Epilogue
Beckett
Scarlett and I are married on our yacht in the middle of the ocean surrounded by blue skies and bluer water.
Mia is her maid of honor and the Quattro are my groomsmen.
I don’t have a best man because I don’t want to choose between them.
London helps baby Rayne down the aisle because she’d just started walking.
Scarlett’s pregnancy is starting to show so her dress beautifully reveals her baby bump.
We’d told Mia about our baby, but we hadn't wanted to publicize the information so that we could keep that part of our lives private as long as possible.
My life is so entrenched in public intrigue that Scarlett has become a poster child of the perfect wife because of her exquisite beauty and undying support.
In public, we are the epitome of what couples should be.
In private we are kinky, crazy, and fun.
She is still snarky and caustic at times, which I adore.
Rayne has started to become independent and doesn't like when people help her with things. I see her mother’s spirit reflected in the determination that flashes across our daughter's eyes.
“We are gathered here today to join in official matrimony, Beckett Alexander Hayden Myers and Scarlett Rose Myers…”
We chose the wording so that we were making a conscious commitment to each other, by choosing to remain legally married. This was our chance to tell the world that we were investing in a lifelong commitment to each other. It was at our wedding that our friends learned we were having another child.
At Scarlett's five-month scan, we find out that we are having another girl and I am relieved.
I eventually would love to have a son, but I'd have to figure out how to defy CSS to protect him.
We are still in the middle of a crisis because I am very publicly being lauded for my contributions to the medical world, but still on Carl's radar. Having another daughter means that I can keep my family safe and hidden from CSS. In the future I plan to take a lesser role in the society, perhaps being there only as an advisor. I’ll refuse to allow my future son to have anything to do with CSS unless they become a more reputable organization.
All of my future concerns are wiped from my mind as I stand in front of the woman I love more than any other on earth.
Scarlett is my goddess and my muse and I thank God every day for her.
The wedding is lovely and our honeymoon is lovelier.
Spending time with Rayne playing in the sand and splashing in the warm water beside her beautiful mother is a picture of perfection.
“Do you know what I love about being married to you?” Scarlett asks one night while we are sitting out on the bungalow deck overlooking the water.
She has our sleeping toddler in her arms and her baby bump is more prominent, blooming over the loose silky pants she wears. She still has on her bathing suit top and I consider buying the resort so we could have infinite nights like this one.
“I can’t imagine there’s much,” I laugh, still considering myself the lesser partner. Scarlett has proved to be such a loving, patient, and forgiving spouse, I can’t imagine ever being the same for her.
She laughs a little. “There’s so much I love about being married to you, but what I love most is that you appreciate every little thing.
You don’t complain, nor do you push me or belittle my opinions.
You allowed me to grow and come into my own.
I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you, but I’m so glad that you chose me as your wife, despite not ever wanting one.
” She looks at me with glistening tears in her eyes and my heart explodes with love.
“I did want one, it turns out. And I’m glad I waited for her because I might have missed you.” She takes my hand and we watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean. “But I didn’t marry ‘a wife,’ Scarlett. I became a husband and committed to forever be yours.”
Scarlett
“Go go go! You got this! Score! Oh my God!” I am screaming my brains out. “She did it. Oh my God, Beck, she did it.” I am jumping up and down acting like a crazy fool.
Skye, our three-year-old, must think Mommy has lost her mind. I am holding Skye on my very pregnant belly as Rayne, our extremely athletic, slightly competitive kindergartner scores the winning goal.
“Okay. Okay, she’s going to be the next woman’s soccer star! We need to get her a private coach,” Beckett says with an equal amount of enthusiasm. “And we can turn the upper yard at the lake house into a soccer field.”
“Oh God, Beck, it’s the Little Kickers league, give her a sec to just grow up, you overachieving freak,” Mia scolds and I am silently giving her a high five.
“Right, right, yeah.” Beckett backs down a little.
It is so hard for him not to see the girls achieving the very height of all they strive for.
“I love your optimism,” I say softly to my slightly wounded husband.
“Thanks, tiny dancer, I appreciate you humoring me. Maybe he’ll let me buy a soccer field,” Beckett says, stroking my belly and speaking to our unborn son.
“At least you won’t be outnumbered anymore,” I say, setting Skye down so she can run to her big sister who has just made the final goal of the game.
“Ray, Ray, Ray…” she runs toward her sister, and Beckett and I follow.
“I’m glad we’re having a son but, lady… I’d have a hundred daughters with you.” He kisses my cheek. “So far they are just as beautiful and brilliant as their mother.”
“And our son will be as gorgeous and smart as his father.” I return his kiss. “I can’t wait to meet him.”
Four and a half months later we do meet Storm Alexander Hayden Myers.
He has his father's beautiful gray eyes and a dimple on his cheek just like his dad and sisters.
I still rarely see his father's dimple but absolutely did the day he won the Nobel Peace Prize for medicine.
Omexadol has become the forerunner in cancer treatment.
In almost all incidences it either slows the progression of the disease or eradicates it completely.
Beckett is still very involved in further testing of the drug so that its effectiveness can be increased, but time and time again Omexadol has proven to be a very powerful cancer fighter.
Beckett’s trouble with Carl and CSS died down after Beckett confronted Massimo and CSS backed away from Beckett entirely.
As he is becoming increasingly famous for his medical research, CSS has fewer interactions with him.
We still go to the annual masquerade party, and to a benefit gala here and there, but he is not approached by CSS to heal notorious drug traffickers or Mafia bosses anymore.
My husband still hangs out with his Quattro, but I am glad he has his male friends.
Sometimes Beckett really needs to be with them.
While Beckett is the most loving and wonderful husband and father, he still needs to get his fix from his guys.
They love drinking scotch and talking trash.
They also love their sports and conspiracy theories.
We host a lot of parties at our house but they still go to the dive bar where the four of them get pretty drunk, and hash things out together.
I am always happy he has them. London remained our nanny for a long time, but she also is going to grad school to become a botanist.
Mia is dating the rock star on and off although their relationship is rocky.
She has started auditioning for Broadway and has gotten cast in the chorus of some really big shows.
She is starting to become well-known on the Broadway circuit.
She is working consistently and I am really proud of her.
We graduated from New York University, she with a degree in theater and me with a degree in dance therapy.
I was accepted to grad school online so that I could stay home and be with Beckett and the children.
Rayne is a beautiful and very independent young lady who loves soccer, Barbies, and art.
Skye, our preschooler, loves to sing at the top of her lungs and run as fast as she possibly can.
She is the giggliest, funniest little girl and has a crazy sense of humor.
Storm, however, despite his name, is my calmest and most contented baby.
He loves nothing more than cuddling in my lap and watching his sisters run around and tear up our house.
Beckett becomes an expert baby-wearing father.
He takes Storm from me whenever he gets the chance and wears him around while he is on calls.
It is probably one of my favorite views of my husband, watching him wear Storm or carrying a daughter on his back while still moving heaven and earth to make the world a better place.
“Hey.” I stop him one night after we’d put the kids to bed.
I am cleaning out a closet in our guest room getting ready to give Rayne her own room since we’ll be moving Skye and Storm in together soon.
In the closet, I find a box. In it are Beckett’s gold rooster mask and my broken shoe.
“What is this?” I ask, bringing him the box.
He laughs the moment he sees it. “Oh, you found it.”
“Why did you keep my broken shoe?” I laugh.
“It’s a wish,” he says gently. “And it came true. I put those things in a box after you walked out on me six years ago. I prayed that I’d find you again. I figured Prince Charming found his Cinderella, perhaps I’d be able to locate you. Who knew so many dancers worked for Satin Catering?”
This makes me burst into laughter. “We all answered the same ad in the school newspaper. They were auditioning caterers and we were all poor. They hired all the NYU dancers, that’s why.” I slide my arms around his strong muscular body.
“So that’s why I couldn’t find you, too many girls from NYU had hearted that night. But I sure as hell tried.”
“It took an actual act of God to find each other.” I kiss his neck.
“Well, a car accident, but yes, it was divine in a way.” He kisses my lips.
“I love you,” I tell him. “Who knew an old man in a golden cock mask would be my happily ever after.”
“Thank you, Scarlett, thank you for making my world a better place. I may not be Prince Charming, but I got my happily ever after too. I love you.” And he always will.
The End