lucy! I missed you too,” Kristi said, her voice warm. “I think Lillian’s old enough to take her under our wing. What do you think? Imagine her being as sassy as us!”
Lucy giggled, nodding eagerly. “Yes! She’ll be just like us!”
“Atta girl,” Kristi said with a wink, making Lucy giggle even harder.
Dominic called out to Ethan, “Come get your girl. She’s over here plotting to change my girls into her.”
Ethan laughed from across the yard, “I don’t see the downside of that!”
Mrs. Kensington bustled out with a tray of fresh lemonade, setting it down on the table alongside the other drinks before making her way over to where Kristi and Lucy were fawning over Lillian.
When the burgers were finally ready, everyone gathered around the table, chatting and enjoying the meal. Dominic helped Lucy pile her plate with food, while Kristi and Ethan took turns feeding Lillian so I could eat.
Just as we were getting into the swing of things, Seb's phone rang. He excused himself, stepping away for a moment. When he returned, he looked flustered, running a hand through his hair. “Remind me never to promote anyone under the age of thirty to manager,” he said with a sigh. “I've got another mess to clean up at the club. Some genius thought it would be a good idea to triple-book the VIP lounge.”
Kristi raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying herself. “Are you saying people under thirty aren’t manager material?”
Seb shot her a look but smiled. “What I’m saying is that particular individual isn’t manager material.”
Kristi’s lips curled into a playful smile. “Just checking.”
Ethan chuckled, “Babe, really?”
Kristi pecked him on his lips, “Yes, really. Everyone under thirty aren’t irresponsible I just needed the older folks around this table to know that.”
Dominic cleared his throat as a he smiled, “Older folks, huh.”
I nudged Dominic with my elbow, and he laughed. “What? I’m just making sure that with my old age and all that I’m hearing correctly.” Kristi giggle and I rolled my eyes playfully at Dominic.
Just as Seb was about to take a seat, his phone rang again. He sighed, answering it quickly. His face went pale as he listened, and when he hung up, he ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tightening with irritation.
“What’s wrong?” Kristi asked, noticing the change in his demeanor.
Seb sat down and leaned in slightly, lowering his voice so Lucy wouldn’t hear.
“That was Tony, one of the bouncers. A guy from the old neighborhood showed up earlier. Gave him an ultimatum: pay a protection fee, or they’ll trash the club. Said it’s 'business,' but I’m not having it.”
Kristi's eyes narrowed. “A protection fee? That’s extortion.”
Seb chuckled darkly, his tone rough. “I know. But the guy thought I’d be scared, figured I’d bend to the pressure. I told him no. Flat out. But now Tony just told me they're planning to come back, and this time, they want their money.”
Dominic raised an eyebrow. “What are you going to do?”
Seb’s eyes hardened. “Handle it. They want to think they can push me around, but they don’t know who they’re dealing with. I’ve been in this game too long. If they come back, they’ll be the ones learning the lesson.”
Kristi looked at him, concern in her gaze. “You sure you’ve got it under control?”
Seb smirked, his voice low and confident. “Trust me. I’ve handled worse. If they think they’re going to scare me into paying for their ‘protection,’ they’ve got another thing coming. I’ll make sure they know this club—my business—ain’t something they can mess with.” Ethan gave him a knowing look. “Just don’t do anything too reckless. You’ve got people who’ll back you up.”
Seb glanced at her, his gaze steady and unshaken. “I'm not worried about that. But I appreciate it. I'll take care of this.”
As the afternoon wore on, and Lillian finally fell asleep, I carried her inside and laid her gently in the bassinet. I left the door open so I could still hear the laughter from the pool. My phone rang, and seeing Dad’s name on the screen, I cut the call.
“Still haven’t forgiven him?” Dominic asked as he sank into the seat beside me and pulled me close to him.
“I have, but I can’t bring myself to be around him, you know? How could he use his own child like that?”
I glanced down at Lillian, and my heart ached. I couldn’t imagine ever putting her in a situation that would hurt her. After the investigations, Amber had confessed that Dad knew nothing about the man she’d hired to scare us at the ice cream parlor or about the abduction. It was a relief, in a way, but the damage was done. The trust was shattered.
“It’s okay, baby. Just take your time,” Dominic said softly, his hand gently resting on mine.
I honestly didn’t know if I’d ever want to be around my father again, or have Lillian in his presence. It hurt too much to think about. And it saddened me that Lillian and my father would never share that bond, a bond I had always taken for granted. I didn’t know how to fix it, or even if it was fixable.
But in that quiet moment, as Dominic sat beside me, his presence was a balm. It reminded me that, even in the face of such hurt, there was still love, still joy.
“Dominic, have I told you that you're a great father and husband?” I trailed his jawline.
“Not today,” he smiled capturing my hand in his.
“Well, you are. And I appreciate you. I love you.”
I planted a kiss on his lips, and he kissed me softly in return. I tangled my fingers in his hair and pressed myself against him, our kiss deepening. But then he pulled away, his lips curling into a mischievous grin.
“Mrs. Quantum, if you're not careful, we might just end up with three kids.”
My eyes twinkled mischievously. “Is that a challenge, Mr. Quantum?”
Dominic growled, “Tonight, challenge accepted.”
*****
THE END