Epilogue
RACHEL
The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, on the nomination of the faculty, have conferred upon
RACHEL EILEEN PERRY
The Degree of
Master of Education
Idid it. Holding my diploma in my hands is nothing short of surreal.
Time has flown since I enrolled in the master’s program a year and nine months ago. I was nervous about how I’d handle being a mom, a teacher, and a student at the same time, but somehow, some way, life fell into place exactly as I needed it to. There were only a handful of days that wreaked havoc on my nerves. And most of them were as the final semester of grad school wound down and the next phase of my life began. And even those days weren’t really so bad with Justin by my side.
We’ve been together just as long as it took me to get my degree. And somehow that man finds ways to make me love him a little more every single day.
He moved in just over a year ago. When he was sleeping here far more than he was at his place, it seemed silly for him to pay rent on a house just to store his things. Especially when it was obvious that he belonged here with me and the kids. They’ve come to love him just as much as I do, and he settled into the role of a pseudo stepdad just as easily as he transitioned into being a full-fledged partner at Enders Excavating. He was born to do both, and he’s thriving in ways I suspect exceed even his own expectations. He still takes care of the cemetery and the public gardens in town, but the rest of his time is spent designing custom backyards and gardenscapes. He’s incredibly talented, my man, but then I already knew that.
I set the diploma aside and pick up the next package. This one sends a rush of excitement through me.
I know what it is without looking, just like I knew when the bouts of nausea started a couple of weeks ago. The repulsion to my beloved chai came next. At that point, taking a pregnancy test was really just a formality. Heck, I’d already ordered the item in this package. That’s how confident I was.
The only question now is whether I wait until Justin comes home to give him his gift and break the news, or drive out to where he’s working with Jesse and the excavation crew. Out to the site of our new house.
“Hey, Mom. Mariah and her mom are on their way.” Emma emerges from the back hall in her swimsuit and a pair of shorts. At nearly eleven, she’s almost as tall as me and her once-brown hair has taken on an auburn hue. Her freckles have come out in full force, as well. Even if I wanted to deny her, there’s no way anyone would believe me. She’s my mini me in every way possible.
“Okay, honey. Did you remember sunscreen?”
“Yep, got some on.” She pats the side of her beach bag. “I have more for later, too.”
“Good girl. Have fun. And behave!”
She laughs as she scoots in for a quick hug. “I always do. Jeez.”
Uh-huh. Just like I did at her age.
A horn sounds outside, and she sprints for the door. The “I love you” she throws over her shoulder is punctuated by the slam of the screen door behind her.
Sighing, I pick up the package and bite my lip.
I really wanted to make a production of telling Justin about the baby, but it was hard enough holding out for this gift. I’m not sure I can wait any longer now that it’s arrived.
Maybe if I hurry, I can catch him when the crew breaks for lunch. Knowing him, he’ll keep working, especially because it’s our house. This is the perfect reason to force him to take a break. And then hurry home tonight, too.
Once I’ve run a brush through my hair and put on a little lip gloss, I hurry out of the house with the package and my diploma in hand.
My palms sweat on the drive across town and then farther out toward my childhood home, but I can’t keep the smile off my face.
So many amazing things have come my way in the past two years. I’ll forever be grateful for every one of them, including the ten acres of land Dad gave me as—wait for it—a divorce present.
Funny guy, my father. He knew I’d always wanted a house out in the country, and he saw my fresh start as a good time to help me along. With the nice chunk of change Justin received for all those years of unpaid overtime, we broke ground on our future home, putting down some roots together.
And now that there’s a little bean growing in my belly, those roots are only growing deeper.
Just as expected, the majority of the guys are hanging out in the shade by their trucks when I pull into the driveway down the road from my dad’s. Jesse lifts a hand in greeting before starting my way.
“What’s up, Rach?” he asks as I climb out.
I tuck the package and the diploma under my arm and smile. “Not much. Just have something I wanted to show Justin. Is he around?”
Jesse points to the shell of our future home. “He’s inside with Mason. Head on over. Just watch your step. We’ve got things pretty torn up right now.”
They do, but I don’t mind one bit. The nicer weather has finally allowed them to get some of the more extensive landscaping done. In the fall, when we broke ground, they only did what they had to do so we could get the foundation poured. Now, with spring turning into summer, they can finally clean things up and make it look pretty.
Every weekend since March, Justin, his brothers, his dad, and Mason have been out here doing the actual house construction. And in a few weeks when the inside is ready, I’ll be here, too, doing my part.
As I make my way to the rocky path that leads up to the house, I catch a glimpse of Craig in my periphery. He lifts a subtle hand in greeting, and I offer a small smile in return.
Is it awkward that he’s been here, working on the site of my future home? A little, yes. But he and Justin have found a way to remain civil and respectful with one another, and that’s all that matters. They will never be friends, and I don’t think I’d want them to be, just like I imagine Craig would prefer I steer clear of the women he dates now that he and Cady have broken up. It’s easier this way, and it works for us, so who am I to complain?
“What the heck are you doing here?” Mason asks when I step through the space that will eventually be the foyer door. He’s sweeping up sawdust in the living room area. Just a little farther in, Justin is on a ladder, using a nail gun to fasten some kind of bracket to a two-by-four.
“Got some mail I wanted to show you.” I hold up the diploma and flash a cheesy smile. “Ta-da! It finally came!”
Mason grins and sets the broom aside to come over and take a closer look. I did walk for my graduation a few weeks ago, but per usual, the actual document wasn’t ready.
“Good job, Mom.” He wraps an arm around my shoulders and jostles me in his version of a side hug. It’s more than I expected, to be honest. At thirteen, he typically dodges me at all costs. Some days, I’m lucky if I get more than a grunt from him. He’s better with Justin when they’re working together like this, and as long as he keeps communicating with him, I’ll let him be. Justin assures me that Mason is perfectly fine. He swears he went through the same thing, and that in no time at all, my momma’s boy will return bigger and even better than before.
“Got your diploma, huh?” Justin climbs down from the ladder, one boot-clad foot at a time, and then wipes his hands on his jeans. “Lemme see.”
I hurry over like a giddy kid and hand it to him.
“Wow. Look at you, all official and shit.” A dimpled grin spreads across his face as he reads it. “Get your butt over here and give me a kiss.”
Mason groans behind us. “And that’s my cue to leave.” A moment later, the thump of his feet sounds on the steps outside.
“Poor kid.” I laugh softly and press up on my toes for that kiss. “He’s got it rough, doesn’t he?”
Justin chuckles, too. “Just wait until I get home later and we can really celebrate.”
Oh, boy.
Which reminds me…
“I have something else, too. For you.” Of course, now that I’m here, I’m second-guessing the decision to tell him in the middle of the workday, especially with everyone outside.
“Yeah?” He tips his head, a mischievous gleam in his eye. Paired with the light brown hair curling around the edges of his ball cap, he’s as swoony as ever. There’s no way I can go home without telling him. He’s just too damn charming, and hello, I’m having this gorgeous man’s baby.
“Here.” I thrust the package at him and step back nervously.
He hands me the diploma, and takes the package, one brow cocked. “What’s with the jitters? Should I be afraid to open this?”
“No.” Maybe. I mean, our lives are about to change yet again, but in a good way, I think. “It’s just… my timing may be a little questionable, that’s all.”
“Okay…” He continues to watch me as he tears the small box open. “Feels soft,” he says when he gets to the plastic packaging inside.
I swallow. “Yep. Take it out.”
With narrowed eyes, he tears the plastic and pulls out the white fabric.
My heart races and my stomach whirls with what I hope is anticipation and not the baby disliking my late breakfast.
“My hands are shaking,” Justin admits as he unfolds the tiny T-shirt. Immediately, he goes stock still. For a split second, he’s frozen like that, but then he breaks out into a megawatt smile. “Are you shitting me right now, Sunny? Daddy’s little helper?”
I shake my head, the lump in my throat making it difficult to speak. “No to the shitting part. Yes to the helper.”
Laughing, he drops the packaging to the floor so he can hold out the baby tee with both hands. “Daddy’s little helper,” he says again, his tone a mix of excitement and disbelief. “I dig the lawn tractor.”
“I figured you would.” The second I saw it, I knew it was the perfect way to tell him, even if the rush shipping fees were astronomical.
“We’ve having a baby.” He points to himself and then to me. “Us.”
I nod as tears begin to well in my eyes. “We are.”
He pulls me to him in a rush and then lifts me off the floor as he spins around. “I’m going to be a dad!”
“Shh!” I laugh. “Everyone outside will hear.”
“I don’t care.” He puts me down and cups my face in his hands. “I want to tell the whole damn world.” Dipping close, he peppers dozens of kisses all over my face. Finally, he pulls back, a little breathless. “Okay, so I’m going to do something really crazy right now. I wanted to wait until the house was done, but nothing is going to top this day, so I’m just going to do it now. Hold this.” He gives me the T-shirt, darts over to a toolbox on the far side of the room, and crouches. When he stands and whips around, he’s holding a little black box.
And my already racing heart takes off like a derby horse.
“It’s kinda ironic that the first time I considered what it’d be like to be with you was that day spilled coffee in front of all the guys.” He takes one slow step at a time back to me. “And now you’re here, with a bunch of them standing outside, not only as my girlfriend but as the mother of my child.”
He stops just a couple of feet in front of me, his cheeks flushed and his eyes wide. “I love you so fucking much, Sunny. You already know that I plan to do it for the rest of my life.” When he drops to a knee and opens the box, it’s all I can do not to fall apart. “Will you marry me and make it official?”
My knees hit the floor as I throw myself at him and blubber through tears. “You already know I will.”
“Thank fuck for that.” Arms squeezing tight, he holds me for several beats before pulling back with the ring between his fingers. “Gimme your hand, woman. I wanna see how this looks on you.”
I do my best to keep steady while he slips the ring on my finger, but it’s a difficult task with the way I can’t stop giggling. It’s gorgeous and, if I’m not mistaken, sort of resembles a sunflower with its huge center diamond and smaller stones surrounding it. “Dang. You did good.”
He shrugs modestly and then winks. “I did better with you.”
“I think we both did pretty good.” I wrap him up in another hug and let out a happy sigh.
The thing about Justin and me is that we both do better together. That’s what makes us so strong. I can only imagine how much stronger we’ll become as the years go by and the roots we’ve planted really start to take hold.
And to think none of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t taken that first step out of my comfort zone. If I hadn’t finally done something for me.
Now, I have him.
The love of my life.
The perpetual sun on my face.
And someday soon, my husband.
Life is so damn good.
~THE END~