Epilogue #2
“The perfect big brother. I wish Marcus’ pushy ass had that trait.”
I laughed, and this time it came out easier. He leaned closer and kissed the side of my head.
“We’ll take it one visit at a time,” he said.
“One visit at a time,” I repeated.
My eyes dropped back to the page, and I wrote one more line under everything else.
Then I underlined it.
By the time I got out to the vineyard, the sun was already high and the air had that dry warmth.
Expansion looked messy before it looked good.
I stood at the edge of the new section with my clipboard tucked against my chest, scanning the layout Lav had sent over earlier. Hartland was texting me from the office about Chewy needing a bigger bed, but I was too focused on what was in front of me.
“They’re off by two feet on that line,” I said, pointing toward the far row. “Check all measurements with Patch before digging, he knows the layout by heart.”
One of the supervisors followed my gaze, nodded, and immediately started giving directions to adjust it.
That part still surprised me sometimes. Not that I knew what I was talking about, but that people listened when I said it.
“Rory!”
I turned at the sound of Orim’s voice before I even saw her.
She came walking up with sunglasses on, phone in hand, already talking before she got close enough to greet me properly.
“We need to finalize seating before I lose my mind,” she said. “Your guest list keeps changing and I’m about to start uninviting people myself.”
I sighed, shifting the clipboard Lav gave me to one arm.
“It’s not changing, Orim. It’s evolving,” I corrected.
“It’s chaotic,” she said. “You added thirteen more people yesterday!”
“They weren’t added, they just confirmed late.”
“That’s adding, smart ass.”
I rolled my eyes and waved her away. “Okay, well, they’re coming. So figure it out.”
She stared at me for a second over her sunglasses.
“Marlon cool with all these people coming to this wedding? You know how he goes.”
“I have bigger things to worry about,” I replied, going back to my clipboard. “Besides, when he decided to marry me, he knew what he was signing up for. I ain’t no damn cheapskate. And we got a kid on the way? He better get used to this.”
She stepped closer, lowering her voice slightly even though nobody was close enough to hear us anyway.
“How you feeling about all this?”
I let out a breath.
“Like I’m ‘bout to take the biggest test of my life and I ain’t study enough.”
She nodded slowly.
“That sounds about right.”
We both smiled at that and she pulled her phone up again.
“Okay, back to business. Venue is set. Catering is locked. Music is almost done. The only thing missing is—”
“My father,” I finished.
She lowered the phone slowly. “Yeah. You still haven’t reached out?”
“I’ve drafted the message like five times,” I said. “Deleted it every time.”
“Why?”
I shrugged.
“I don’t know what version of him is gonna answer,” I admitted. “And I don’t know what version of me is gonna respond.”
She nodded. “That’s fair.”
I looked down at the vineyard for a second, watching the workers move.
“I want him there,” I said quietly. “I do. As much as I’m still mad he almost killed my man… I want him to see me. To know I made the right choice.”
Orim didn’t interrupt.
“But I just don’t know if I trust him not to ruin it,” I added. “I don’t know if I want that angry version of him around Elias. He doesn’t deserve to be a part of any stress.”
“You already sound like a mom,” she said.
I nodded once. “Yeah.”
She reached over and squeezed my arm once.
“Call him,” she said. “Or don’t. But stop sitting in the middle.”
I looked at her.
“You’re so aggressive.”
“And you’re so avoidant,” she shot back.
“Wow.”
“Am I wrong?”
I opened my mouth then I closed it.
“…no.”
“Exactly.”
“Girl, fuck you.”
She stuck out her tongue and stepped back, putting her sunglasses back on fully.
“I’m going inside to fix your seating chart before I assign your ex to sit next to y’all on purpose.”
“You my ex, dumby.”
“Oh yeah...”
I watched her walk off, shaking my head. Then I looked down at my phone, exhaled and hit call.
It rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Voicemail.
Of course.
I swallowed, lifting the phone closer.
“Hey…” I started, then paused. I hadn’t actually planned what I was going to say. Which was probably for the best.
“Hey, Dad,” I tried again. “It’s me. You know, the only child you ever had? You kinda been ghost for a while.”
I shifted my weight, pacing a few steps along the dirt.
“I, um…” I exhaled. “I don’t even know how to start this, so I’m just gonna say it.”
I looked out over the vineyard.
“It’s been a while,” I said. “A lot has changed.”
My grip tightened slightly on the phone.
“I’m getting married,” I said. “To Marlon. I know you probably already figured that part out, but… yeah. It’s happening.”
I let that sit for a second.
“We’re planning the wedding here. At the vineyard. It’s gonna be… it’s gonna be nice.”
My voice softened without me meaning to.
“I wish you could see it.”
I swallowed again.
“And… we’re adopting,” I added. “It’s a little boy. He’s five. His name is Elias.”
I smiled a little despite myself.
“Kinda sounds like Alice, right?” I said quietly. “Life is crazy that way.”
My chest tightened at that.
“I think you would’ve liked him,” I continued. “He likes drawing. And dinosaurs. And he’s quiet at first, but I feel like he’s just trying to figure people out. That sounds familiar, doesn’t it? I know Marlon’s gonna love him.”
I let out a small breath, feeling guilty for even bringing Marley up after everything that happened.
“I don’t know where you are,” I pivoted. “Or if you even want to hear from me. But… if you do…”
I hesitated. Then said it anyway.
“I want you at my wedding. I want you to meet him and I want you to see what I built. What we built. But I can’t have that violence around my kid.
I know you said one day I’ll understand when I’m a parent…
well, I ain’t officially one yet. But I know I’m gonna do everything in my power to protect my son. ”
My voice dropped a little.
“I’m still mad at you,” I admitted. “That hasn’t changed. But… that’s not the only thing I feel anymore. I don’t know if you’ll call me back. But if you do… I’ll answer.”
I pulled the phone away slightly.
“…okay,” I finished. “Bye, Dad.”
The line beeped.
Voicemail sent.
I stood there for a second, staring at nothing in particular. Then locked my phone and slipped it into my pocket. I turned back toward the vineyard, toward the work, toward everything waiting for me. In the distance, I see Marlon riding up toward me on Spades with Titan close behind.
It was time for our daily quality check.
When he got closer I whistled. “Looking good up there, Mr. S”
He rotated his injured shoulder like he always did.
“Thank you, Mrs. S.” He nodded back at Titan. “You ready?”
“Of course! You know I love a good ride,” I winked.
“Yeah, I know,” he smirked. “You’re gonna love what I got planned for you tonight.”
“Ouu,” I walked over to Titan and quickly mounted him. “Let me guess. Chains, restraints and gags.”
“Maybe a whip if you’re good.”
“Hm,” I led Titan to the front of him and Spades. “I’ll be good if you catch me first.”
Now the smirk was a full smile. “Running makes it worse, Rabbit.”
I adjusted on the saddle before taking off through the rows, looking back only to shout. “I’ll take my chances, Wolf!”