Epilogue-Mira
Two Years Later
“And this is where Gandalf asks Bilbo if he wants to go on an adventure,” Hudson says, doing his best Ian McKellen impression. He’s dressed in an Aragorn costume, complete with a sword that we had to check through security at the airport, as he bounces from one Hobbit-hole to another.
If Hudson is a ray of sunshine on a normal day, being in the land of his favorite franchise is like dosing pure dopamine as he buzzes up the grassy knolls.
I’m all too familiar with the quote, since Hudson made me watch all six parts of the film franchise as well as the extended versions and commentaries to get the full picture.
But even though I’ll never love the movies as much as he does, I can admit that the village of Hobbiton is quite breathtaking.
Colorful flowers of pink and yellow line the cobbled paths, while vines and lush green grasses grow up the sides of the circular windows and doors.
“Ah. This is so cool,” he says, geeking out. “Can you take my picture?”
“Only if I can put it in this month’s newsletter,” I say, reaching for the camera around my neck.
“Newsletter,” he scoffs. “This is going to be my new profile pic on LinkedIn.”
After we got back from Wyoming, I applied for the job at Elite Elevation, and Hudson offered it to me about fifteen minutes after I hit send on the application.
Working for a corporation is so different to the wedding world.
I don’t have to answer emails at two in the morning or edit until my eyesight goes blurry.
I never have to worry if I’ll walk into a job and get screamed at or ordered around.
And, as Hudson promised, I’m never required to go into the office if I don’t want to.
But I like stopping in, bringing him lunch, or commandeering one of the communal desks to edit, and I got to know the team before we spent a week in the field together.
My first job out was at Acadia National Park and although I wasn’t a seasoned hiker by any means, the team made sure to make me feel like part of the family.
They let me take my time, showing me tips and tricks on how to survive life in the wilderness, offering me snacks of dehydrated fruits and jerky, and never making me feel less than when I needed help scaling mountainsides or getting an ATV out of reverse.
And of course, having Hudson by my side every step of the way was an added bonus.
Because Hudson always made sure to put time in our schedule for me to relax or work on my own creative pursuits, I rekindled my love of documentary photography, spending our off days capturing street vendors in Mexico, sheep farmers in Texas, and fishermen in Maine.
Hudson always assured me that I could take breaks, that he didn’t want me to burn out again, but capturing content for a brand that was making a positive impact in the world, elevating unsung heroes in the environmental community, and highlighting pioneers in hiking and adventure sports didn’t feel like work. It felt like an honor.
I click my shutter again before Hudson waves me over. “You think we can take a photo together? I want to prove that I got you to dress up.”
I stare down at the costume I rented for the occasion.
The floor-length Galadriel gown is crushed white velvet with balloon sleeves and braided rope embellishments.
I’ve even donned a replica crown I found from a custom designer on Etsy, a purchase I hid in our guest bedroom for weeks hoping he wouldn’t stumble upon it.
When we got back from Wyoming, Hudson spent most nights at my apartment, while Katherine boxed up her stuff.
But even after she moved to Charlotte, the place never really felt like home.
Two months after I started working for Elite, Hudson put the condo on the market, I broke my lease, and we ended up getting a place together.
A cute little cottage, with garden boxes and a porch swing, and a shed that Hudson converted into a darkroom just for me.
My images are not only anchor images for Elite Elevation but have gone on to win several prestigious awards in nature magazines and have been published in National Geographic.
And in my spare time I’ve been able to curate a portfolio for a gallery with exhibitions in New York, San Francisco, Denver, and Asheville—a city we visit once a quarter to catch up with Grant and Meredith.
The two of them are thriving, as Meredith’s massage therapy business just expanded, hiring two other holistic healers, and Grant was made CFO for the brewery after he helped them expand to four additional locations.
Meredith even convinced Vivianne to leave Arizona and open a medicinal tea shop in the River Arts District.
“I’d only do this for you,” I reply, placing my camera on the moss-covered rock and setting the timer. Standing in front of the door, Hudson moves beside me as the camera’s timer counts down. And even though I know what’s coming, I’m still stunned when he drops to his knee, sword held at the hilt.
“Mira,” he says, taking my hand, his fiery red hair popping among the lavish greens, making his eyes gleam.
“I want to say that these last two years have been everything to me. You guided me along this journey when I was completely directionless. You inspired me to stand up for the things I want and be thankful for the things I’m given. ”
He takes a breath. “I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it to whoever wants to listen, but I’m hopelessly in love with you.
There isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not grateful that you’re here, with me, and I want to spend the rest of my life making you laugh, cooking you pancakes, and never mixing you a cocktail ever again,” he laughs, pulling out a ring box from his breast pocket.
He flicks it open to reveal a gold ring with an opal that shimmers in the sunlight. “Will you marry me?”
Bending down, I take his face into my hands, bringing his lips to mine. Even after all this time he still kisses me as if it’s the last one we’ll ever share and I let myself sink into him. His hands wrap around my waist, and he stands up.
“Is that a yes?” he asks, removing the ring from the box and waiting for my hand. Thankfully Vanessa clued me in on Hudson’s proposal, since they’d gone ring shopping together. That girl really can’t keep a secret, but at least she helped me orchestrate this surprise for him.
“On one condition.”
“Anything,” he states, and I know I could ask him for the world.
“We elope.”
“I’d marry you right now if we could,” Hudson says, guiding the ring onto my finger.
“Funny you should say that,” I reply, ripping down the Under Construction tape in front of the Hobbit-hole.
I knock on the hardwood, and as it swings open, it reveals our friends and family hiding inside.
It’s a small group: Hudson’s dad, Oliver, Finn and Lilah, Vanessa and Adrian, my mom and dad, and Susan, George, Meredith, and Grant.
They are all beaming, and thanks to first-class tickets and a spa package at the resort, Susan’s been pampered into placation.
Not that she’d have any say over this wedding at all, since I tricked her into believing that it was a family vacation, one she was more than willing to attend since Hudson and her have begun working on their relationship.
I wouldn’t say that it’s perfect by any means, but I can’t deny that Susan’s been putting in the work, coming to our house for the holidays.
She even bought Meredith and I personalized gifts this year.
Sure, they were designer handbags we’d never use, but she did get our names embroidered on them, with no spelling errors.
“Oh my God, Mira,” he says, peering into the faces inside the Hobbit-hole as if they’re a mirage.
“Is that a yes?” I ask.
“Of course it’s a yes,” he says, sweeping me into his arms and going in for a kiss.
“Hey now. You can’t do that until you say ‘I do,’” Vanessa shouts.
“There are no rules today,” I reply, kissing him back.
“I can’t believe you did this,” Hudson says, the weight of the moment sinking in.
“We can always wait if you want, but I assumed today was going to be the happiest day of your life, so I thought why not make it mine too.”
I remove a wooden box from my pocket.
“Hudson Walter Hayes,” I say, displaying the custom forged ring I made for him, with flecks of green embedded in the gold to match his eyes. “I would rather be with you for one life than live through all the epochs of this world on my own.”
“Did you just quote Fellowship to me?” he replies, mouth agape.
“Mmhmm. I even learned a few Elvish phrases too, but I’ll save those for later.”
Hudson is practically salivating when Vanessa interrupts us. “Come on you two, you can canoodle later. We flew all the way out here for a wedding, so let’s get you hitched.”
“I can’t believe I’m about to get married in a cloak, holding a sword,” Hudson says as we take our place in front of one of the Hobbit-holes.
“Just wait ’til you see who’s going to perform the rites,” I reply, as the officiant walks over, dressed in a Gandalf costume.
“No!” Hudson shouts, stunned.
“I thought you might like that.”
“I fucking love you,” he says, squeezing my hands.
“I love you too,” I say, before Gandalf, or “Jack,” as his name was listed on the website, begins offering us words of wisdom to live by.
Our vows are completely unrehearsed, truths spoken from the heart that still embody more Lord of the Rings references I actually get now.
Vanessa throws flower petals over us as we kiss, and Lilah snaps photos on a film camera.
I don’t care if they come out blurry, or crooked, because every time I look at them, I will always remember this feeling: of saying yes, of letting go, and marrying the love of my life.