Epilogue
Carter
Three Months Later
Twinkle lights sparkle overhead in the town square as couples sway and dance to music provided by The Big Band, the aptly named group of musicians playing swing-style music like the kind that was popular nearly one hundred years ago. Right now a lively tune plays as a number of invited party guests and some onlookers from all over town and beyond dance and spin all over the cobblestone of the square. Jake and Maya’s wedding was supposed to be a small affair, but it turns out when you live and work in a small town, everyone within earshot of your wedding announcement wants to help you celebrate. And when the ceremony is held in a public place, well, it can become a bit of a spectacle. From the look of utter joy on my sister’s and her now-husband’s faces, they either haven’t noticed or don’t care. When you’re as in love with someone as they are with each other and you’re in one another’s arms, nothing else matters.
That is certainly what it’s been like for me over the last few months. After Billie came into my workshop and told me she loved me, everything that didn’t concern the two of us or our happiness just kind of melted away. We combined our bedrooms and created a guest room for JJ that doubles as an office for Billie. Sometimes she goes in there to explore what other possible careers she might be interested in, but more often than not she ends up spending her time on the computer to scout out new artisans to feature in the store. She seems to really be at home at Hodgepodge, and even if that only lasts a while longer, I’m glad she’s happy and has figured out that she doesn’t need to have a career or a professional direction in life for me to want her, to need her. As long as she is okay with me tagging along for the ride, I am happy to go anywhere she wants.
Glancing over at the beautiful woman next to me, I smile as I lift our intertwined fingers to kiss the back of her hand. Noticing the increased chill in the air despite the whole area being packed with portable heaters, I grab the faux fur shawl that goes with her “Best Woman” dress and drape it across her shoulders. “Enjoying the salad, Elskling ?” I ask, nodding at her nearly full plate.
Billie prods the ranch covered lettuce with her fork before turning to me with a dubious expression on her face. “I know Jake tried this salad and it rocked his world or whatever, but I don’t get it,” she admits. Shrugging, she grabs the champagne flute filled with sparkling apple cider and takes a sip. “I guess I’m still a bit of a food snob.”
My chuckle causes a little puff of smoke to appear in front of us, but despite the cold weather, I feel warm all over just like I do any time I am in Billie’s presence. “The Hot Pocket you demolished last night while we watched trash television speaks to the contrary.”
Billie shakes her head as she deposits her glass back on the linen-topped table in front of us. We’re at a table with the couple of the hour, Jake and Billie’s parents, and JJ. “ Love Boat: Deserted Island Edition is not trash. It’s peak TV and I will die on this hill.” She turns to her father who sits in the seat next to her. “Right, Dad?”
Ivan nods his silver covered head and winks at his daughter. “Absolutely, Biliyana. Your mother and I can’t get enough of the show the two of you introduced us to last time we were here.”
Billie’s parents came to visit her not one week after she told me she loved me. When I met the two of them, her mom walked up and kissed both of my cheeks, her eyes shining with happiness. Her dad looked far more reserved, stern even, and when I held my hand out to shake, the man gripped it in his own meaty paw before pulling me into a giant bear hug, telling me he was happy to finally have a son. Billie looked embarrassed by their over-the-top display, but after so many years of not having parents of my own, I relished the attention and we spent most of their visit bonding over mutual interests, including group watching a certain reality show. Eventually I did have to draw the line at us going searching for bears in the woods, something Billie assured me was nothing but a joke, but her dad looked so downtrodden when we didn’t go that I have my doubts.
The band stops playing and everyone in the square claps, including JJ who has spent most of the evening between Billie’s and Jake’s mothers who have been plying him with fish-shaped crackers to keep him calm and behaved. Between the two of them, he’ll be so stuffed full of carbs that he’ll probably fall asleep before his parents get a chance to cut the cake. After a deep breath, I lean over and kiss Billie on the cheek. “That’s my cue,” I tell her.
“Good luck,” she says with a smile.
Billie’s Best Woman speech was fantastic. It was funny, emotional, and really spoke to how much she knew Jake and how happy he has been since coming back to my sister. My speech will be a little different. When I told Maya about my idea, she squealed happily and clapped, insisting that I go through with it. As I make my way up to the stage where the band is set up and grab the microphone from the lead singer, I swallow down the last of my nerves and toss up a silent prayer to my parents for courage.
Clearing my throat off mic, I smile and greet the crowd. “Good evening. For those of you who don’t know me, I am Maya’s brother and Man of Honor, and it is my privilege to be up here to wish her and Jake all the happiness that they deserve.” People clap at this and I wait for it to die down before I continue. “You may not know their story and I won’t share it now, though, boy, is it a doozy.” A few laughs erupt and I smile at my sister who shakes her head at me lovingly. “Things weren’t always easy for the two of them, but their love for one another never wavered, and it’s that kind of love that I think we all strive for, the kind of love the world could use a little more of.”
Signaling to the band leader, I watch as they gather their instruments and prepare to play the song we agreed on weeks ago. “Anyone who knows Maya knows that she’s a romantic, and so it is with her full permission and insistence that I try to bring a little more of that kind of love here tonight.” Nodding to the band behind me and patting the pocket of my tux jacket to make sure I still have the ring, I spin back to the front and listen as they start to play the opening notes of Bruno Mars’s I Think I Want to Marry You . Maya squeals and whips her head over at Billie who is staring at me wide-eyed, her mouth dropped open in surprise before it starts to pull into a wide grin.
Jumping off the stage, I start to sing the lyrics I know by heart, and even if I didn’t, it wouldn’t be hard for me to conjure them up when they talk about wanting to marry the person you love. A big proposal like this is risky, but between the number of times we’ve laid together in bed and discussed our future and her moving all of her stuff from storage in Denver to our apartment, I feel confident enough in her answer. Her telling me she loves me multiple times per day helps too. As I dance between tables, out of the corner of my eye I can see people swaying in their chairs and others dancing near the street, but my eyes never leave those of the woman I love. Finally, I make it over to her and drop down to one knee just as the last line leaves my mouth. When the song ends, applause erupts, but I barely hear it. All I can concentrate on is the woman in front of me whose brown eyes are filled with a beautiful mix of exhilaration and contentment.
Turning off the mic and placing it on the table, I pull the ring out of my pocket and present it to her. Her eyes widen when she spies the ring I was able to get from her mom. The gold antique band with intricate carving belonged to her grandmother and will look beautiful on her finger, if she says yes. “What do you say, Elskling ? Will you marry me?”
Billie looks at me, her eyes shining in the twinkle lights and her expression one of utter bliss. “I will absolutely marry you, Viking.” After slipping the ring on her finger, I whoop loudly and jump to my feet, pulling her to standing and straight into my arms. The crowd roars their approval as I sway with the love of my life in my arms.
When I pull back, I see her chuckling and shaking her head at me. “What are you laughing about?” I ask, unable to wipe the smile off my face.
“That damned fountain really is magic,” she says. Grinning like a couple of fools in love, we kiss deeply, public display be damned.
When we pull back, I rest our foreheads together and smile at my fiancée. “You’re magic.” Maybe my wish from years ago finally came true or maybe circumstances just brought me the person that makes my life complete. Regardless of how she came to me, I’m grateful she did, and I look forward to a future with Billie that may not always be as magical as it is tonight, but no matter what we face, we’ll do it together. I can’t think of anything more perfect than that.
The End