Epilogue
SKYLAR
Five Years Later
“Ladies, ladies, can I have your attention?” Alice says, getting up from her chair and clinking a fork against her champagne glass. The rest of our friends settle down, facing Alice, who’s about to give a toast.
We’re sitting on the deck of a quaint little restaurant in the mountains. The warm summer sun washes over us, and the way Alice is standing shields my eyes from the harsh light. She’s got a beaming smile on her face, and she’s looking at me with excitement and tears in her eyes.
“As you all know, we’re here today in celebration,” Alice continues. “Celebration of life and love, for the little one growing inside Skylar. The first of many, I’m sure.” Alice giggles, then gives me a cheeky wink, and I can’t stop the smile that grows on my face.
“To many more,” I say, raising my glass of Appletiser, and clinking glasses with all the girls who are here to celebrate.
“So, what are you going to name her?” Alice asks, getting back in her chair.
I rub a hand over my swelling belly. It’s not long now until I bring Mason’s child into the world. If I’m honest, I knew the question would come up, but I didn’t plan much for it.
“I don’t know,” I say, shrugging. “I guess I’ll decide when I look into her eyes.”
“What does Mason think? He’s always got such strong opinions on things,” Alice asks, sipping from her glass of champagne.
I can’t help but giggle, knowing that what they see and what I see are completely different. My husband, the strong bull-headed man, is little more than putty in my hands, bending to my will.
Even as I sit here, now, I know he’s somewhere close. If I looked hard enough, I might even be able to spot him hidden in the trees, keeping his ever-watchful eye on me.
“Mason doesn’t really have much say in the matter,” I reply. “I’m the queen of the house, don’t you know?”
Alice laughs, and so do the others, because they’ll never know that the monster everyone fears belongs to me.
THE END.