Epilogue #2
“This is a good sight, is all. I’d take a picture if you wouldn’t try to murder me for it.”
“My aim has gotten a lot better over the years. You shouldn’t test me.”
“Sound advice,” I agreed, moving to sit down beside her.
I didn’t dare reach for a chip. She’d smack my hand if I tried.
A pregnant Carmen was incredibly possessive over her food.
She treated each bag of chips like they were the last one ever produced.
Even if we had a pantry with six extra bags in it.
My father said my mother had been similar about her snacks when she’d been pregnant with me. He used to sneak snacks in the closet when my mom was sleeping.
“What are we watching?”
“Sofia’s show, obviously. I feel like a 1960s housewife lately. Sitting in my meticulously clean house while eating snacks and watching soap operas.”
“What’s her character up to lately? Still dating that pilot and planning her wedding?”
“Nope. She’s had a villain arc. She’s now breaking up a seemingly happy marriage while scheming her way to the top of a company she just started working at.”
“What? I swear I watched her show only a week ago.”
“Things move fast in soap land.”
“I can’t imagine your sister as a bad guy.”
“I know, right? But she’s killing it. It’s my sister… but I hate her when she’s on screen. She’s brilliant. She sent me a text before today’s episode, reminding me that I’m her sister and I love her. So I’m guessing she’s about to do something absolutely diabolical.”
Sofia had been thriving in California.
She had this massive friend group involving fellow soap actors, people from her Pilates class, and, randomly, some book club she just joined. It was hard for us to catch her without any plans.
We only got to see her a few times a year, and mostly when we traveled to her.
But she did make her way to Jersey for our wedding and a housewarming once we got the house all fixed up.
We were sure we would see her both for the baby shower and then to meet the baby.
Luckily, she had very close friends who could watch Hamster when she visited.
“Hey, Pepper,” Carmen called as our rescue mutt came padding into the room, her wiry hair like a lion’s mane around her head.
We’d been planning to get something big and scary-looking but with a sweet personality—like Hammy. But when we’d gone to the adoption event, this little wire-haired runt who hated everyone else wanted to be with us.
So we ended up not with a protection dog, but rather a dog that needed to be protected from fireworks, leaf blowers, and the song the washing machine made when it was done with a cycle.
Still, we loved her. And she loved kids. So we were excited to watch her grow up with our baby.
Pepper got a running start to leap up onto the couch, then snuggled herself between the two of us.
“Are you going to watch this with me? I have to catch up. I have a call with Chip to discuss it later.”
Chip was another person in our circle who was thriving.
He’d gone from a grumpy old man living on his own to someone deeply invested in his little retirement community, who was dating some nice blue-haired lady with a cat he was deeply allergic to.
He called at least once or twice a week to check in.
And, apparently, he was also keeping tabs on Sofia’s acting career by watching her soap.
And on top of the marriage and the baby, Carmen was just… flourishing.
Gone was all that tension and the anxiety that had been clinging to her when we met.
And, sure, she still had her moments of grief.
But her life had expanded so much around it, that when it came up, it didn’t drag her down into the depths for days or weeks.
Now she had her sister, me, my siblings, parents, Chip, the club, the extended family that had all welcomed her with open arms. She had the loud barbecues she wanted and the crazy Christmases.
Our kids would grow up so incredibly loved and protected.
“So, did you see the new list I left?” she asked, moving the chips to tap her belly.
We’d been in the baby name trenches for weeks. Nothing ever felt quite right.
“I did.”
“Nothing, huh?” she asked, sighing. “I know. I don’t even know why I left it. I knew nothing was right. But we’re getting close and this baby needs a name.”
“I was thinking,” I said, putting my hand on her stomach as well, feeling the little fluttering sensation of a kick that never ceased to amaze me.
“I’m on tenterhooks.”
“I was thinking maybe something like… Vita or Via or Tori…”
“For Victoria?” Carmen asked, eyes wide for a moment before they flooded.
“Yeah.” In a twisted way, if it hadn’t been for Victoria, Carmen and I never would have met. And I couldn’t fucking imagine my life without her.
“Vicky would have loved that.”
“It’s settled then.”
And just six weeks later, our daughter came into the world—loud, demanding, the center of attention. Just like her namesake.
Carmen - 20 years
“Give it back!”
“It was on my side of the room again. I told you to keep it on your side, or it’s going in the garbage. So, now it is.”
“Boys,” I called, though the censure was half-hearted at best.
We’d planned on three kids.
But that third pregnancy came with a little surprise… a twin. Two little boys instead of one.
The whole family had been watching in fascinated delight as the boys proved to be little carbon copies of Rune and their Uncle Croft—except in reverse.
With them, the older one was as Type B as you could get: messy, disorganized, flighty, laid back.
Meanwhile, the one that was younger by eight minutes was strict, serious, and meticulous about being tidy.
They even had tape down the center of their bedroom like Rune and Croft did as kids. But not even that tape could prevent their never-ending arguments.
“I thought twins were supposed to be really tight,” I’d complained as we heard a crash in their room one night, followed by lots of yelling. “A special bond and all that.”