Epilogue
Their new single-family home sits nestled in the middle of a cozy neighborhood, full of well-manicured lawns and fine gardens…and it will be a blessing if no one dies at the housewarming party. Minnie has her fingers crossed, maybe even her toes.
It is, without a doubt, an inadvisably gained home, won from Minnie’s father’s scheming money games. A modest place, but that’s precisely what Gage and Minnie both enjoy.
“You can braid that fine bush of yours for extra luck,” Gage says with a wink, enjoying the flare of red across Minnie’s cheekbones.
“How dare you! It’s neatly trimmed; there’s nothing to darn well braid!” Minnie continues chopping up vegetables for her grand charcuterie board. “Who do you think you’re marrying, the elusive and rare sasquatch?”
He comes around behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, kissing her neck affectionately. “I’m marryin’ a rare unicorn.” Giving her a brief squeeze, his voice drops as he asks, “You’re stressed. What else can I do to help?”
“Of course, I’m stressed! Is the smoker at temperature?”
“Yup.”
“The ice and the drinks are in the coolers on the deck?”
“Say less, woman. I’ve even got the cups out there, too, along with silverware. And napkins.” The word napkins is uttered in a reverent tone, considering Gage only ever used paper towels his whole life.
The charcuterie board is a beautiful display of color, tastes, and textures. Her mother will approve. Minnie twists from her artwork and kisses Gage on the chin. “Thank you. I’m still freaking out.”
“I’ll make you a drink. What do you want?”
The doorbell sings its charming little song, accompanied by the loud voices of Chase and Marlin. “Housekeeping! Housekeeping!” Chase squawks loudly, followed by laughter. Red was most distinctly not invited, not that he would have wanted to be.
Gage goes to let the two men into the house, leaving Minnie frantically looking over her setup. Her houseplants look happy and green. The appetizers are all neatly organized. Her tea corner is set up with a coffee machine for those who want it after dinner-
“What do we have here? Damn girl, have you been working on this all day?” Chase is already upon her, juggling a few cases of beer. Marlin and Gage are still talking in the front entryway, and it sounds like Gage is showing him around, Marlin’s deep voice filtering through the rooms.
She shoos Chase out of the kitchen. “Not on the table! There’s a cooler outside for those! Scoot.”
Chase laughs as he heads for the back door with his goods, saying, “Gage says you need a drink to chill. I’ll make you one. I used to bartend once upon a time, you know. The hard liquor is out there, too?”
Oh, joy, he’s going to put Minnie on the floor with whatever concoction he comes up with, isn’t he?
Saying a small prayer, Minnie awaits the moment her family arrives.
They had better behave themselves! Everyone, actually.
A heart-stopping panic nearly bowls Minnie over when the doorbell toots its little tune some time later. She’s out back with the guys, drinking something that she suspects hides all the liquor under a good flavor, while Chase tells her about all the trouble he and Gage used to get up to as boys.
He pauses, pale eyes widening in faux horror, likely mirroring her face. “The ‘rents have arrived?”
“Yes,” Minnie chokes on her own spit.
Gage is over by his new smoker, beaming with pride as Marlin ooo’s and ahhh’s over it. He looks to Minnie and gives her a reassuring look, something that says, you’ll be fine.
“Thoughts and prayers,” Chase says with a sly grin, double-pierced brow glittering in the sunlight.
Taking a massive gulp from that wild drink Chase made her, Minnie struts back into the house and goes to the front door. There’s a pleasant haze hovering about her mind, and a goofy grin somehow plasters itself on her lips. Maybe the liquid courage is working…
Swinging open the door, Minnie nearly slurs, “Welcome!”
Ariel gives her a one-armed hug, saying playfully, “Seeeester. I see someone is having a good time without me already.” In her other hand, she carries a bag with a few appetizers already neatly stacked.
Both her parents step in after Ariel, Marla giving Minnie her typical bougie greeting with air-kisses. Reginald stands awkwardly to the side, shifting on his feet, seemingly out of sorts. Marla flashes her eyes meaningfully at Minnie, trying to wordlessly convey meaning.
Oh. He needs Minnie to hug him, does he? Because he’s all sore about Gage taking the money and using it for Minnie? Hah. Daddy…
Using all the alcohol in her veins, Minnie goes to his side and hugs him, saying in an overly sweet tone, “It’s good to see you, Daddy.
I don’t like thinking you’re angry with me.
” She pouts for good measure; her father likes being the one to save her from just about anything, even from his own anger.
The tension in his shoulders softens slightly, and he leans down to kiss her forehead. “I can never stay mad at you, Minerva. That…man…of yours, though…” he trails off, scoffing.
Trying to bridge that gap, Minnie offers up, “The guys are looking over the new smoker that Gage has. I know you’ve been thinking of getting one. I’m sure he’ll want to show it to you.”
“We’ll see. Hopefully that ruffian didn’t purchase a subpar model.”
Minnie makes a face. “Well, that ruffian did manage to find a suitable home in budget and a home with low maintenance thus far. Doesn’t that count for something?”
Ariel is poking around, looking at different rooms. “Yeah. Dad. Stop being an old bear. You’re just mad that the man outsmarted you.”
Her mother is already scanning the countertops. She runs a skeptical finger over one of them and examines the result. “You’ve done such a lovely job decorating the new place, but honey, would you like to speak to my maid-”
“I don’t need a maid, nor do I think I can afford one, Mom.” Minnie grins, “But thanks for the offer.”
They all admire her kitchen, commenting on the perfect size of it. “So much counterspace!” Marla quips, impressed. “Not as much as my kitchen, but this is just perfect for you.”
As always, her mother finds ways to make compliments half-insulting.
“Your house is twice the size, Mom. No doubt your counterspace is more.” At the hurt look on her mother’s face, Minnie softens her response.
“I’m glad you like it, though. Aren’t the cabinets gorgeous?
” Sometimes, she forgets that her mother lives in a different reality and doesn’t always have the best self-awareness of what she says.
Ariel is peering out the back doors, looking at the men already eating chips and salsa in the back, laughing over their beers. She seems to be watching something with interest. She comes over close enough to whisper in Minnie’s ear. “Who is the blonde in the backyard? He looks fun.”
Minnie doesn’t even have to look to know that Chase has caught her sister’s eye. “That’s Chase. He thinks you might be fun, too, by the way. He also makes a rather strong drink.”
“Oh, I’m not looking to get sloppy today. Beers for me.” Ariel’s eyes widen with a certain level of intrigue. “Wish me luck; I’m going to go introduce myself to all of those fine criminals.”
Jaw dropping open, Ariel watches as her sister promptly goes into the backyard, the first of her family to introduce herself to Gage’s circle of friends.
Minnie bites her lower lip, watching, but nothing bad happens.
They greet her with smiles, and Chase gallantly cracks open a beer for Ariel, cracking the top off with the edge of-
Minnie gasps and flings the door open. “Chase! Not the edge of the table! You’ll damage it!”
“Shit! Habit.” Chase smiles weakly before handing the beer to Ariel. “Your sister was thirsty.”
Her mother shyly comes outside next, but seems to glow when Gage goes out of his way to pull her chair out for her. “Goodness,” Marla says, placing a hand where her pearls would normally be. “So gentlemanly.”
Marlin chuckles. “I’ve tried to teach him some manners. He’s passable.”
Reginald Fray stands just at the back door, watching the engagement with a dry scowl. Clearly, nothing bothers him more than seeing Gage do anything. Gage meets his gaze, and one of his eyebrows lifts. “Well? What do you think of the place, Mr. Fray?”
Stiffly, as though a stick were up his bum, Reginald replies, “It’s a very well-put together home.”
“Good.” A hint of wickedness dances in Gage’s hazel eyes. “You bought it.”
Minnie’s father splutters at the reminder.
The housewarming party continues forward, thankfully without any sort of chaos when her father finally joins them outside, asking Gage through gritted teeth to show him the new smoker he’d gotten for the pulled pork.
“You can breathe, you know,” Marlin reminds Minnie as she stares nervously over at her fiancé and father. “There’s not gonna be a brawl on your neat lawn.”
“That you know of,” Ariel replies, sipping her beer.
“Girls,” Marla says haughtily. “Your father does not engage in fisticuffs, you know this.”
“Fist-uh-what?” Chase asks, confused.
Her father is hovering at Gage’s shoulder, going off and gesturing to the smoker. “You’re going to dry them out! The temperature appears almost where it should be.” He’s all puffed up, like a nefarious bird. Her father has nothing if not his pride, which she warned Gage about plenty of times.
Unamused and holding his tongue the best he can, Gage replies flatly, “Look, man. I’m not. It’s gotta cook slow. I read the instructions! It’s almost done.”
“See here. Let me do this-” Her father tries to grab the metal tongs from Gage’s hand.
“What the hell? Would you let me do my thing, Reggie?” Gage snaps at her father as they continue to battle at the smoker. A growl enters his tone. “Goddamn.”
“I say, I am Reginald! Not Reggie. Reggie is a name for a man with no legacy and poor clothes!”
“Whatever you say, Reggie. Whatever you say.”
Marlin comes over beside them, trying to hold in his boisterous laugh.
Ariel covers her mouth as she laughs. “Look at how well they are getting on! Can you imagine if you host Thanksgiving, Mouse? Daddy will demand that he be able to carve the turkey. Think of the battles that will be waged-”
“In that case, we shall not be hosting anything ever,” Minnie replies. “They’re both absurd.”
The pulled pork finishes with a beautiful smoky flavor that even Minnie’s father cannot complain about. They all eat and make merry, although with the occasional spitfire comment or an off-key story of prison life.
Momma Marla’s eyes opened a little wider each time. Probably glad she didn’t bring her pearls.
When the hour grows late, Gage’s friends are the first to excuse themselves for the evening. “We have to go feed the dog,” Marlin says apologetically. “Make sure it hasn’t gotten into any trouble.”
Minnie makes a confused face, fussing with her glasses. “You don’t have a dog, though?”
“Red,” Marlin deadpans hilariously. “Red is our dog.”
Minnie wasn’t expecting that and snorts.
Chase is still trying to get Ariel’s number as Marlin drags him to the door. Ariel stares after the blonde, a considering expression on her face. Oh no, Minnie thinks. She’s found her next fling.
Next come her parents, meandering out with their Tupperware of leftovers that Minnie has provided for them.
It’s not as if she and Gage are going to manage to finish all of that pulled pork by themselves!
Her mother kisses the air by her cheeks and says, “What a wonderful little hostess you are. I think you’ll do Christmas too, yes? ”
Minnie’s grin freezes as she bids her mother goodbye. She’s already planning all the holidays that Minnie will host, is she? Oh, the stress…
“You did great!” Ariel gives her a big hug, squeezing her for good measure. “I can’t wait to see you more. Side note, that Chase guy…”
Scoffing, Minnie says, “He’s trouble.”
Ariel wiggles her eyebrows daringly. “So am I! Bye Mouse. I’ll call.”
At the front door, her father pauses to give Gage a serious look. He places a hand on his shoulder and says firmly, “Take care of my daughter.”
The women all hold their breaths, observing this male moment of handing over the torch.
“I will,” Gage says without hesitation, holding Minnie’s gaze warmly as he says it. “For as long as she will let me.”