Epilogue
EPILOGUE
L ux
Since moving to Sudbury, I’d gotten a full-time job as a radiation technologist at a private clinic in town. I was loving rooming with Jasmine and Talia, even if I spent a lot of time over at Theo’s house and in his bed. We crashed at my place sometimes, too.
In my time in Sudbury, I’d become even closer to Jasmine’s group of friends. We all hung out whenever we could, and I got to attend Zoey and Kai’s wedding as a guest, not just as Theo’s plus one. It was at a small but beautiful venue in Sudbury, with only their closest friends and family in attendance.
Although Theo and I had made things official between us before I’d even moved in, a part of me had tried to keep my distance, fearing things would fizzle out. But Theo remained steadfast, proving to me with his every action and word that they wouldn’t. And they hadn’t . My feelings for him had only grown and continued to grow every day.
He went out of his way to romance and woo me, taking me out on dates every chance we got. Even our nights in were romantic and cozy, full of connecting with one another on a deeper level. Not only did he make me laugh, but he also made me feel seen and appreciated. Understood on a level in which I’d never experienced before.
Theo knew I was dealing with a lot of strain from my family, and he was so supportive. I didn’t often speak to my mom, but when I did she made sure to guilt me about how I’d left things with my sister. Brinley had yet to apologize for her part in anything, and I’d learned in my time away that I didn’t need to apologize for setting boundaries.
My mother’s insistence that I forgive Brinley despite never receiving an apology only added strain between us.
My father was the only one who’d come out to visit me since everything went down. He’d appeared at my door five weeks after I moved in with a housewarming gift and an apology. He hadn’t learned the true depth of Brinley’s actions until around then, because that’s when Brinley announced to the world that she was expecting a baby with Scott, and it had become impossible for her to hide the truth from him.
He understood completely where I was coming from, and although he hoped that Brinley and I would one day be able to resolve our issues, he knew a lot of that rested on her.
I had mixed feelings about Brinley’s news. I knew I should feel excited to become an aunt, and I was really hoping that the baby changed my sister for the better, but I couldn’t help but worry about how Brinley would handle the impending stresses of becoming a mother.
I was nowhere near emotionally ready for that venture, and I worried that my parents would end up having to raise the baby. But, as Jasmine constantly reminded me: not my monkey, not my circus.
Christmas was another source of tension. My dad had asked me several times if I’d be coming home for the holidays, and while I’d gone back and forth on the matter a thousand times, I’d ultimately decided to stay in Sudbury.
Partly to protect my own mental health, and partly because Theo’s family had extended an invitation for me to join them for their Christmas dinner. I’d met his parents a couple of times, but it would be the first time I’d be meeting his sister, Olivia. She’d flown out Christmas Eve and was staying until the new year.
Dad seemed to understand my reasoning, but my mom was hurt about my choice since I’d never missed Christmas with my family before. I compromised by telling her that Theo and I would make it out in the new year.
I wasn’t exactly looking forward to it, but I did want my parents to meet Theo, and I couldn’t avoid Brinley forever—especially not with my mom putting pressure on me to help her with the baby shower she was planning for April.
Theo told me we’d rent a hotel room so that I wouldn’t have to be under the same roof, and we could make a weekend trip out of it.
“You ready?” Theo asked, leaning against the doorframe of the bathroom where I was curling the last bit of my hair.
“Almost!” I replied. My makeup was done, and I was dressed in an emerald green velvet dress that hugged my curves. Black stockings and black floral mesh block boots completed the look.
“Woah, you look incredible, “ he remarked, his voice taking on a reverent cadence as he stepped toward me and put his hand on my hip, gently squeezing it.
“Thank you,” I said, putting the curling iron down and making sure it was turned off before giving myself a final examination in the mirror. I’d styled my hair in a flirty ponytail with a few strategically placed pieces framing my face. I’d curled it so that it felt a little more elegant. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous.”
“You don’t need to be. My parents already love you and my sister’s going to, too.” Theo shifted so that he was standing behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, glancing at our reflection in the mirror with a devious grin. “But hey, we could always skip the dinner and get lost in each other’s bodies. You’ll hear no complaints from me.” His words made my core clench with desire, but I shook my head, smiling.
“We can do that when we get back,” I assured him. “We have to go, we’re already late.”
“Fine,” Theo sighed dramatically, like it was the last thing he wanted to do. But his smile told me he was looking forward to it.
I grabbed my clutch and made sure my phone was in it before grabbing the tray of baked feta bites I’d prepared in advance. I hadn’t wanted to show up empty-handed, but Theo had insisted his mother would cover the traditional dishes, so I settled on my favourite appetizer, courtesy of Maria.
While she hadn’t taught me this exact recipe, she’d made this appetizer several times for my family back home, and I loved it. It was always a hit at dinners and parties. I’d found a recipe online and hoped it came close to Maria’s.
Theo took the tray with one hand and helped me into my jacket with his other before we stepped outside. I made sure to lock up, since Talia had gone to Eliza’s for dinner, and Jasmine was at her parents for a few days. I slipped my keys in my clutch and took Theo’s hand, letting him lead me to his car. He’d already cleaned the snow off it and had remote-started it so it would be nice and warm when we climbed in.
I buckled up, then Theo handed me the tray before closing the door and walking around to the driver’s side. He grabbed my hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it before releasing it.
We made our way up the interlocking stone driveway to the stairs leading to the front door. It swung open before we’d even had a chance to knock, revealing a girl who looked like a younger version of Theo’s mom. Dark blonde hair, mossy green eyes, and a wide smile reminiscent of Theo’s greeted us.
“’Bout time you arrived; Mom was about to send out a search party!” she said.
Theo hugged her, then stepped aside to introduce me.
“Olivia, this is Lux. Lux, this is my sister, Olivia,” Theo introduced, guiding me into the house with his hand on the small of my back.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I told her, smiling as Theo closed the door behind us.
“It’s nice to meet you too. Can I ask: what do you see in my nerdy brother? You’re way too hot for him,” Olivia said teasingly.
“I guess he’s hidden his nerd side from me pretty well,” I joked back, smiling at him over my shoulder.
Olivia laughed, taking the tray from me with a crooked grin. “Oh, I like her already. What’s this?”
“Baked feta bites,” I replied.
“Oh my god, she cooks too?” Olivia’s eyes widened. “Yeah, you scored the jackpot, brother. Try not to mess it up.”
Theo chuckled, helping me out of my coat while Olivia darted toward the kitchen with the tray. He palmed my ass, giving it a teasing squeeze before lifting his hand to the small of my back, guiding me forward.
“She’s right, I did score the jackpot,” he murmured into my ear before we joined the rest of his family in the grand kitchen.
Jacqueline Whitmore was standing in the kitchen in a cherry Christmas apron. “Merry Christmas, you two. Olivia tells me you’ve brought baked feta bites?”
“Yes Mrs. Whitmore, and Merry Christmas to you too,” I replied, standing on the other side of the counter with Theo beside me, his hand still on the small of my back.
“I told you, call me Jackie,” Jackie waved away my formalities with a manicured hand. “We need to heat them up, right?” she asked, plopping them in the oven before straightening.
“Yep, ten minutes should do it,” I answered.
Theo pressed a kiss to my cheek before he dropped his hand and moved around the counter to hug his mom.
“Where’s Dad?” he asked.
“In the family room, with Olivia’s boyfriend watching the football game.”
“Oooh, you brought a boy home?” Theo grinned at his sister, who was stealing a piece of cheese from the charcuterie board on the counter. Olivia narrowed her eyes while she chewed.
“Why do you sound so surprised?” she demanded once she’d swallowed.
“Just shocked someone could put up with you,” Theo teased, mussing her hair as he walked past. “Let’s go say hello, shall we?” he stopped long enough to take my hand.
“Take the charcuterie board with you,” Jackie called out, and Olivia turned around to grab it before trying to catch up with Theo and me.
“Don’t say anything embarrassing,” Olivia hissed. “Or I’ll tell Lux all about your Amtgard—”
“Fine, fine,” Theo cut her off with a hard look, and I giggled. I already knew all about his Amtgard phase. I’d seen the photographic evidence, thanks to the photos Desmond still had of them from their LARPing days when they were preteens. He winked at me, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.
Theo
Lux was practically vibrating in her seat beside me with nervousness. We were about ten minutes away from her house, according to the GPS. She hadn’t said much on the drive, and I knew she was working over everything in her head.
I reached over, placing my hand on her thigh. Lux was dressed in a pair of form fitting jeans and a cream sweater. Her hair was down and curled around her shoulders, her makeup subtle yet enhancing all her beautiful features. Those plump lips that I loved kissing, those magical grey eyes I loved looking into and getting lost in.
She looked put together and poised, but I knew she felt anything but inside. I gave her a gentle squeeze, and she glanced at me, her eyes a riot of emotions.
“We’ll have dinner, cut out as soon as it’s polite and go to the hotel,” I assured her. I’d booked a hotel room in Toronto, near the aquarium I planned on taking her to tomorrow. Even if I couldn’t control what happened at Lux’s parents’ house in the coming hours, I could make sure our weekend trip ended on a high note.
“That sounds good,” Lux sent me a small, relieved smile. “I’m sorry in advance for how weird it’s going to be.”
“Meeting your parents for the first time while having dinner with your ex-boyfriend and your pregnant sister, how could that be weird?” I teased.
Her mouth twitched as she fought to suppress her smile. “Ugh, this is going to be a disaster,” she shook her head.
Grabbing her hand, I pulled it to my lips for a kiss. “Even if it is, we’ll be okay. You’ll be okay.”
Lux sent me a thankful smile as the GPS chimed in. “Turn right. You have reached your destination.”
“Well, here goes nothing,” Lux said, preparing herself as I parked in her parents’ driveway.
I opened the door for Lux, holding my hand out to her to grab. She took it, stepping out onto the driveway and peering up at the house with a solemn expression.
I stepped closer, tilting her chin toward me. “Say the word, and we’ll leave.”
“Okay, let’s go now?” Lux teased, her lips pursing as her eyes fixed on mine.
“I mean…we could. But I think you’d be mad at yourself if we left before even going in.”
She sighed. “No, you’re right. Let’s do this.”
Lux stepped out of my embrace and grabbed my hand before we walked up to the front door. She hesitated on the front porch for a moment before reaching out and ringing the doorbell.
Several seconds passed before the door opened, revealing a woman that I could only assume was Lux’s mom. She was gorgeous, and it was easy to tell where Lux got her delicate bone structure from. “You’re here!” the woman said, tugging Lux into a hug.
“Hi, Mom,” Lux said, hugging her back for a moment. She stepped back, angling her body toward me. “This is Theo. Theo, my mom.”
“Theo! It’s so nice to meet you,” Mom cooed, immediately pulling me in for a hug. “I can’t say we’ve heard much about you, since Lux has been keeping her phone calls home short and sweet, but we’re happy to have you joining us.”
She released me and stepped back, sending an impervious look to Lux, her words meant to be a dig at Lux’s distance.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Mrs. Kennish.” I said politely, biting my tongue on everything I wanted to say.
“Please, call me Diana. Mrs. Kennish makes me feel like my late mother-in-law, and I’m not nearly as stuffy as she was,” Lux’s mom—Diana, chuckled airily, standing aside to let us in.
I followed Lux inside to the grand foyer of their luxury home.
“Let’s take those coats,” she added, grabbing them off us and hanging them up in the front hall closet. “Can I get you both a drink? Theo, a whiskey?”
“Water’s good, thank you,” I replied.
“Are you sure? We have Glenfiddich 21 Year Gran Reserva, or—” Diana began.
“Water is fine, Mom,” Lux answered. “For both of us.”
“Alright, if you insist. Go on into the living room and I’ll be right there.” Diana gave us a tight smile before disappearing toward the back of the house. Lux took a deep breath.
I took the opportunity alone to tug her toward me, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She looked up at me with a thankful expression, and then led the way to the living room.
We heard their voices before we reached it, a man’s voice—Lux’s father, Mark Kennish—talking about the importance of a good, stable job. A couple sat on the couch, looking unimpressed and irritated.
“I have a job, Daddy,” she huffed, tilting her chin up.
“Social media influencing isn’t a real job, at least not when it doesn’t pay the bills and save for the future,” he said sternly, his gaze moving from her to the guy sitting beside her who looked like he’d rather be anywhere else. “And being a part-time student doesn’t pay the bills either, Scott. You guys have less than five months to figure things out. The clock is ticking.”
I knew Lux’s sister from her haughty posture, and the familial resemblance. Where Lux had red hair like her father, her sister had her mother’s fair hair and contemptuous expression. She was scowling at their father with her arms crossed, seething with anger, and didn’t realize we were in the doorway.
Awkwardly, we lingered, not wanting to interrupt their conversation. Lux’s ex/Brinley’s current boyfriend, Scott, noticed us first. He seemed to perk up when he caught sight of Lux, then deflated when he saw me beside her.
Lux’s father stopped talking when he followed Scott’s gaze and spotted us in the doorway, his expression softening when his eyes landed on his daughter.
“Lux, Theo! Glad you’re both here.” He stood up from his armchair with a grin, walking over to hug Lux.
“Hi, Dad,” Lux said, squeezing him back with more ease than she’d hugged her mother.
“How was the drive?” he asked, shaking my hand with an air of familiarity. We’d met briefly when he came out to visit Lux.
“It was good, a little bit of traffic, but the weather was okay,” I replied.
Brinley watched our exchange through narrowed, calculating eyes, her lips pursed in disdain. The jealousy rolling off her in waves was enough to floor me, although I didn’t show it. I’d been warned; I hadn’t expected it to be so obvious.
“We were sorry to miss you at Christmas, but I hear your sister was visiting from out of province?” Mark asked, sitting back down in his armchair, and picking up the tumbler of whiskey on the end table beside him.
“Yes, she was. She lives and works in Bonnyville, Alberta, and doesn’t get the chance to come home often,” I replied, sitting down beside Lux on the loveseat across from her sister and Scott.
“What does she do there?”
“She’s the manager of parks and recreation,” I answered politely. I could feel Brinley and Scott staring.
“That would be a fun line of work,” Mark said, his eyes twinkling. “And Lux tells us you’re an environmental geoscientist?”
“Sure am,” I nodded politely.
“Do you travel a lot for work?”
“Ugh, can we stop talking about jobs and work please? It’s making me nauseous,” Brinley complained, throwing her hands up in aggravation.
“Everything makes you nauseous,” Scott muttered, rolling his eyes.
“Uh, duh, because I’m pregnant , or did you forget?” Brinley snapped with irritation.
Sensing Lux was uncomfortable, my arm went around her shoulders. Scott tracked the movement a little too closely for my liking. I got the sense he wasn’t quite over Lux, or that he was regretting his choices in life and where they’d led him. Couldn’t blame him, really. I was only getting a small taste of Brinley, and I wasn’t a fan.
I’d hoped there would be some redeeming qualities in her, but they remained yet to be seen.
“Congratulations on the baby,” Lux said, her tone gentle and kind. “Do you know what you’re having yet?”
“A boy,” Scott answered, putting his arm around Brinley.
“Really? That’s exciting,” Lux smiled at her sister.
I had to give her props for that, for not letting the reality of the situation—her ex-boyfriend knocking up her sister—cloud her reaction with bitterness.
“I can’t picture you with a little boy.”
“Neither can I. I wanted a girl,” Brinley rolled her eyes.
“You don’t get to choose,” Mark chuckled.
“I know that,” Brinley huffed, her aggravation clear as day.
* * *
Dinner was an awkward, strenuous event, despite how hard Lux tried to not cause friction. Lux’s very presence set her sister off, making her surly. By the time dessert was brought out, we were more than ready to leave.
Any time the conversation had drifted from Brinley’s pregnancy and the baby to Lux and how she was thriving at her new job or about her life in Sudbury, Brinley would get agitated, and Lux’s mom would work double-time to bring the topic back to her. I don’t even know if Diana was conscious that she was doing it, or if she’d done it for so long, it was second nature.
“We’ll be having the baby shower here in April,” Diana informed Lux over dessert. “I’d like you to be here a few days before, helping me decorate and prepare. I’ve already gotten a guest list from Brinley and have started the invitations. We’ve decided to go with a nautical theme, haven’t we Brin?”
Brinley nodded demurely, pleased the topic had gone back to her.
“I’ll be here for the shower, of course, but I can’t book time off work, especially during the week,” Lux answered carefully. Her mother frowned, looking as if she was about to say something.
“That’s understandable,” Mark cut in before Diana could say whatever was on her mind. “If you need extra help decorating, Diana, just hire someone.”
Lux shot him a thankful smile.
“Well, I could always see if Camellia’s available to help.”
“I told you, Camellia and I aren’t friends anymore, Mom,” Brinley rolled her eyes. “She hasn’t even congratulated me.” She stabbed at her desert with her fork. “Lux probably had something to do with that,” she muttered under her breath, bringing the forkful to her mouth, and chewing aggressively.
Lux heard her and stiffened beside me. I reached under the table, giving her thigh a gentle squeeze. She drew in a stabilizing breath. “Camellia is busy with university and her internship.”
“That’s right. Can’t fault a girl for focusing on her education,” Mark said diplomatically, sending a stern look to Brinley. “If you’d done that, you wouldn’t be in this…situation.”
Brinley’s mouth tensed, and her eyes filled up with tears. Before they could unleash, she pushed back her chair and stormed from the room. Scott rolled his eyes, pushing his own chair back to go after her—though I didn’t miss the languishing look he shot in Lux’s direction before he went.
“Mark!” Diana scolded, her eyes widening. “That was uncalled for.”
Lux’s father heaved a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry, you’re right. What’s done is done, all we can do now is focus on the future. But in order to give this baby the best future, Brinley and Scott have to get serious about theirs.”
“This is not the time or the place for this discussion,” Diana said lowly, gesturing with her head to me and Lux.
“I think we’re going to head out now anyway, we’ve got a long drive ahead of us,” I said, glancing at Lux. She nodded in agreement.
“I thought you guys were spending the night?” Diana exclaimed, trying to mask the hurt.
“Why would they want to spend the night? That’d be awkward, Di. Scott’s living here now, and I’m sure Lux would rather not have to spend any more time than she has to around him.” Mark pointed out, shaking his head. “When did our lives become an episode of Maury?”
“He’s Brinley’s boyfriend and the father of our soon-to-be grandchild,” Diana countered. She turned to her daughter, giving her a disappointed look. “You’re going to have to accept that, Lux.”
My jaw dropped. Lux had been nothing but gracious given the situation. She’d been polite and tried her best to engage with her sister. Now that I was seeing it firsthand, I understood what Lux had to contend with. At least her father seemed somewhat on her side.
“I do accept it,” Lux frowned at her mother. “But Theo and I have plans, so we aren’t staying here tonight. Thank you for dinner, it was great seeing you all again, but Theo’s right—we should get going.”
Lux and I cleared our plates from the table before heading to the front foyer to put on our coats and boots. I could hear Lux’s parents talking in the dining room, it sounded like they were arguing. Only her father joined us in the foyer to say goodbye.
“I apologize if the evening was a little more dramatic than anticipated, but we are thankful you both came. It was great seeing you again, Theo,” Mark said, shaking my hand firmly.
“I understand that tensions are running high right now,” I said diplomatically.
“That’s no excuse,” Lux’s dad said, sighing heavily. He glanced at his daughter. “Lux, I’m so sorry for the way your sister—and your mother—treated you this evening. It wasn’t fair, and you didn’t deserve it. I want you to know I’m proud of you. You’re doing good, kiddo.”
He hugged her tight, and Lux closed her eyes as she hugged him back, a tear escaping down her cheek. “Thanks, Dad. That means a lot.”
He pulled back, keeping his hands on her shoulders. “Don’t you worry about things here; I’ll handle your sister and your mother. You focus on you, alright?” Lux nodded, and he kissed her forward. “I love you. Drive safe and enjoy the rest of your weekend.”
When we were in the vehicle, Lux let out a stabilizing breath, recentering herself.
“You weren’t kidding,” I scratched the back of my neck. “That was…wow. Are your mother and sister always like that?”
“Pretty much,” Lux sighed.
I nodded, reaching over to take her hand. I brought it to my lips, kissing the back of it. “Well, you heard the man. Let’s go enjoy the rest of our weekend…”