Epilogue
Four months later
Okay, just one last toast before dessert,” I announced, standing up as I lifted my glass. I glanced over at Kit, who looked a little nervous despite her smile. I cleared my throat as everyone seated at our poolside patio table quieted down to hear me.
Six months ago, I thought I had lost the most important person in my life.
So having Kit, my friends, and my family all together in one place meant the world to me.
I looked out at the table and saw the people I cared about most gathered together in our new house in Atlanta.
Of course, Kit, Aunt Rita, Kit’s dad, and my mom were there.
Veronica and Gus were sitting across from Meredith and Addison at the far end of the table.
Mr. Braithway, his four daughters, and his three grandchildren were all there.
Over the last three months, they’d become like family to me.
“Okay, I’m going to try not to be too sentimental…
” I started, looking over at Kit. “I just wanted to say thank you to Braithway and Rita for letting me commandeer his Saturday night family dinner for an impromptu birthday celebration for Kit. I thank each of you for being such a wonderful, supportive family. It wouldn’t be a celebration without each of you here, and I wanted to tell Kit, thank you for being so incredibly easy to celebrate.
You do so much for everyone around you. We all love and appreciate you. Happy Birthday, babe.”
Kit blushed, and I said, “Okay, this isn’t a birthday party without singing and cake.
” I pointed to the glass patio door where Aunt Rita and my mom emerged, each carrying two large white cakes.
They started singing as they walked toward the table and everyone joined in.
I watched Kit’s face light up as the cake with the candle made its way in front of her.
As soon as the song was done, she closed her eyes and made a wish.
Veronica and Addison immediately began clamoring from their end of the table, “Speech! Speech. Birthday Girl, give a speech!”
I gave Kit a little nod, winked, and pulled her to her feet. She rolled her eyes and laughed but let me pull her up beside me. Kit put her hand in her pocket nervously. I slipped my arm around her waist.
“Okay, okay. Quiet down you over there in the peanut gallery!” Kit joked. “Like William, I just want to thank you all. I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful group of friends and family, and I’m especially glad you’re here so you can help William and I make a big decision.”
Kit paused and looked up at me nervously. I gave her a reassuring nod.
She told them, “We have four different kinds of cake tonight because I was hoping you could try them all and help us decide which flavor to serve at our wedding in December.”
There was a clatter at the end of the table. Veronica had dropped her fork as she jumped up. “Are you engaged?” she shrieked. A huge smile spread across Kit’s face as she nodded and looked up at me. Veronica cried, “Show us the ring!”
Kit pulled her hand out of her pocket and showed off her ring. “Holy shit, congratulations!” Veronica practically leaped across the table to give Kit a hug. There was the bustle of people standing up to give congratulatory hugs and handshakes.
Meredith and Addison both came up and gave me a hug. “William, I’m so happy for you,” Addison said. “The two of you are perfectly matched.”
“At the very least, Kit got you to buy real furniture, so she’s already improved the quality of your life dramatically,” Meredith quipped.
“And she’s brought sharkcuterie to my parties, so that’s another improvement,” I added.
I turned to see Braithway talking to his second daughter, Aracely. “Well, Cely, have you given any thought to what your sisters have been telling you? Take a page out of William’s book. Might be time to start looking for someone more serious.”
“Dad,” Aracely said, looking annoyed.
“You’re older than William and Kit,” Braithway pushed, as he typically did “And I’m worried about you being alone.”
Aracely’s face looked hurt, and she quickly said, “I’m dating someone. Just trying not to rush things.”
I stepped in. “Braithway, Aracely is destroying her competition globally by building a video game empire.” Aracely was, in fact, building one of the most successful video game companies in the world.
“She can’t be bothered with dating. When it happens, it’ll happen, and she’ll have no choice.
Trust me.” My eyes flick over to Kit who was laughing at something Veronica was saying about the size of her ring.
Seeing Kit that happy was everything to me.
Braithway started to interject, but I took a page out of his book and pushed. “After all, look at how it happened with you and Aunt Rita. The two of you met, fell in love, and were married in less than a year. Who’s to say that won’t happen to Aracely?”
Braithway gave a little chuckle and walked over to Kit to give her his congratulations. Aracely looked over at me, grateful, and I gave her a knowing nod.
Two of Cely’s sisters, Terra and Iggy, joined us. Terra, the oldest, asked, “Where will the wedding be?”
“Definitely Creekstone,” I said with a laugh. “Kit wouldn’t have it any other way!”