Epilogue
ALEXA - ONE YEAR LATER
Ipush through the back door with a tray of hot-dog buns, scanning our crowded backyard with satisfaction. The picnic table groans under the weight of way too much food, and our guests are scattered across the lawn in various states of relaxation and play.
Dr. Ferrera and Dr. Abrams from Jordan’s work are deep in conversation near the grill.
Jordan and Amy’s parents, Frank and Linda, drove up from Florida just for today’s gathering, and they’ve been doting on both boys with the enthusiasm of grandparents making up for lost time.
Esme arrived about an hour ago with store-bought brownies and her new boyfriend Daniel, whom I’m meeting for the first time but already like; he spent time patiently teaching Henry how to honk the horn on his toy tractor.
And then there’s my family. Jordan chases eighteen-month-old Henry around the base of the enormous pirate-ship playset he gave Ash last Christmas, both of them laughing as Henry toddles away on his chubby legs, shrieking with delight every time Jordan pretends he’s going to catch him.
The playset dominates one corner of the yard with its climbing walls, slides, and rope ladder, though Henry is still too young for most of its features.
What Henry lacks in climbing ability, he makes up for in enthusiasm for his red motorized tractor.
The little John Deere sits abandoned near the flower beds where he parked it before Jordan distracted him with the chase game, but I know it won’t be long before he’s back to “mowing” the grass and beeping the horn at anyone who’ll listen.
“Mom, can you help me with the drinks?” Ash calls from the kitchen door, struggling with a tray loaded with glasses and a pitcher of lemonade. At ten, he’s all gangly limbs and growing confidence, but sometimes his ambition still outpaces his coordination.
“Of course, sweetheart.” I set down the hot-dog buns and take the pitcher from him, steadying his tray. “Thanks for being such a good helper today.”
“You’re welcome. Did you see Jordan’s dad climbing on the pirate ship with me?” Ash laughs. “And his mom keeps taking pictures of Henry and me with a huge smile on her face.”
My heart swells watching him talk about Jordan’s family with such easy affection.
It took time for Ash to trust that Jordan wasn’t going anywhere, that this wasn’t temporary like so many other things in his life had been.
But Jordan showed up, day after day, for soccer games and homework help and bedtime stories.
I ended up not selling my grandmother’s house after all.
Instead, Jordan moved in with Ash and me, while Amy and Henry moved next door into Jordan’s old house.
Living next to each other has made everything so much easier.
We share dinners and childcare, and it feels like the most natural thing in the world.
The boys run back and forth between the houses like they own both, and Amy and I have become the best of friends.
“Your potato salad is amazing.” Amy appears at my elbow, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She looks radiant, completely recovered from the accident that could have changed everything.
“It was my grandma’s recipe,” I answer.
“Well, it’s insanely good.” She bumps my shoulder playfully. “You look extra happy today. What’s going on?”
“I am happy,” I tell her, and it’s the absolute truth. “Life is good.”
Even that feels like an understatement. The afternoon unfolds in the easy rhythm of family gatherings.
Everyone mingles and bonds over stories of Jordan’s transformation from workaholic bachelor to devoted family man.
Jordan holds court near the grill, flipping burgers while Henry “helps” by banging a wooden spoon against a pot.
I catch Esme and Daniel laughing together near the flower beds, and I’m happy to see her so content.
“You’re being awfully quiet,” Jordan says, settling beside me with two plates of food. “Everything okay?”
“Everything’s so perfect.” I accept the plate, noting how he automatically remembered I don’t like pickles. “Just taking it all in.”
“Hard to believe it’s been a year since Amy woke up.” Jordan’s voice carries wonder. “Sometimes I look around and can’t believe this is really our life.”
“I know,” I murmur. “Talk about surprising.”
“The best kind of surprising.” He leans over to kiss my temple. “And speaking of family… what do you think?”
I bite into my smile and nod. “Let’s do it now.”
He stands up abruptly, tapping his knife against his beer bottle to get everyone’s attention. The chatter dies down as our guests turn toward us, curious expressions on their faces.
“Sorry to interrupt the festivities,” Jordan begins, reaching for my hand and pulling me to my feet beside him. “But Alexa and I have some news we wanted to share with the people who matter most to us.”
My heart starts racing, even though we planned this moment together. Looking around at the faces of the people we love, I feel overwhelmed by how much our family has grown.
“Well, don’t keep us in suspense,” Esme calls out, grinning.
Jordan looks at me, raising an eyebrow in question. When I nod, he turns back to our guests with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.
“We’re having a baby,” he announces, his voice full of joy and wonder.
The reaction is immediate and overwhelming. Amy shrieks and covers her mouth with her hands. Esme jumps up from her chair and nearly knocks over her wine glass. Dr. Ferrera starts clapping, and Jordan’s parents look like they might die of happiness.
But it’s Ash’s reaction that stops my heart. His face lights up with pure, uncomplicated happiness as he processes what this means.
“I’m going to be a big brother?” he asks, and when I nod, he lets out a whoop that probably alerts the entire neighborhood. “This is the best day of my entire life!”
Henry, picking up on the excitement, even if he doesn’t understand entirely what this means, claps his hands. “Yay!” he yells. “Yay! Baby?”
“Yes, baby,” Jordan tells him. “You’re going to be a cousin, buddy!”
“When?” Amy asks, moving to hug us both.
“Early April,” I tell her, accepting congratulations from everyone as they surround us with love and excitement.
“A spring baby,” Esme says, wiping tears from her eyes.
As the chaos of congratulations continues around us, Jordan takes my hand and leads me a few steps away from the crowd. His eyes are bright with unshed tears.
“There’s actually one more thing,” he says, and before I can ask what he means, he’s dropping to one knee in front of me.
The backyard goes silent. Even Henry stops babbling.
Jordan pulls a small velvet box from his pocket, and my hands fly to my mouth as I realize what’s happening.
“Alexa,” he begins, his voice steady, “a year ago, you saved my life. You showed me what love really looks like. What family really means.”
He opens the box to reveal a beautiful vintage ring.
“You taught me that family is about showing up, every day, and choosing to love each other through whatever comes. You’ve given me Ash, who’s become the son of my heart.
You’ve given me a house that feels like a home.
And now you’re giving me another child to love. ”
“Jordan,” I whisper, overwhelmed.
“Alexa Rebecca Costello, will you marry me?”
The yes is out of my mouth before he finishes asking. “Yes, of course! Yes!”
The ring slides onto my finger perfectly, and then Jordan is standing and I’m throwing my arms around him, kissing him while our family and friends cheer around us.
When we finally break apart, I’m crying and laughing at the same time. Jordan’s thumbs brush away my tears as he cradles my face.
“I love you,” he whispers. “I love you to the moon and back, Alexa.”
“I love you too,” I whisper back.
“Group hug!” Ash announces, crashing into us. Henry is right behind him, grinning and throwing his arms around my legs.
We all collapse into a pile of arms and laughter, and looking around at our chosen family, I’m struck by how perfectly imperfect this all is.
A year ago, I was a single mom struggling to make ends meet. Jordan was a workaholic bachelor who thought family was a luxury he couldn’t afford.
Now here we are, engaged and expecting, surrounded by love in the backyard where I grew up, planning a future that’s bigger and more beautiful than anything I dared to dream.
This baby will grow up knowing exactly what home feels like. They’ll be surrounded by siblings and chosen aunts and uncles, by a community of people who understand that family is something you build, not just something you’re born into.
And someday, when they’re old enough to understand, we’ll tell them the story of how their family began. How sometimes the most beautiful things come from the most unexpected places.
How sometimes, even the people you once overlooked, who you only acknowledged in quick passings, can become the people you can’t live without. Your family.
“To family,” Jordan says, raising his voice.
“To family,” we all echo as one.
The End
I hope you’ve enjoyed Alexa and Jordan’s story!