Epilogue
TWO YEARS LATER: LAUREN
“We’re here,” James said, guiding the car into the marked spot near the elevators.
“Right on time,” Lauren said. She got out of the car and collected the documents she was bringing in today while James circled the car to lift their sixteen-month-old son, Theo, out of his car seat.
“Papa,” Theo announced happily, snuggling into his father’s arms. James gave the boy a kiss on his head, and the small family headed toward the elevators.
“Let me hold him for a minute,” Lauren said as they got in. James handed Theo over and took the documents from Lauren, and Lauren propped the little boy on her hip.
“How are you today?” she asked.
“Good,” Theo said with a gap-toothed grin.
“Are you excited for our trip?” Lauren asked.
“Yeah!”
“Are you excited for daycare?”
“Yeah!”
“Excellent.” She kissed his soft cheek, and he wiggled happily in her arms.
They arrived at the in-house daycare, which James and Lauren had added to the new office building. Pembrook-Maddox PR was now a family-friendly office, with a daycare, breastfeeding rooms, a preschool, and a family cafeteria where employees could take their kids for lunch.
The daycare was a bright, happy room with a great view of the ocean. Lauren set Theo down, and he toddled happily off to play with his friends. James put his arm around Lauren’s shoulders.
“Look at him,” he said softly. “He’s so happy.”
“He is.”
“And he has your hair.”
Lauren nodded as she watched Theo’s blond head bob among the other kids.
“He does. And your eyes,” Lauren added.
“Now, we just have to see whose business acumen he inherited,” James added, and they both laughed.
“We’d better go,” Lauren said after a few minutes. “But I don’t want to.”
James hugged her close. “Me neither, but we’ll be back soon. And Theo will have a great time.” They waved goodbye to their son and the daycare staff and headed to their office on the same floor.
The day was filled with work. Lauren had brought over her clients from Sunflower PR, and had gotten involved with James’s existing clients.
They’d attracted many more, too, by offering a unique mix of the personal care of a small PR firm and the resources of a large one.
Today, they met with a new client, approved campaigns for several others, and held a strategy session.
They were still working on being the kind of PR company that did things the right way, and they were moving in the right direction.
As always, though, they took time off to eat lunch together. And, as always, they finished work by five.
“They’ll be okay this week without us, right?” Lauren asked, a little anxiously, as James took her hand at the end of the day and led her out of the office.
“They’ll do great,” he said reassuringly. “And also, I don’t really care. I just can’t wait to be far away from everything with you.”
“Me too.” Lauren let go of her worries and let James lead the way to the daycare.
Theo ran to them across the room, full of only partially understandable stories about a big truck, a cloud, and his favorite superhero.
James and Lauren each took one of his hands as they walked down the hall together, swinging him back and forth between them.
As they got in the car and headed for the nearby private airport, Lauren found herself reflecting on the last two years.
It was hard to believe how much had happened.
She and James had fallen more and more in love each day.
They’d bought a beautiful house in the suburbs of San Valentino, close to the office and to the beach.
Together, they’d found ways to reduce their hours at work and combine their businesses.
James had held her hand while she’d given birth, supporting her through everything.
Then, their routines and plans had been turned on their heads when they’d gone home with an infant.
Everything had become about their little family of three — baby Theo, mama Lauren, and daddy James.
Midnight feedings and midafternoon walks, Theo’s first birthday and Lauren and James’s first anniversary…
milestones big and small had blended together to form the most amazing two years of Lauren’s life.
Her fake marriage had led to a very real family.
She finally had the family she’d never allowed herself to dream of. And she never wanted to be without them.
From the private airport, it was a short flight down to Floriela. Theo fell asleep on Lauren’s lap after half an hour of peekaboo and picture books. In the light of the sunset, Lauren and James leaned against each other, watching their son sleep and savoring the moment together.
When they landed, it was late evening. As always, a car was waiting for them. James loaded a sleeping Theo into his car seat, and they drove toward the resort. Lauren couldn’t wait for a wonderful week with her family, far from work and the pressures of life.
When they arrived, the receptionist led them to the same suite they’d stayed in before, now equipped with a crib. They ate a quiet dinner, tucked Theo in, and slipped off to their bedroom to celebrate the vacation.
The next morning, after breakfast, James reached for Lauren’s hand.
“How about a walk on the beach?”
“Perfect.” Lauren smiled. “I just hope you don’t get too sandy.”
James rolled his eyes. “I’m long past that. I’m basically made of sand now.”
“I walk too,” Theo said importantly. He insisted on leading the way to the beach. They turned onto the sand, and Lauren’s mouth fell open. Her sister Lucy was standing there with her kids, holding a sign.
“Will?” Lauren read. Then she laughed as she ran to hug her sister.
“Hi!” There was a moment of reunion, then Lucy gently pushed her away.
“Keep going. We’ll talk more soon.”
They kept walking, side by side, Theo between them. Lauren kept sneaking glances at James out of the corner of her eye. Could it be that he remembered what she’d said about proposals more than two years ago? But there was no way he was proposing to her now. They were already married.
“Look,” James said. He pointed ahead to Diego and Esperanza and their son Carlo, their closest family friends, who were standing on the beach with another sign.
“You?” Lauren read. She glanced at James. “Are you…” She trailed off when James smiled at her, and they continued.
Next came Cameron and Missy, now close friends of theirs, holding a sign that read Marry. Then came James’s maternal grandmother with a sign that read Me.
James led Lauren a little further, then turned to her. Slowly, he sank onto one knee as he opened a ring box. Inside was a tiny note, which read, Again?
Lauren nodded as tears formed in her eyes.
“James? Is this happening?”
“It is. I love you, Lauren. And I love our family. I want to make sure you have everything you’ve always dreamed of, including the beach proposal and the oceanside wedding.
That’s why I invited our closest family and friends here.
Tomorrow, if you’re ready, we’re getting married again.
But this time, it’ll be the ceremony you dreamed of. ”
“Oh, James.” Lauren took his hands. “Thank you.”
“So…” He grinned at her. “What do you say, Lauren Elizabeth Maddox? Will you marry me, again? Tomorrow?”
“Yes,” Theo said, jumping in between them. Lauren and James laughed as Diego hurried over to corral Theo so the couple could have a private moment.
“Yes,” Lauren said softly. “Of course.”
James swept her into an earth-shattering kiss that left her as happy and breathless as his kisses always did.
The next day, Lauren wore a beautiful white dress. James and Theo wore tuxes. The couple exchanged vows in front of their closest friends and family, on the beach, under an arch, at sunset. It was Lauren’s childhood dream wedding, but all she could think of was how perfect her life already was.
She loved her husband. She loved her son. She had a career she was passionate about. She had a family and a future and everything she’d always wanted. The wedding was perfect, but so was her life.
When the time came, and James tipped her back for a warm kiss beneath the setting sun, Lauren wished for this moment to stretch on forever. She was happier than she’d ever dreamed of being. And with James by her side, she always would be.
The End