Epilogue #2
Will hands James to Dean, who takes him like he’s never held a baby before in his life. Stiff arms, uncertain grip. Will pulls out his phone and puts it on speaker.
“You’re missing Natalie’s party,” he says when Max answers.
“That was today?” Max says. “Shit. I’m at an opening. I can’t leave. Michelle would murder me.”
“When can you get here?” Will asks.
“I don’t know. I’ll come when I can. I gotta go.” He hangs up.
“Don’t know why he puts up with that woman,” Will says, sliding his phone into his pocket and taking James back from Dean.
“Maybe she’s the one putting up with him,” Dean says. Will and I both glance at him. “You know how unorganized he is.”
I guess he has a point.
Dean gestures to James. “He’s looking more and more like you every day. Poor kid.”
“Shut up,” I say.
We fall into easy conversation. Sports. Food. Will’s latest renovation drama. Miraculously, James sleeps through all of it.
I glance across the lawn at Natalie talking with Mom.
Mom’s been different lately. Softer. She’s started bringing up retirement more often, like it’s already in motion.
Last week, she said something about stepping back.
I always thought she’d hold on forever. Now, I’d bet money she slips it into conversation any day now.
There won’t be any big announcement. That’s not her style.
She’ll show up for tea, scoop James into her arms, compliment his full head of hair, and somewhere between sips of Earl Grey, she’ll say, You’ll be CEO in September, like it’s just another item on her to-do list.
It’ll be a lot. James is still little, Natalie’s got her business, and we want more kids. It’ll be a juggling act, no doubt. But it feels overdue. I’m ready.
I used to wonder if I even wanted it. There was a time I thought I should do what my brothers did.
Start something from scratch and build it on my own.
But I’ve realized it’s not a competition.
Starting something new is hard. Taking over something established and keeping it alive?
That’s hard too. Just a different kind of hard.
I belong at Carter. Not because I have to, but because I want to. It means something to carry on what my father built. Maybe one day, one of my children will want to do the same.
“Shit,” Will says, already on his feet as one of the twins starts to wail. He hands James to me and heads off.
Dean shifts closer, like he’s about to say something he doesn’t want anyone else to hear.
“Can I ask you something?” He glances sideways and speaks like the words physically hurt. “How’d you lock it down? With Natalie.”
“Lock it down?”
“You know. Make it official. She didn’t want to at first, right? Because of work?” He rubs his mouth, like he’s said too much.
I shrug. “Honestly? I just sort of blundered around until she got tired of saying no.”
Dean gives me a flat look. “Great advice.”
Something shifts in his expression. His mouth tightens, jaw clenches. I’ve never seen that look on him before.
“You’re seeing someone?” I ask.
“If seeing means she fucks me and leaves, then yeah.”
I study him. Dean doesn’t usually offer up this kind of thing, not unless there’s a punchline coming.
There isn’t one now. He came to me with it, though.
Of course he did. I’m the older brother.
Married. Settled. Apparently, that makes me qualified to give relationship advice.
There’s a flicker of pride in my chest. But then it fades just as quickly.
Because the truth is, I have no idea what to tell him.
I won Natalie over years ago, and honestly?
I don’t really remember how. Not the specifics.
Not the steps. But I need to say something.
“Tell her you like her,” I say with a shrug.
“Tried that,” he says. “She told me she only likes me with my shirt off and my mouth shut.”
Right. That’s...charming. There’s a pause. He doesn’t look at me.
“She’s going to be mine,” he says, seemingly to himself. “She can fight it all she wants but I’ll win her over.”
That sounds familiar. Then it clicks.
“You know who’s actually good at this kind of thing?” I say.
He looks over as I nod toward Abigail, who’s expertly juggling one twin while Will wrangles the other.
Dean follows my gaze. Squints. Processes.
“Why the hell am I talking to you, then?”
He’s up and gone before I can blink.
Natalie walks over, heels sinking into the grass, holding two glasses of something fizzy and pink. The hem of her dress brushes her ankles and the late light catches in her hair.
“He still asleep?” she asks, nodding toward James.
“Yeah,” I say. “Must take after Dean. Total night owl.”
She smiles and settles against me.
“You know,” I say, watching Dean talking to Abigail, “I think he’s in love.”
She tilts her head. “That lucky woman.”
“What?” I shoot her a look.
“I just mean...he’s a really good cook,” she says.
“Uh-huh. Well, you might want to make your move soon before someone else snaps him up.”
She laughs, then turns and looks at me.
“I’ve already got the brother I want. The best one.”
I smile, already a little undone by her.
“You’re the tallest,” she adds, completely deadpan, like that’s the only thing I’ve got going for me.
I can’t help it. I laugh.
When I look down at her, smirking like she knows exactly what she’s doing, I know without a doubt I’ll never stop being in love with this woman.
The End