10. Epilogue – Freya
Epilogue
FREYA
S pring has always been my favorite time of year.
When I think of springtime, I swear I can actually smell lilacs and hyacinths, two flowers my mother always kept in abundance at this time of year in our home when I was growing up.
Smelling these scents always takes me back to those easy days of being young, when everything was new and each day was an adventure.
Who am I kidding? I’m an adult, yet everything is still new––each day has been nothing but an adventure since Wyatt came back into my life. Wyatt…just thinking about him brings a grin to my face that is both sweet and silly, kinda like he is.
Sitting here now, on this perfect spring day on the patio outside of the home I share with my––ahem––husband, I’m surrounded by memories of our adventures so far.
There’s a metal garden sculpture in the corner he bought as a surprise when we got the house, and of course the hammock I got him for his birthday is strung up between two trees at the back of the yard.
There’s a giant wine barrel that Wyatt insisted we get on our honeymoon just because…
and who am I to say no? I’m about to pinch myself when I hear a familiar voice call out.
“Freya? You here?”
“Outside, Maisey. On the patio.”
Hearing my aunt's voice, I stand up and wait for her to join me. I spy her walking quickly through the kitchen, headed to the outside doorway to meet me.
“Are you alone?” She pauses at the door, looking over her shoulder, very conspiratorial, making me laugh out loud. “Has the rooster left the hen house?”
“Yes, you weirdo, we’re alone.” I close my computer and put my hands in the air. “And I’m not working at the moment so I can focus on our project.” I looked down at Maisey’s hands, which were empty. “You didn’t forget it, did you?”
Maisey’s jaw all but unhinged––I swear the bottom half of her mouth skimmed the patio floor. “Forget it? Me? No way! It’s in the van. Let me go get it.”
I follow her back inside the house, closing up the patio behind us, and watch as she jogs outside to her van and comes back quick as can be with a large white bakery box in her hands, showing off the Red Bird logo.
As she hands the package to me, I lean in for inspection. “Are you crying again, Maisey?”
“No.” She sniffles, pulling a tissue out of her back pocket. “I’m not crying, you are.”
My free hand flies to my cheek and sure enough, it’s wet. “Ugh. These hormones.”
“Wyatt’s got nine months of you doing this, you know.”
I bite down on my lip to keep from laughing, as poor Maisey keeps crying. “Nine months of me doing this or you? You know, I told you because I needed help surprising him with the news. You’re going to scare him if he sees you, sobbing and blubbering, before I even have the chance to tell him. ”
“Good thing you’re doing it tonight, then, huh?” She snatched the box back from my grasp and rolled her eyes. “I can’t help it. These tears say I’m going to be a great godmother.”
“I can’t argue with that, just let me explain to Wyatt you’ve claimed the godmother honor, okay? I’m going to let him pick a godfather.”
“That sounds so ominous.” Maisey places the box on the table in front of us and opens the lid, revealing its contents. “Like we’re in the mafia.”
“Well, we’re not, Maisey. We’re in Lake Lorelei.” I peer into the box at what looks like, from the outside, a giant cupcake with white icing. “So, inside that ginormous cupcake is the hint as to what the baby is?”
Maisey bobs her head up and down. “It’s either pink or blue. I gave my assistant baker the paperwork from your doctor, so only Craig knows what you’re having.”
“You don’t even know?”
Maisey shakes her head. “Nope. I wanted that to be yours to tell me when you tell everyone else. I’m just glad we were your bakery of choice,” she sings as she shows off her best curtsey, sweeping her arms to the floor for dramatic effect.
“Of all people, you know I wouldn’t mind if you knew.”
“I do know that, but I think I want to wait and have both of you tell me. More fun that way, cause I can keep crying.” She throws me a wink as she indicates to the clock on the microwave. “It’s almost time for dinner and I’ll be needed back at work.”
“Any special deliveries to the local fire chief tonight?” I can’t help but tease her about Jack McCoy, Wyatt’s boss and the man my aunt has had a crush on for months now.
Her and all of the ladies of Lake Lorelei, I might add.
“Wyatt said you two spent a lot of time together at our wedding reception?”
My normally calm and cool aunt suddenly bristled like a porcupine who’d had an electrical shock. “There will not be any kind of special anything being delivered to Chief McCoy. Ever.”
“Well, okay then.” Since she actually snarled at me, I decided not to push it. And she called him Chief McCoy, not Jack. Oof. Not good. “Then I won’t ask any more questions.”
Maisey crossed her arms in front of her chest while vigorously shaking her head back and forth. Honestly, she looked like an irritated bobblehead doll. “Fine. Since you’re pushing me to tell you…”
“Um––I’m not really pushing you, Maisey…” Oh, the drama was always strong with this one. But it’s one of the main reasons I’ve always loved her to such epic proportions.
“…well, I’ll only say this much; he asked me out, I waited for his follow up. He never called me to seal the deal and I have yet to receive an apology or a reason as to why he would do that. It’s just so dang rude!” She lifted a shoulder and rolled her eyes. “So, that love affair is o-v-e-r.”
“Forget him. He’s missing out on one amazing woman.
” Walking around the table, I grab Maisey and pull her into a giant hug.
I know her well enough to know she truly doesn’t want to talk about Jack and the date that never happened, so I’m gonna let it lie.
“Thank you so much for being in charge of this cake. It really means the world to me.”
Her lips brush the crown of my head. “And you mean the world to me. I told your mother when you were born I would always have your back, and I meant it. I love you so much, and I know a man who’s going to be super excited when he gets home. He’s going to flip out.”
“I know.” I laugh as I shake my head, touching my tummy at the same time. “A mini-me or mini-Wyatt. Crazy, isn’t it?”
“Crazy fabulous. Gosh, what if it’s twins? You know somewhere in our family we had fraternal twins…Eeeekk!!” Maisey grabs her purse and throws it over her shoulder at the sa me time I hear the sound of keys jingling in the front door.
Wyatt’s home.
She turns to me, her eyes wild with excitement. “It’s showtime. Have fun!”
As the side door closes, the front door opens.
I hear Wyatt’s “Hey sweetie, I’m home!” right before I hear the clamour and crash which announces Smokey’s arrival as well. Who would have thought a rescue pup like Smokey (half German Shepherd and half Labrador Retriever) would bring so much chaos but so much joy to our lives?
Kneeling down to Smokey’s level, I brace myself as he rounds the corner, pivoting on his right paw as he hits the turn so he can launch himself in my direction.
Arms outstretched, I grab Smokey and wrestle with him, giving him a scratch behind his ears and making sure to kiss the end of his nose before standing up to greet Wyatt the same way. Ear scratches and everything.
“Hi handsome.”
“And hello to you too, Mrs. Hogan.” Laughter dances in this man’s eyes, all the time, and it makes my insides get all gooey like a chocolate bar on a summer day.
Wyatt pulls me into his arms and holds me close, nuzzling my hair as he kisses the top of my head.
Ahhh, heaven. “I never want to take for granted coming home to you…but what’s for dinner? ”
Yep, my man likes to eat. “I’ve arranged for us to have a very special dinner tonight.” Pulling away, I tilt my head toward the oven. “I’ve already made scalloped potatoes, there’s a salad in the fridge and I’m going to put a few steaks––filet mignon, that is––on the grill for us.”
“Wow.” Wyatt’s eyes light up as Smokey dances around us, bumping into our legs and wanting attention. “I must have done something right this week, huh?”
Playing coy, I start pulling plates out of cabinets and cutlery from the drawer for dinner. “I would say you’ve definitely done something that is very right, Wyatt. Very, very right actually.”
I swear I hear the gears turning in his head, trying to figure out what it is he’s done that has warranted this meal. I maneuver around the kitchen and start setting the table for dinner with both Wyatt and Smokey stay hot on my heels.
“Can you give me any hints?” Wyatt asks as he takes the cutlery out of my hands. “Maybe if I set the table you’ll tell me?”
“Love how you’re trying for bonus points.” I swat at him, but let him take the cutlery and finish setting the table. “But, they’re not necessary tonight. In fact we’re doing things differently. Tonight, we’re having dessert first.”
There’s a crash as Wyatt drops the remaining forks in his hand. “We are?”
Oh this man. “Not that kind of dessert.” I roll my eyes and point to the Red Bird box on the counter. “That kind.”
Wyatt eyes the box. “Did Maisey drop this off? I thought I saw her van here when I came home.”
“I asked her to please make this especially for us so I could surprise you.”
Wyatt crosses his arms and eyes me up one side and down the other. “Okay, this is very mysterious but also exciting. Tell me more.”
Opening the box, I pull out the giant cupcake and gently place it on a dish. I slide the plate his way. “I need you to grab a knife and cut into this bad boy for me.”
Wyatt narrows his eyes and looks at me suspiciously. “It’s not a prank right? I’m not going to cut into this and like, some spring loaded fake snake is going to come out at me?”
“Where do you even get that idea from?” I push the plate his way again, trying not to laugh. “Just cut into the stinking cupcake and then I’ll tell you. ”