Epilogue
CARTER
Two years later
Becky is my beautiful wife. Through my mistakes, through my choices, through the worst summer of my life, I maintained this hope that she would be mine.
We just got back from our honeymoon, and school is starting back up in a week.
This means that our tradition is on—starting when I get home from work today.
Not long after Taylor left, Trevor approached me again, and I, in turn, approached Becky.
She was completely supportive, told me to go for it.
When I asked if she wanted to know more about it, she told me, “Unless you want help naming it, which I have a perfect name, I trust you to make a good decision. Just keep me in the loop.” That name?
Moron Motors. As apt as that was, especially considering what I’ve learned about the other two morons since that day, we still went with the original name Billy’s parents had. “The Shop.”
Unsurprisingly, she was amazing in her support and belief in me.
She always has been. I just lost sight of it in my pride.
That night under the stars, the first time we were together since everything happened, Becky played with my necklace while we lay in the bed of my truck, tangled under the blankets I thankfully packed.
“You kept it this whole time.” I looked down to see the ring in her hand.
“Of course I did.” I pulled her into me just a little closer.
“You told me you loved your ring, and I love you. It was an easy choice for me to make.” She smiled into my chest, her hand remaining on the ring.
Part of me worried I should sell it and give her the money for it, but something made me keep it.
Made me want to keep it close to me. I’m glad I listened to my gut.
One year later, not to the day, she’d kill me if I did it on a sex anniversary, and four years after she stumbled into the shop, Becky was wearing a new ring on her finger.
A year after that, a few days ago, she finally put her ring back on.
This time, I added an inscription to the inside.
Always you. Always yours. Our wedding was incredible, a beautiful flower girl and adorable ring bearers, our closest friends and family.
Today, she gets to learn what my wedding gift to her is going to be.
I have everything for our tradition set up for us at the house, so I just need to pick her up after work to get her opinion. See how she feels.
“You good man?” Trevor asks from the office—his office now Paul’s long gone. Thoroughly sanitized, of course.
“Yeah, I just really hope she agrees to it.” I didn’t make a big choice without her, but I did keep a big option from her.
“She’s going to love it.”
I sure as hell hope so. I turn back to the car I’m working on when my alarm goes off.
“Welp, all done boys!” I call in excitement.
I no longer allow my inattention to be the reason I’m late home to my woman.
Becky never says anything, but I can see the shadows in her expression when I come home a little late or answer one of my many random messages about car stuff.
It’s not as often as it used to be, but she still battles the after effects of my choices.
Now, I’m as open as possible with her whenever that look hits her eyes, and before.
We also have more vehicles available as rentals for customers if they need them now. That was one of my first moves as an owner. For reasons.
I rush out the door without a look back, but I hear both Trevor and Billy laughing at me from inside the shop. Whatever, they’re both just as bad.
?????
Becky
I am fully decked out in my HP hoodie and leggings, ready to rock and roll for when Carter gets home from work.
I know he won’t forget. He’s put too many reminders on his phone and around our house for me to worry about that happening anymore.
Right on cue, I hear the rumbling of his old ass truck pulling up to the house. Only, it keeps running.
Odd. The door flies open, and there’s my handsome husband smiling his goofy smile. He doesn’t hesitate as he strides through the living room and directly to me. I feel my smile match his as he swoops me up into his arms. I melt into him. My home.
Carter backs up and holds me away from him to meet my eyes. “Come with me.”
“I usually do.” I say with a smirk. He laughs his laugh at that, and I join in.
“No, come with me. I have something I want to show you.” His humor sits in his voice, as he slides his scratchy beard against my cheek.
“Okay, do you need to get the groceries first?”
“There aren’t any.” At my frown he just grins. “Trust me.”
I do. “Okay, fine. Let’s go.”
When we pull up to his parents house, I’m confused, a little annoyed and quietly disappointed. “You didn’t schedule a family dinner or something, did you?”
“No, of course not. Let’s go!” He hops out and runs over to my side to help me down.
I want to argue, but I accept his help. We walk in together holding hands, as usual, to see his parents waiting for us at their door.
“Hey Mr. and Mrs. Stewart!” His dad, Lyle, greets us with a giant smile. He’s the older twin to his son. Goofy grin and thick salt and pepper hair included. Carter is their only child, and they had him young, so they’re not exactly elder parents.
“Hey Mr. and Mrs. Stewart!” Carter calls back. Dork.
“So, let’s sit and talk.” Loretta greets us with a warm smile, holding her arm out to guide us to the dining room. We all sit in our normal places. I try to relax, but Carter keeps darting looks all over the room, avoiding everyone’s gaze.
“So, we talked about it, and—” Loretta starts before her husband cuts in.
“We want to give you two our house.” Lyle bursts out.
Holy shit. “Holy shit!” Oops. “I mean, are you serious?”
All three Stewarts smile at me. “Absolutely. We would have already done it–we basically live in the camper already and want to cut ties to this place—but this guy,” Lyle shoves Carter a bit, “insisted that nothing be done until you get a chance to be a part of the conversation.” Carter gives me a wider smile, and I love him. I love him so much.
“Carter…” I don’t even know what to say. I’m speechless.
“Is it okay, Becky? Is this okay?” Carter asks me quietly.
“We’ll give you a second to talk, kids.” His parents take the cue to leave us. The quiet squeak of the chairs against the floors punctuate their exit.
Carter’s hand clasps my chin and tilts my head to meet my eyes directly. “Is it?”
“You could have had a house?” I don’t know what to say. My mind is trying to wrap around his words, this offer.
His eyes bounce between my own, trying to read me.
Good luck. I can’t read myself. “Yeah, before we got married they’d told me they wanted to give it to me for a wedding present, but I told them I wanted to be married to you first so it came to us, not me.
I wanted you to be a part of the decision.
” He says all of this with simple, earnest honesty.
My heart thuds a little stronger in my chest at the way this man has been treating me. “Carter, you don’t have to keep winning me, you know. I’m here. I’ve forgiven you.”
His face transforms from earnest to serious, his eyebrows lowering.
“Of course I need to keep winning you.” He pulls my face towards his and gives me a gentle kiss.
“You’re the most important person in my life, Becks.
I’m going to prove it to you for the rest of our lives, together—hopefully in this house. ”
“Carter.” My mouth shapes his name, and I push as much warmth into is as possible so he feels the words I’m saying.
“You’re my one. Thank you. Thank you for—for everything.
I know I’m terrible at telling you these things, but I love you so much.
” I kiss him back, breathing him in and threading my fingers through his hair, but he pulls away.
“No, why’d you stop?” I tug on his hair and he lets out a low laugh.
“First of all, because my parents are watching us through the mirror in the hallway.” I back away from where I was still pulling on him to kiss me again as heat fills my cheeks.
Carter’s hand raises to brush over the blush.
“Secondly, do you need to think about it?” His eyes are excited but still a little unsure.
I can’t help my scoff. “Do I need to think about a house being given to my husband and I? Are you kidding?” The thought is intoxicating, and it’s taking everything inside of me to not start cataloging every single change and imagining our eclectic collection of goods inside this very room.
Involuntarily, my eyes cut to the walls, covered in nineties’ era chicken wallpaper extending from the kitchen.
“Ye-yes? Wait, no?” I cut my eyes back to him, my body suffused with warmth, joy, belonging, excitement. I let it out in a burst of unfiltered joy.
“No, I don’t need time to think about it at all.
This is amazing, Carter!” I hop into his lap and smoosh his handsome face between my hands, giving him a smacking kiss.
His arms slide around me, anchoring me to him.
I back up and meet his eyes. Hopefully conveying all of my certainty in my face, words, and actions.
Nodding my head, I lean forward and add another detail, something we’ve already been discussing.
“Let’s make some babies and fill this place up, Mr. Stewart.
” I whisper against his ear, deliberately brushing it with my lips.
A clearing of a throat reminds me that we aren’t alone, and I flush a little, but unabashedly remain in his lap, which is good because Carter doesn’t release me from his grasp.
Instead he leans into me, whispering into my own ear.
“Sounds like a plan, my LCC.” He says quietly, just loud enough for me to hear.
Without warning, Carter stands with me in his arms, making me squeal, and walks me past his parents into their—our living room which is filled with all of the cheesy, gooey goodness our binge-and-veg-a-thon is all about.
“Bye kids!” His parents call out to us before I hear the door close behind them.
Still in Carter’s arms, I look at him with a question in my eyes.
He answers me with a look in his.
“I guess this is our house now.” I say aloud.
“It really is.” He responds with a smile.
“This is our life.”
“Yes it is.”