Epilogue
LAURA
Five Years Later
This is alright. This is so alright. I take a deep breath, and it shudders out of me. Well. It doesn’t look that alright.
“Love. Are you sure you want to be here?” Asher asks.
“Sure. Of course I do.”
“You don’t look like it. You look like you’re about to get sick.”
“No, I’m not.”
Asher stops and turns me to face him. “Love. We can leave. Seriously.”
I’m shaking my head even before the words are out of his mouth. “No. It’s my high school reunion. I can’t just leave.”
“You don’t look comfortable.”
I am not comfortable. These people are my friends on Facebook, but they were never friends in real life.
They teased me about my weight, about my lack of boyfriends, and about how goody-two-shoes I was.
They didn’t make my life easier, and I already had to deal with my mother’s death and the pressure my father put on me.
Closing my eyes, I take another deep breath.
When I open them, Asher is gazing back at me.
He’s my rock. The single most important person in my life.
Without him, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
I’d be stuck working for my father, never going after the things I love.
Asher changed everything. Having him next to me makes me feel braver.
Tilting my chin up, I meet his eyes. “I think I’m ready.”
He twists his lips. “You don’t need to be ready. We can leave.”
I shake my head. “I want to try. At least for some thirty minutes.”
He studies my face for another moment, then nods.
Intertwining his fingers with mine, he grips my hand, letting me know he’s here.
He’ll always be here. Together, we walk into the gymnasium of my old high school, all decked out in blue and white.
The colorful lights make the white balloons shimmer, and I put a smile on my face as I recognize faces.
Some wave at me; others narrow their eyes as if they don’t recognize me.
Judy and Addie, two girls who used to give me hell, walk closer. They release a fake gasp when they see me, then rush to hug me.
“Laura! It’s been forever!”
“How have you been?”
“Hi,” I greet them. “It’s, um, great to see you, too.”
They wave for some people close by, and others of my ex-classmates and their partners join us, creating a circle. My stomach churns with apprehension. I hated to be the center of attention because that meant many people were making fun of me.
“What have you been up to?” they ask.
“Who is that?” one girl squeals, pointing out at Asher.
“This is Asher, my husband.”
They don’t hide their surprise, gasping at me. “Husband?”
“Laura has a husband?” they say. My face lights up in shame, and I’m so damn glad I put some foundation on.
“Good for you, Laura,” Fernando, one of my old classmates, says. “Are you working with your father?” Though he was one of those who started the jokes about me, his voice has not a drop of sarcasm. He just wants to know. I guess some people grow out of their high school mean selves.
“No, I actually teach piano.”
“Really?” they say, and this time the conversation shifts. The change is not gradual. People are really interested in me playing the piano. Some ask for my contact information so they can send their kids. A couple of girls mention they’ve always wanted to learn it and are also interested.
“Don’t you two have kids, Laura?” Judy asks, cutting another girl off. “A woman is never truly happy until she has kids, you know? I have two myself.”
I curl my nose at her. The conversation was going so well. Judy had to butt in.
“Not at the moment,” Asher replies. “We’re not thinking of kids anytime soon. We’re happy, just the two of us.”
Judy tilts her chin up. “But a woman’s duty...”
“The only duty Laura has is with her dreams,” Asher cuts her off. “And that’s not one of them.”
Judy tries to butt in again, but the others ignore her, starting a conversation about music again. When they learn I’m joining the local orchestra for summer shows, they get so pumped for me it doesn’t even look like they hated me in high school.
Shooting a glance at Asher, I mentally thank him.
Thank him for being this amazing man, amazing husband.
For loving me above all else, for respecting all my wishes and fears.
And I thank him for always pushing me towards my dreams and being my rock when things go wrong.
He’s the best person I could have ever hoped for.
My favorite person.
THE END OF BOOK 6