Epilogue
epilogue
LIAM
TWO MONTHS LATER
“Daddy, why can’t Beau come?”
“I told you, angel. Today is just for family. And your marriage doesn’t count. Can you help me with the flowers?”
She hands me another small pot of poppies to load in the truck.
“We’re not married anymore. He doesn’t like girls now. We’re just friends.”
Not going to engage with that. “Can you go inside and see if Maya’s ready? I’ll finish with these.”
I load up the rest of Ezra’s housewarming gift and head inside to change my now dirt-stained shirt. After everything worked out so well with Ellie, Maya’s fear of making wishes has slowly been dwindling. She won’t be dubbing herself a genie anytime soon, but the panic she used to exude any time she accidentally uttered the W word seems to be gone. She even threatened me one night that if I refused to make brownies, she’d wish for it.
When we were in the greenhouse last week, I said that I wished I had more poppies to share with Ezra for his new house. She repeated my words verbatim.
A few days later, we had a surplus.
Ezra officially moved into his new place two weeks ago, right before Ellie and Theo were able to bring Miles home. Now he’s having us all over for a Shabbat dinner, something he said he wants to make a weekly tradition.
“I thought he told you he had the food taken care of?” Maya asks when we get in the car to leave. I was slightly offended when he said I didn’t need to cook, but he’s making his mom’s famous brisket, the recipe she still won’t share with me. I made a kugel because I know it’s Ellie’s favorite, noodle rice for Poppy, and some brownies for Maya.
“Just in case.” I hand her three covered dishes and she laughs, placing them at her feet.
Ten minutes later, we pull into the driveway next to Theo’s SUV. Poppy jumps out as soon as we’re parked when she sees Desiree in the yard.
“Wait for us!” I yell out the open window.
Maya and I grab everything from the car and follow the voices into the backyard. Spring finally announced itself right around the first of May. It feels good to spend time outside again and not have to wear a million layers.
Theo’s manning the grill with Penguin at his heels, sniffing feverishly. She officially became Ellie’s dog a couple weeks ago, but in reality she goes back and forth between our houses whenever she wants.
Ellie sits in a rocking chair with Miles in her arms and they both look asleep. It’s such a joy to see him out of the hospital and healthy as ever. I can tell Maya’s tempted to wake her so she can cuddle with the baby, but knowing how little sleep Ellie’s had recently has me holding her back.
Poppy must have found Stevie immediately. They’re both rolling around in the grass together, giggling. Poppy’s pulling dandelions and teaching Stevie how to blow the pollen like bubbles.
“I feel like I just time-traveled to the fifties. This whole scene feels staged,” Maya quips. “Wait, is Ezra holding a bunny ?”
Ezra steps onto the patio with a rabbit in his arms and yells for Poppy to come say hi.
We walk over to the patio table and set down all the food I brought.
“You got another pet?” I ask.
“Don’t blame me. It was all Desiree.”
I scoff. Theo leaves the grill and comes over to scratch the rabbit’s nose. “He’s not lying. This little girl showed up at the sanctuary last week and when Desi found her, they were basically inseparable.”
I’m ready to call bullshit but I can see Ezra’s dog right now pawing at his arm to hand over the new furry friend. He sets her down and Desiree instantly places a protective paw over her tiny body. They’re curled up together in seconds.
“Oh my gosh, it’s like that show, Unlikely Animal Friends . They’re so sweet,” Maya coos.
Ezra swoops up the bunny again when Poppy comes over.
“Hey, Pops. I wanted you to meet my new friend.”
Poppy stands in front of Ezra, frozen. Her eyes widen at the little ball of fur and then she starts sobbing. She reaches out a hand to tentatively pet the rabbit, all while wailing words I can barely understand.
“What’s wrong, angel?” I kneel down and place a hand on her back. Ezra follows suit and offers the bunny for Poppy to hold.
“She’s…just…so…cute,” she says through more blubbering. “I…love…her.”
Maya starts to laugh but attempts to cover it up.
In my daughter’s defense, the bunny is adorable—white with brown spots and huge floppy ears. Poppy holds her tight against her chest, rubbing her face in the soft fur.
“What’s her name?” Maya asks.
“I was thinking I’d let Poppy name her.”
My daughter looks up at Ezra, eyes still shimmering with tears, clutching the rabbit like a lifeline. “I can name her?”
“Yeah. What do you think sounds good with Desiree?”
“Can we name her Poppy?”
All the adults look at each other, no one wanting to be the one to tell her. Maya rolls her eyes at all the men.
“That would be really confusing, sweetie. Then we’d never know which Poppy people are talking about.”
“Oh.” Poppy pouts.
Maya gets down on the ground and sits cross-legged, pulling Poppy and the rabbit into her lap. “What about naming her after a different flower? Then you’ll have a special connection.”
“Okay,” Poppy concedes, perking up a bit. “But what kind of flower?”
“Hmm. She could be Buttercup or Rosie. Or what about Lily?”
Poppy hums, mulling over the options.
The sounds of Penguin howling steals everyone’s attention. She starts bouncing with excitement and then I see why. Her best friend, Mr. Milkshake, is slinking through the yard, prowling toward us.
“Oh my god. How the heck did he get here?” Maya exclaims.
“He’s magic, remember?” Poppy offers as an explanation. “What’s in his mouth?”
The mysterious calico cat walks up to Poppy and drops a flower in her lap.
Maya picks up the flower from Poppy’s thigh and twirls it between her fingers. “This is a pretty one. What do you think about calling her Daisy?”
“Daisy and Desiree?” Poppy hugs the bunny tighter and starts crying again.
Once Poppy’s tears are under control and Daisy has officially been named, Ezra offers to give us the grand tour.
He built a house that’s bigger than mine or Theo’s. No wonder he wants to host weekly dinners with all this space. The patio opens into a great room with two large sectionals that are screaming “movie night.” There’s a first floor suite for Ezra and three extra bedrooms upstairs. Apparently he wanted to make sure his whole family could stay there any time. He even has a finished basement, part of it set up as a soundproof studio to record his podcast.
I can’t help but think that this looks like a family house. Especially the backyard. The patio is covered and perfect for entertaining, and within the fenced in area I assumed was for Desiree, he’s already started on a full play area for the rabbit. I can tell Poppy will be asking to come here daily. She even asked which room was hers .
Ezra nudges me with his elbow. “She can stay here any time you want a little privacy. Just let me know.”
And I know he means it. That he’d take Poppy any time I ask. Isn’t he lonely? For a second I feel like an asshole because I’ve never really thought about it before. Maybe I didn’t want to. Ever since I’ve known him we’ve both been perpetually single. But I had Poppy, my permanent excuse for not trying to date. What’s his?
“I’d like to take you up on that,” I reply. “But I’m afraid she’ll never want to come home.”
Maya stretches up to whisper in my ear. “Take him up on it.”
My hand reaches out to find hers and I weave our fingers together. Poppy doesn’t give us a lot of alone time, but we’ve made due. I might need to get curtains for the greenhouse. Every time we’re in there together I can’t keep my hands off of her. Something about that first time, it’s like a core memory now.
“Is your phone vibrating or are you just thinking about being alone with me?” Maya quips, bouncing her hip against mine.
I reach into my pocket. “Both?”
Ezra tells us he’s going to check on the grill while I read the newest text from my sister. She’s finally getting back to me about my offer to come visit this summer.
Kenna:
I would love to! We added a few more stops to this tour so now I won’t be back in the states until August but I’ll keep you posted
“What’s with the face?” Maya says, noticing my disappointment.
I show her the screen. “I was just hoping she’d have some time to come see us, but it doesn’t sound like it’s gonna happen.”
I shouldn’t be upset. I know how brutal my sister’s schedule is. It just kills me that Poppy barely knows her. And I miss her too. I want her to meet Maya and my friends. I want to show her Sugar Valley. I want to make her a milkshake and vent about how much we both disappointed our parents, our favorite pastime from our twenties.
Maya drapes her arms over my shoulders and leans up to kiss me. “I don’t like seeing you sad. I could wish for her to come but I fear that would be very unwise.”
“Yeah,” I scoff. I run my fingers through Maya’s hair, my favorite form of therapy. “She’s in Japan. Let’s not test your teleporting abilities just yet.”
“Hmm.” Maya turns to face away from me and leans back against my chest. My hands travel down the lengths of her curls, then her arms and I settle them against her hips, pulling her in a little closer.
“What’s going on in the beautiful brain of yours?”
She starts typing aggressively on her phone. The screens are changing so quickly I can’t even spy to see what she’s doing.
“Poppy’s out of school in three weeks, right?” She asks the question absent-mindedly, not actually looking for a response. I see her pull up her calendar to confirm the answer herself. Then she’s typing again, flipping between text messages and a few different sites. “Done,” she says a few moments later, sliding the phone back into her pocket and turning back to face me.
“Done?” I ask.
“Yes.” She beams. “We’re going to Australia! We’ll catch Kennedy’s last Sydney concert and be there for her longest break between shows—three whole days!”
“Umm, I need to check with my staff?—”
“Already confirmed with Belinda.”
“Poppy doesn’t even have a passpor?—”
“My assistant’s on it.”
There are a million other things I want to ask, but somehow I know it’s all taken care of.
“Maya,” I murmur, pulling her in for a kiss. “You are an exceptional lady of the house.”
“Hey, I thought we were committed to girlfriend ?”
“Committed? Absolutely not.”
She scoffs, shoving me lightly against my chest. “I bought a truck, Harley. I planted tomatoes last week. You better be committed.”
I grin, grip her waist with one hand and slide the other up to cup her jaw. I hold her in place, forcing her eyes to catch on mine.
“I’m all in, Maya. You know that. Just don’t get too comfortable with the girlfriend title.”
She bites her lip and bats her eyelashes flirtatiously. “Does that mean you’re ready to call me princess?”
“It means that as soon as you’re ready, I’m going to make you my queen.”