Epilogue
“Sandy!” A familiar voice gasped. “You’re pregnant!”
I spun around to see Charlene Davidson, eyes bigger than a full moon as she zeroed in on my velvet-wrapped bump.
“Yeah I am,” I smiled before pulling her into a hug. “It’s so good to see you, Char.”
Char was one of the few people who didn’t demonize me after everything with me and Angie came out. We weren’t as close anymore, but she always loved on me when she saw me.
“Is the b- How is your pregnancy going so far?”
“It’s ok, Char,” I chuckled. “The baby is healthy. She was very planned and Angie takes good care of us.”
“I know he’s been on top of it. He really does excel in high pressure situations. By the way, I’m sorry how everything went down that Fourth, Sandy.”
“It’s ok. I know it was, uhm. A very unique situation,” I grimaced. “But I actually don’t go by Sandy anymore. When we got married, I changed my legal name back to Karma.”
“It suits you better,” she admitted. “All of this does.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Everything worked itself out in the end.”
I didn’t talk to my parents anymore, and Angie’s relationship with his mom had taken some hits.
However, we were happy. So happy. Days no longer felt like we were fighting our way upstream.
After everything came out, life clicked into place.
We got married, bought a house with a backyard, traveled for a year and then we made Gabriella.
The life I wanted with the person I adored was mine.
Simply because I was brave enough to ask for it.
“Pretty girl,” Angie cooed, as rounded the now parked car.
I admired my husband while he flicked his matching velvet blazer open.
Those licorice eyes were focused, his glossy lips were relaxed, and those thick fingers of his were already outstretched so that he could take my hand.
He wasn’t concerned about anything else.
Certainly not the petrified woman standing besides me. Not until I pointed her out.
“Oh. Hi, Char,” he exclaimed, finally noticing her.
“Hi, Angelo,” she said anxiously.
All three of us exchanged awkward glances while the world around us passed us by. Until like always, Angie opened his big mouth.
“Are we good?” he asked.
“We’re good,” she nodded. “Can- Can I come to the baby shower?”
“Of course,” we replied in tandem. “JINX!”
Char gave us a deep, genuine smile that made her eyes crinkle.
“I hated to admit it at first, but you two belong together. I’m glad I can see it now.”
“Thank you,” Angie nodded. “We should catch up sometime. But right now I gotta put some food in her. She just had her glucose test this morning.”
“Oof I remember those days,” Char grimaced as she gave me one more quick squeeze. “Talk soon.”
We made sure Char got where she was going before my round, waddling ass was ushered to the car. Where Angie already had the fan going.
“Oh thank God. I was hot as fuck,” I groaned.
“I know. I saw you getting irritated in the lab waiting room,” he chuckled. “Are you hungry, Mamas?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want pho?”
“You think you know everything?”
“No, not everything,” he smiled once again. “But I definitely know you.”
“I love you, Angie,” I cooed with tears pricking my eyes. “I’m glad we blew up our lives for this.”
“I love you more, Karma. I’m glad I get to love you out loud now.”
“Me too.”
“Yeah?” he smiled.
“Yeah,” I nodded as I rested my head against his shoulder.
Sometimes what happens in Vegas can change your life, and as I rode into the afternoon sun with my husband, I was grateful that we brought everything to the light.
Even the dark secrets everyone worked so hard to hide.
The end