Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Riley checked her email on her laptop at the kitchen table while her mother put the finishing touches on a cake she was making to bring to Franny’s house. It was Sunday and they were heading there for supper to see her new house for the first time. Aidan and Luke were meeting them there. Riley smiled thinking of them. Since she’d seen Aidan at the wine and cheese hour, they’d pretty much been inseparable. She’d seen him almost every day and they were taking things slow out of respect for Luke, but both knew this was it for both of them and Riley had never been happier.
Her little business was off to a good start, as well. Sean, Donna, and Morgan happily provided testimonials for her to use on her website and they’d also referred her to people they knew. Aidan had, too, and so she’d picked up a few new clients. The website had brought two in, as well, so she was busier than she’d expected to be at this point.
An email caught her eye in her inbox. It was from Alan Sherman, the CEO of the educational software company. She was curious to see what he wanted. She clicked open the email.
Riley, I hope all is well. I noticed you updated your LinkedIn profile and it looks like you’ve started up a consulting business. That’s why I am reaching out. We are getting ready to launch two new products and could use some additional marketing help. Would love the chance to work together if this interests you?
He went on to describe the scope of the work and it was a big project that would provide her with steady work for several months.
Riley couldn’t contain her excitement. She immediately replied back that she’d love to discuss the project and suggested a few times early in the week to chat. Her mother raised her eyebrows when Riley stopped typing and looked up. She explained about the new development and her mother looked pleased.
“Everything really does happen for a reason, honey. Now you have the chance to work with that company on your own terms.”
“I know. I’m so glad I left the law firm job!” She had no regrets, other than she still had a few months left on her apartment lease. She’d let her landlord know, though, and he didn’t think he would have a hard time renting it sooner. Good apartments were always in demand. So that meant she’d have to go back soon and move all her stuff out. She planned to sell her big stuff, like her sofa and bed. She didn’t need any of it anymore. Her mother had said she could stay as long as she liked, but she and Aidan had talked about her moving in with him in a few months, once they got engaged. It was fast, but they were sure about their feelings and their history went back so much further.
When the cake was ready and safely packed into a big plastic container, Riley and her mother headed out to Franny’s. Sean was meeting them there, too. He pulled up right behind them and Riley smiled at the look on Sean’s face when he saw her mother. The two of them were so smitten with each other. That was another reason why Riley wanted to move in with Aidan sooner. She wanted to give her mother more privacy.
She knew that the two of them didn’t have any plans to get engaged or live together. Her mother had said that they were both used to living on their own and neither was ready for that big of a change. But they were together all the time and she’d never seen her mother so happy.
Aidan and Luke were already there. Franny’s Joe was busy in the kitchen. He had a big pot of something simmering on the stove. Riley didn’t know what it was but the smell was intoxicating. Sean’s mother was already there, too. She and Franny had become fast friends.
Franny came to the door and welcomed them in. She took the cake from her mother and brought it to the kitchen. “Thank you so much, Beth. It looks amazing.”
Now that everyone was there Franny gave them the grand tour. She’d chosen a seafoam-green sofa with cream-colored accent pillows for the living room. There were pretty watercolor paintings on the wall and the feeling overall was both beachy and elegant.
“I’m hosting the book club here next week,” Franny said happily. She ended the tour in the kitchen, where Riley admired the white cabinets, subway tile backsplash, and the unusual blue-gray shade of the island.
“Joe loves the kitchen, as you can see,” Franny said.
He looked up from his simmering pot, dipped a spoon in, and held it out for Franny to taste. She swooned. “That’s delicious, Joe!”
He looked pleased but uncertain. “It doesn’t need anything else, more salt or pepper?”
She shook her head. “It’s perfect.” She smiled and addressed everyone in the room. “Joe makes the best Bolognese sauce I have ever had.”
Joe beamed happily behind her.
They ate at Franny’s new dining table, which was to the right of the living room and also overlooked the ocean. The view that day was stunning as it was slightly foggy and the waves were a bit more intense than usual. They were topped with whitecaps while the misty fog swirled just above the water. In the distance, Riley could faintly hear the soothing sound of the waves crashing against the shore.
They sipped wine, and enjoyed Joe’s Bolognese pasta. Franny was so right about it being the best. They all laughed and talked for hours, lingering over dessert and coffee. It was a perfect evening and Riley’s heart felt full as she looked around the table and saw all these people that were so important to her—who all felt like family.
Aidan met her gaze and reached over and squeezed her hand. “Happy?” he whispered softly and she nodded.
“So happy.”
She loved all of these people, especially Aidan, and wanted nothing more than a lifetime filled with days like this. For the first time ever, she was sure about her future and where she wanted to be. She leaned over and whispered in Aidan’s ear, “Do you have any idea how much I love you?”
His eyes lit up and he smiled. “I think I do, and you know I feel the same way.”
She did. She had no doubts about Aidan or Luke or their future as a family.
She lifted her glass in a toast and looked at Franny. “Thanks for having us here in your beautiful new home. I think we all wish you a lifetime of happiness and many more suppers like this one.”
They all tapped their glasses together and said “cheers” at the same time. Riley glanced out the window and by the glow of the outside lamp, saw flurries of fat snowflakes dancing in the air. She sighed with happiness as Aidan gave her hand a squeeze and met her eyes with a warm smile. It was so good to be home.