Epilogue
Vance
Six months later
This was it. All my careful planning over the last few weeks was finally coming together.
Looking at my girls, I couldn’t help the smile spreading over my face.
I had never laughed more than in the last six months.
Mae had burst into my life, rearranging it and showing me what it meant to truly live.
There was no way I’d ever let them leave.
Call me obsessed, but Mae was the other half of my soul.
We connected in a way that I never had with anyone else.
And now I was about to ask the most important question of my life. But first, I was taking them to meet my family. We were in Hawaii, driving to my mom’s place, and Mae was twirling the bracelet on her wrist so much that I was worried she’d hurt herself.
I put my hand over hers, intertwining our fingers. I couldn’t seem to keep myself from touching her whenever she was within reach. Even when we were sleeping, we were always connected.
Kissing her knuckles, I did my best to ease her fears. “You’ve spoken to my mom over the phone lots of times. You get along with her already. So this will be the same, just face-to-face.”
She squeezed my hand, her body still strung tight. “But that was only over the phone. And we’ve only ever talked about the girls and gardening. This is in real life. Where she’ll actually see the sweat dripping off my forehead even though it’s the perfect temperature right now.”
“I promise you’ll forget all about being nervous as soon as you step through the door.”
My numerous nieces and nephews and the menagerie of cats and dogs would ensure it. My mom rescued as many animals as she could fit in her house.
“That’s a strong possibility, since it’s likely I’ll pass out.”
“Can a fish have a baby with a turtle?” Addy asked, oblivious to her mom’s state, but the question helped to take Mae’s mind off meeting my family.
Mae turned in her seat, thankfully not letting go of my hand. “They’re different species, so that’s not possible.”
“Hmm, but what about a dolphin and an orca?”
“That’s a good question. Let me look it up.” A minute later, she held her screen up so the girls could see it. “Apparently, it is possible. Well, kind of. A dolphin and a false killer whale—related to orcas but not actually one—can have a baby. The result is called a wholphin.”
We pulled up to my mom’s place, but her driveway and the street in front of the house were already full of cars. “This is it. I’ll let you guys get out and then look for a parking spot.”
Mae’s head whipped around, her eyes full of panic. “No. No, that’s okay. We’ll walk.”
Elana groaned. “I don’t want to walk. My legs hurt.”
Not waiting for an answer, she opened her door, closely followed by Addy. Without another choice, Mae pressed a brief kiss to my lips, then raced after the girls, who were already halfway up the driveway.
My mom’s place was right on the beach, and the girls had been beyond excited when I told them about all the rescue animals. We’d landed late yesterday but had spent last night and this morning in the house I owned. It backed onto the beach and was only a ten-minute drive from here.
I found a parking spot and rushed back. I trusted my family and knew they’d take good care of Mae, Addy, and Elana, but I also didn’t want Mae to feel uncomfortable.
The front door was closed, no doubt to keep the zoo inside, but it was unlocked and I walked right in. Mae and the girls weren’t in the hallway, having no doubt already been dragged inside to be introduced to everyone.
Four dogs raced up to me, jumping and licking my hands. “Hey, Scruffy. Nice bow tie.”
I also greeted Teddy, Harry, and Lolo before making my way down the hallway and to the back of the house. The party was in full swing, and the large room overlooking the ocean was busy with people.
A hand slapped me on the back. “Hey, man, I didn’t think you’d show up.” Uncle Ted, one of my four uncles, greeted me with a grin. “I think the last time I saw you was five years ago for Tia’s wedding.”
I cringed at the reminder that I hadn’t been back since my sister’s wedding. My mom and sisters had come out to visit me plenty of times, but I’d never made the time to come to see them. Work was always a priority. Until now.
“Have you seen Mae?”
“Who’s Mae?”
“My girlfriend. Long black hair, about five three. She came in with two little girls.”
He frowned. “Sorry, I was out back helping with the burgers. Makoa is on his way to burning them again since Kaia is distracting him with photos of houses. She’s got her eye on some place in the middle of the jungle.”
My sister loved nature and rescued almost as many animals as Mom. Her latest idea was to move to a house with land surrounding it so she could take in bigger animals as well. Her husband, Makoa, loved her more than anything and usually went along with whatever crazy ideas she’d come up with.
I scanned the room, but there was no sign of my girls. “We’ll talk later.”
The thing about family gatherings that I hadn’t attended in years meant I not only knew everyone, but everyone wanted to talk to me and chew me out for not being there more. But the only thing on my mind was finding Mae. I’d been there for twenty minutes already and hadn’t even made it to the deck.
Growing increasingly frustrated, I ignored anyone calling my name and went outside.
And the tension that had been growing with each interrupted step dissipated as soon as I saw Mae.
She was standing with my youngest sister, Caliope, and Mom.
They were laughing at something Mae must have said, their heads thrown back.
Searching the area, I found Addy and Elana playing tag in the sand with Tia’s son and Kaia’s girls. They fit right in, looking like they came here all the time.
Since about five relatives were between Mae and me, I took the rude approach and stomped through the crowd, past the pool and up to where my girlfriend stood at the edge of the patio, where she was keeping an eye on her girls.
Mom spotted me first, a wide smile splitting her face. “Look who made it after five years.”
I engulfed her in a tight hug. “Hey, makuahine.”
I hugged my sister next, which she followed up with a pinch to my side. I swatted her hand away, finally within reach of Mae.
I didn’t waste time pulling her into me, then touching my lips to hers. “You good?”
A hit to my side made me stand up straight and tuck Mae into me. “Stop being so violent, Cal.”
Caliope crossed her arms, glaring at me. At twenty years old, she was still all fire and way too much youthful energy. “You haven’t been home in five years. What did you expect?”
I dropped my gaze, escaping from her accusing stare. “I know. I’m sorry.”
When she didn’t respond, I risked a glance up and found her mouth open in shock. Raising a brow at her sudden silence, I couldn’t help but poke fun at her. “I like you much better quiet. It suits you.”
A red flush crawled up her neck, and I was grateful I could still run faster than her. Bracing myself for the fallout, I watched her eyes narrow.
“And I like you much better with a girlfriend. Mae was about to tell us about the car you bought her. Talk about over the top.”
Huh, guess my sister had grown up a lot in the last five years. Grinning, I nodded. “It’s not over the top. It’s the safest on the market.”
I could basically feel Mae rolling her eyes at me. “I’m only borrowing it.”
If she wanted to keep telling herself that she was only borrowing it, that was fine with me. There was no need to show her the registration papers, which were in her name. “You said yourself that you love the cupholders.”
I’d had her death trap of a car removed the moment the new car had arrived.
Mae hadn’t talked to me for two days. But since she loved me, she couldn’t stay away from me forever.
And she only had the new car to get the girls to school, so she also didn’t have a choice but to use it.
She still sometimes felt like she was a burden, but it meant I simply had to work harder to convince her that she’d given me so much more than I ever could repay.
I was living in a dream, and it was all thanks to this tiny little woman who had burst into my life.
Mom clapped her hands together. “Now that everyone’s here, let’s eat.”
I was so nervous, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get anything down.
Since I wanted tonight to be perfect, I’d enlisted Caliope’s help.
She’d strung lights all across the outside area and decorated the arch that led to the beach with flowers.
And that meant I needed to wait for sunset.
Apparently that was the most romantic time of the day. At least according to my little sister.
Mae called the girls, who were playing at the beach with their cousins, but they ignored her.
I walked down the steps and waved at the group playing catch. “Dinnertime.” That got me a few interested glances from the boys. “Last one to the table is a rotten egg.” That got all of them moving.
Mae laughed at the stampede that ensued, and I couldn’t help but stare at her. She was beautiful. Always. But when she was happy and smiling, she was impossible to look away from.
I made sure the girls had food and watched them settle on a blanket next to the pool, having a picnic, before I joined Mae at the buffet table. Her plate was still empty.
“You should try the poke.” I put some on her plate. “And you’ll love the huli-huli chicken. I put some on the girls’ plates, and they love it.” After adding manapua, I stopped, since the steamed bun threatened to topple off the side of her full plate.
“I think there’s still a little room left for a few grains of rice.”
She grinned at me, and I bent down and kissed the top of her head. “Smartass. Go find us a seat.”
She walked off, and I couldn’t help but watch until she sat down.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so at peace.”