EPILOGUE #2
“About the engagement?” I shake my head and gaze into his eyes. “Later. I like this being our secret for a while, and you’ve got a show to do.”
Tommy grins. “Here we go. The last show of the tour.”
“I can’t say I’m not happy it’s over. It was tough not having you around and being so heavily pregnant.”
“At least I got back in time for Bonnie’s birth.”
“Just,” I remind him.”
We couldn't believe it when the midwife announced Bonnie’s due date. It was smack bang in the middle of the tour and I went into labour two weeks early. Thank God Tommy was in Scotland and not abroad. He arrived at Braebeach Hospital with an hour to spare.
“It was a difficult time for both of us, but I appreciate everything you did to keep our family together, although it didn’t stop me from missing you.
” Tommy’s arm curls around my waist and his mouth is on mine instantly.
I melt into his arms and, for a few short seconds, it’s just the two of us.
Then the wolf whistles and clapping begin.
Max, Ash, Calla, and the crew all applaud and whistle around us.
As we break apart, my face is boiling hot, and I giggle like a schoolgirl, but Tommy doesn’t care who sees us or what they think. “Love you, babe,” he mouths.
“Love you too,” I mouth back.
Our boys are excited to meet some of their rock idols who are mingling in the VIP area.
For seven-year-olds, their musical knowledge is pretty impressive, and I love listening to them dazzle their heroes with facts and figures.
I’m not surprised. They spend so much time with Tommy when he’s home, either in his music room or over at Ash’s place, something was bound to rub off on them.
“It feels like the old days back here, don’t you think?” I say to Calla. “Remember being back here for the first time and getting completely starstruck?”
“We were a lot younger then.”
“Speak for yourself, Granny.” But when I think about it, we were so much younger.
The children appear, and Josh tugs on my arm. “Mum, can we go out to the crowd now? The band is coming on soon and we’re never going to find a good spot. We’re so late.”
“Don’t worry, Josh. It’s not too late. Dad said there’s always a little room at the front.”
“Have you seen the crowd out there? It’s massive!” Ozzie says. “We’re going to be stuck two hundred miles back at this rate.”
I wink at Calla. When the boys run off in front of us, I lean in towards her. “At what point do we tell them about the cordoned-off family area at the front?”
“I’m surprised my girls haven’t spilled the beans. They’re not usually this good at keeping secrets, but I’m glad they did. I can’t wait to see their faces.”
Everyone is exhausted, on and off stage. The kids have rocked out for the last two hours and the guys are dripping with sweat but high on adrenaline from their set.
They’re about to come back for an encore, but I notice from my vantage point how they’re congratulating each other and hugging. What the hell happened?
The boys run back out and my eardrums thrum from the roar of the crowd.
“This next song is for someone special,” Ash says to the crowd.
Calla whispers in my ear, “Oh, God. Here we go.”
I giggle beside her, thinking this dedication is probably for her.
“She’s not only a friend but also our sister. We love you, Angie, and we couldn’t be happier for you and our man. This one is yours.”
I point at myself and mouth at Ash. “For me?”
He nods back with a grin.
My stomach spins while Calla’s brows knit together. “What’s going on?”
I shrug. “No idea.”
Max strums the first few chords and I don’t recognise the song at all, but as their percussion kicks in, so does my brain.
I stare at Tommy, who’s laughing so hard while banging a gentle beat on the drums. He spots me and shrugs his shoulders, mouthing, “Sorry, babe,” while Ash sings Marry You by Bruno Mars.
It’s not a Koolum Law type of song by a long shot, but I can’t stop smiling when I realise what’s going on. He told them.
We carried the boys straight up to bed from the car. They’re shattered after their first rock concert.
I check in on Bonnie afterwards and spend countless minutes staring at our little miracle. She’s the perfect mixture of her dad, Josh, and Ozzie, and I hope there’s a tiny piece of me in there too.
“We’ve got exciting times ahead, baby girl,” I whisper. “Would you like to be a bridesmaid for Mummy and Daddy?” I smile to myself. I’m getting married, and I can’t wait.
Her little fingers twitch, so I take that as a yes.
After winding down and taking off my makeup, my mind replays the day.
Koolum Law was incredible. It’s not the first time I’ve seen them play without Brett, but it was their best. They played out of their skins, and I almost self-combusted with pride.
The sceptics said the band wouldn’t survive. How they proved them wrong.
The door to our bedroom opens, and Tommy swaggers in.
He places a long kiss on the top of my head before opening his hand in front of me.
“I thought you might want this.” In his palm is my beautiful engagement ring.
I smile up at him when he says, “Give me your hand.” Gently, Tommy slides it down my finger. “It looks beautiful on you.”
“I love it, Tommy. It’s incredible.” My fingers comb through his hair, and I pull him towards me to kiss his warm lips.
He takes his time, caressing my mouth, and I savour every moment.
In fact, I’m disappointed when he stops and sits on the end of the bed opposite me.
That’s when I notice a green velvet box by his side. “What have you got there?”
“I’ll tell you in a sec.” He smirks. “First, can I ask you something?”
“Anything,” I say, reaching for his hand to hold.
“Why don’t you wear your wedding ring anymore?” he asks with concern in his tone.
Well, I wasn’t expecting that, and I can’t believe he noticed. My fingers run over my brow while I choose my words carefully. “Do you remember during my pregnancy how my feet were the size of an elephant’s hoof and my fingers turned into sausages?”
“They were cute.” He smirks.
“They were hideous.” I laugh.
“I didn’t think so. I’ve never seen you looking so beautiful.”
I throw him a side eye with a smirk on my face. “Water retention is no joke, and it was only going to get worse from there, so I removed my ring while I could.”
In honesty, it was quite an emotional day for me. I’d worn the wedding ring Scott gave me right until that point. It was part of me and it was hard to set aside, but I also knew I had to do it for Tommy. It wouldn’t be fair to wear another man’s ring when we were building a life together.
While I carefully placed the ring in its original box, I said a prayer and hoped wherever he was, Scott could hear me. “I hope you understand, my love,” I’d said out loud.
“If you want to put it back on—” Tommy says, bringing me back from my thoughts.
“Tommy, it’s okay,” I reply. “This is our time now.”
He hands me the velvet green box. “Which is why I want you to have this. It was my grandma’s. I don’t know why she wanted me to have it, but maybe she knew something I didn’t.”
Inside the box is the most gorgeous, classic gold cable chain. “Oh my God, Tommy. I can’t take this. It’s a family heirloom.”
“Yes, you can. Gran would want you to have it. Now, can you give me your wedding ring?”
I have no idea where he’s going with this, but I open my dressing table drawer to find the box exactly where I left it.
The gold band flashes against my side light when I open the case, causing my breath to hitch.
It’s such a simple piece of jewellery, a single gold band, but it means the world to me.
Silently, I pass it over. Carefully, he threads the chain through the ring and places it around my neck.
“You never have to be without it again, babe. Okay?”
“Tommy, no—”
“Yes. He was part of your life, and Josh is part of him. We agreed to never forget, and this is important to you. I want you to wear it. Please.”
I’m overwhelmed with emotion and can’t keep it together any longer. Falling for Tommy was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life.
A gentle tear rolls down my cheek, and in that moment, I see how lucky I am. Some people never find their true love. Here I am, one woman, finding true love twice in one lifetime.
“I love you so much, Tommy. Don’t ever forget it,” I say, meaning it with everything I have.
“Love you too, babe. Always have. Always will.”
THE END