Epilogue
MONTY
Six months later
A s always, the Worlds team closed out the Plex’s annual cheer banquet. Tasha and I would be last at the podium to distribute awards to our athletes. We’d taken first place in every competition we’d entered and beaten every team at Summit, the competition in Orlando that featured teams from, well, all over the world.
The emcee called us to the podium, and Tasha and I took turns highlighting each of our athlete’s attributes and contributions.
“Amelia.” Tasha held up her certificate and trophy as Amelia strode up to the podium. “Your strong leadership, nurturing qualities, and initiative to think outside of the box and challenge others—including your coaches—is unparalleled by anyone I’ve coached or who’s coached me. You’ve been an integral part of this team’s success, to me personally, and to this gym—am I right, Lil’ Chargers and Power Ups?”
The tiny and mini teams Amelia co-coached and their families stood up and cheered as Tasha finished her praise and handed over the award.
My turn. “Last but not least, Evan.” I sighed dramatically. “What can I say? He’s the best tumbler in competitive cheer. I’d say in the world, but until he can best my twenty-two-second tumbling pass, unfortunately, he’s just second best. Maybe next year.” I grinned at him as he approached and patted his back. “You’re a great leader, inspiring others to push one more time, two more times, however many times it takes to reach the goal. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out your emotional support of your teammates on and off the mat. It was our honor to coach you this year, and we hope you’ll be back.”
I handed him his award, and Tasha hip-checked me away from the podium. I rubbed my hip and pretended it hurt, much to the delight of the audience.
“I have one more award.” Tasha tipped her chin up and looked down her nose at me. “I think a certain coach deserves recognition, don’t you?”
I feigned surprise, but we’d practiced this. I had an award for her, too.
“Mon-ty! Mon-ty!” The crowd chanted and I bowed.
“This guy”—she tossed her thumb at me—“has been a gym rat here since he was four years old. How do I know that, you ask? Well, I was here, too. And on Monty’s first day of cheer camp, he was a disaster. We preschoolers who’d been lucky enough to have his big sister Melinda as our tiny cheer assistant coach expected so much more from him. He couldn’t even do a forward roll!”
I will not cry. I will not cry. I’d cried when she’d rehearsed it. Got it all out.
So I thought .
“Well, I marched up to him at our first water break and told him just how bad he was and proceeded to demonstrate the correct form. He just needed the right teacher. Whatever I told him to do, he did. For sixteen years!” She laughed. “He may be a little cocky, a touch of snobby, and a bit self-centered at times.” She looked over to me, and I bent my arms up in a shrug for the audience. “But when you need anything, anything at all, he’ll be there. He takes exceptional care of his Nana.” We both waved to her. She dabbed her eyes and waved back. “He’s besties with dozens of kids going through treatments for childhood cancer and other conditions, and he’s proven here at the gym that he can sub in for anyone, anytime.”
Here was where I was supposed to wave elbow-elbow-wrist-wrist, royalty style, but instead I was losing my cool. Between her words about me and the speech I had planned for her, my emotions had a mind of their own.
“This award not only exemplifies his attributes but also his willingness to model and demonstrate them, like when he pulled in Ryleigh Spencer to fill in at a qualifying competition. Monty, Ryleigh, you made dreams come true that day for the Circuit Breakers. They hit zero, took first place, and received a gold bid to Nationals, where they took first place.” She paused for applause. I leapt off the stage and ran out to Ryleigh. She put down her Lofty-size pink and blue Magic Charm shake real quick and I almost shuddered at how much sugar was in that thing. I pushed the thought aside and boosted her onto my shoulder so she could bask in the praise.
“To Coach Monty, I present the award for Best Clutch Performance.” I set Ryleigh down and strode back up to the stage to rejoin Tasha at the podium. She handed me the certificate, and I leaned down to kiss her.
Then I hip-checked her away from the podium.
Gently, of course. We’d rehearsed it.
“As Coach Tasha mentioned, we met on the cheer mat the summer before prekindergarten. Even then, she was a smart know-it-all and could back up her bragging by outperforming anyone who challenged her. Best forward roll? Tasha. Best walkover? Tasha. But she wasn’t just the best, she was the first. For every new skill, she was the first to ring the bell, and she’d prance in front of the team to demonstrate. And she was the first — and only—girl to steal my heart.”
“Awwwwwwwwww.” All the athletes and their families chorused.
“It took me over two decades to tell her so, but it’s the truth. I remind her every day with fancy words and love letters. I even taught myself cursive. Right, babe?”
Tasha sighed and rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. She nodded in affirmation as the audience collectively swooned at the admission of my romantic gestures.
I grinned and continued. “What she didn’t tell you about the day we met was that we partnered up for a stunt. She pushed and poked and prodded me until my form was perfect, and of course, we were the best. The only pair the coach didn’t have to adjust. So I asked her to be my partner forever.”
“Awwwwwwwwww.”
“We spit on our hands and shook on it. Today, I’m honored to present her with the Best Partner award.” I handed her the certificate and a bouquet of peach carnations I’d stowed under the podium. Poking out of the bouquet was a small stuffed hedgehog. “There’s no one better. And if she’ll have me, I’d like to renew that promise of ‘partners forever,’ right here, right now, with you all here to witness it.”
I hip-checked her one more time to push her farther from the podium, but instead of holding her hand and raising it into the air as we’d planned, I dropped to one knee.
“Tasha, will you marry me and seal us as Monsha forever?”
As I expected, gasps of aw, high-pitched squeals, whistles, and other such cheers became the soundtrack to my proposal.
Tasha’s mouth dropped open in surprise, but she was quick to nod in the affirmative.
But instead of saying yes, a look of confusion marred her face. “Penny?”
“Huh?”
She pointed, and I turned to look behind me. Penny was standing in the wings with Xavier. She was wearing a long, flowy dress in FireVolts colors and was clutching her belly. I’d invited them, but Xavier declined, texting that Penny wasn’t feeling well. But here they were.
“Say yes, Tasha!” Penny called. “My water broke! I gotta goooooo!”
“What—oh! Yes!”
I slid the ring on her finger and stood up to kiss her and spin her around.
Standing ovation, as expected. To the tune of “Mon-sha! Mon-sha!”
I set her down, and we spoke at the same time. “Hospital?”
“Yes! Wait! Nana first. And there’s something I need to pick up at home,” I added as we hurried off the stage .
We reached the parking lot in record time, and I stopped the wheelchair short when I caught sight of my truck.
“Montgomery!” Nana exclaimed. “Your vehicle is oozing birdseed!”
Each of the four windows were open to allow the birdseed to trickle out and down the side of the doors. The bed was filled to overflowing with the substance, and little puddles were forming on the ground alongside it.
Tasha was laughing, and I shot her a disapproving glare. She jingled her keys. “Good thing we drove separately.”
“Freaking Zaki Marsch,” I muttered. “Change of plans, Nana.”
We followed Tasha to her car, and I drove us home, dreaming up schemes to get back at the clown who mildly inconvenienced us for the sake of payback.
He had no idea who he was messing with.
Game on.
“I’m going to be an aunty!” Tasha sang from the back seat. She held up her left hand so I could see her diamond in the mirror. “And a wife! Best day ever!”
“And an author,” Nana said, pointing at the box sitting on the front stoop. “I believe your books have arrived.”
I pulled into the garage and set up Nana’s wheelchair as my fiancée helped her down from the cab. She’d lost weight eating Tasha’s food and was walking much better, but she tired out quickly.
“Get Nana settled, and I’ll bring your books in,” I suggested.
“Will do. Thanks.” She lifted her chin for a kiss.
If she was expecting a quick peck, she was engaged to the wrong guy. I swept her into my arms, held her tight, and dipped her low .
“Get a room, you two!” Nana teased. “Whew! I need a fan after watching that. Good thing you didn’t pull that move on stage, Monty.”
I twisted Tasha up and squeezed her to my side. “I planned to, but someone had to get all water breaky on us.”
Tasha, wearing a smile and a deep pink blush from our kiss, shook her head as she pushed Nana into the elevator. We rode it up, and when the doors opened, I hurried toward the front of the house and out the front door.
The yellow box was heavy and bore the Tia Gia logo. I carried it inside and placed it on the coffee table by Nana’s recliner.
Tasha stared at it.
Nana pointed to her sewing basket. “Monty. Scissors.”
I retrieved the scissors and cut the tape along the creases.
And snuck in a soft forehead kiss before I stepped away.
Tasha continued to stare at the box.
“C’mon, Tasha. Open the box before your niece turns one!” Nana encouraged, as only Nana could.
“You do it, Monty,” Tasha said. “You’re the one who made it happen.”
“It’s all your content, Tasha.” I picked up my phone. “Let’s do an unboxing video.”
“Okay. Give me a sec.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Ready.”
“Three, two, one … go!”
With care, Tasha opened the flaps and pulled out a copy of her book. As she turned it over in her hands, her smile grew. Pure joy.
She held the cover up and locked her eyes on my phone like a deer in headlights .
It wasn’t your typical unboxing video, but she could voice over it later or set it to music.
“This is amazing.” She handed the book to Nana. “Have one.”
Nana received it graciously and hugged it to her chest. “I’ll read it cover to cover and let you know if I find any typos,” she pledged seriously.
Tasha laughed. “Thanks.” She turned to me. “Can we go now?”
“Grab a book for Penny, and I’ll be right back.” I hustled to my room and returned with a pink “Welcome Baby” gift bag.
“Aw! You got a gift for my sister’s baby!” Tasha clapped. “Uncle Monty rocks.”
I liked the sound of that.
“What did you get her?” Nana asked.
“I think you’ll both approve.” I reached into the bag and pulled out the peach onesie with a pumpkin on it. Inside the pumpkin were the words Pumpkin Spice Spice Baby.
Tasha snorted, and Nana hooted deep from her gut until they were both roaring. I just stood there grinning like the fool I was.
A fool in love.
I still stood by my claim that coffee was poison, but I knew how to compromise.
That laugh and smile on Tasha’s face?
I’d do anything for that.
Maybe even try that vile brown liquid.
But that was for another day.
Thank you for reading Pumpkin Spice Spice Baby !