20. Epilogue
20
Epilogue
Happily Ever After
The scent of cinnamon and freshly baked apple pie hangs heavy in the air, a warm welcome that assaults my senses the moment I step through the front door.
Mimi's birthday parties are legendary — like every other Carter party.
The house is overflowing with laughter, home-cooked food, and enough love to fill a stadium.
One of the differences with the party this year is that I’m attending, instead of having my yearly gift-wrapped package delivered. I’m not alone either. A delicious flutter dances in my stomach, balancing the wide smile plastered on my face.
I look up at Bobby who squeezes my hand and winks at me.
As we step inside, the room erupts in a cacophony of cheers and greetings. My brothers swarm Bobby, Gavin thumping him on the back with enough force to knock the wind out of him. Mike hugs him while Richard stays on the perimeter taking in the scene with a big grin.
Fiona emerges, resplendent in her sapphire cocktail dress. She beams at both of us and wraps me in a warm hug. It’s hard to believe that the animosity between us has somehow dissolved over the past year.
Fiona and her fiancé are now settled at the Sterling Estate, the property that Gramps and Mimi decided to gift her after everything unraveled with my scheme against the family. Surprisingly, I'm at peace with how things turned out. Everything fell into place as it was meant to. I couldn't be happier living with Bobby in Florida, close to his family, and working alongside him to manage TenderCare from there. We make monthly trips to New York to spend time with friends and visit the center.
Gramps grins as he grabs Bobby by the shoulders to give him a good shake, and mumbles, "Good to see you, Son."
Mimi’s face also lights up like a Christmas tree. "Claire, Bob! You two made it!" she exclaims, hurrying to hug us tightly. Her familiar scent of sunflowers is now a comforting constant in my life.
The afternoon unfolds in a blur of laughter, lively conversation, and an obscene amount of delicious food. Bobby and I navigate the room with practiced ease, the whispers and curious glances no longer stinging. We belong here now, a truth acknowledged by every smile's warmth and genuine joy in every greeting.
Later, as the sun begins its slow descent, casting long shadows across the sprawling lawn, Fiona corners me near the fireplace. A touch of wistfulness softens her usual prickly demeanor.
"Congrats on your first exhibition," she smiles, gesturing towards the wall where one of my paintings — a vibrant depiction of a coral reef teeming with life—now hangs proudly.
"Thanks, Fiona," I chuckle. "It feels good, finally seeing my work out there."
“And it feels good telling my friends I’m your cousin.”
I laugh. The exhibition was a bigger hit than I expected, and Sawyer Medicals partnered with the gallery to exhibit my work under the theme of artworks that help with healing.
“Thank you,” I say to Fiona, sipping my drink.
She hesitates momentarily, then continues, "You know, I never really understood your whole 'starving artist' thing." A wry smile tugs at the corner of her lips. "Now, I see the passion. It's beautiful."
A wave of gratitude washes over me. Fiona's approval isn’t something I necessarily craved, but it feels oddly nice to have it.
The evening continues with a bonfire in the backyard, the flickering flames casting dancing shadows on the faces around it. Stories are shared, jokes cracked, and marshmallows roasted to a gooey perfection. It's perfect, a picture of domestic bliss that warms me from the inside out.
As the fire dwindles to embers, Bobby and I find ourselves sitting on a secluded bench overlooking the sprawling estate. The moon, a luminous pearl in the inky black sky, bathes the landscape in a silvery glow. He reaches for my hand, his fingers intertwining with mine.
"This is nice," he says, his voice a contented sigh.
I lean my head against his shoulder, a comfortable silence settling between us. "More than nice," I whisper. "Perfect."
He chuckles softly, then turns to face me, his gaze holding mine. "Speaking of perfect…" He fumbles in his pocket for a moment, then pulls out a small velvet box.
My breath hitches in my throat. My heart sinks, a sudden premonition giving me chills.
"Claire," he begins as he steps down from the bench, lowering himself onto one knee, his eyes locking with mine. "We've been through a lot together. The good, the bad, and the…" He pauses, searching for the right word. "Spectacularly messed up."
Smiling, "That's one way to put it."
He clears his throat, his hand tightening around mine. "But through it all, there's been one constant — you . My best friend, my confidante. You're incredibly strong and irresistibly witty, the only woman who makes me laugh until my sides ache…and, well, the only woman I love."
The intensity of his gaze leaves me breathless. My eyes well up with tears, a mixture of joy and overwhelming emotion. I open my mouth to reply, but he isn't finished yet.
"Claire," he continues, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "We may not have had the most conventional start, but…will you give me the honor of becoming my wife?"
He pops the velvet box open, revealing a stunning diamond ring. Tears stream down my face now, a silent testament to the emotions overflowing within me.
"Bobby," I sniffle. "Yes! Yes, a thousand times, yes!"
The relief that floods his face mirrors the happiness blossoming inside me. A wide grin replaces his nervous expression, and before I know it, he stands up and pulls me in a tight hug that threatens to squeeze the air from my lungs. I laugh, a shaky sound laced with pure happiness, as he twirls me around, the world blurring into a joyous kaleidoscope of colors.
When he finally sets me down, my hand still firmly held in his, a hush falls over the gathering. All eyes are on us, shining with surprise and delight.
"She said yes!" Bobby announces to the crowd now around us.
A deafening cheer erupts, sending a flock of birds scattering from the nearby trees. My brothers thump Bobby on the back once again, and genuine smiles and congratulations surround us.
Mimi rushes over with tears in her eyes. She pulls me into a bone-crushing hug. "Oh, Claire! This is the best birthday gift ever!" she exclaims. "I always knew you two belonged together."
The rest of the evening is a whirlwind of events with pictures taken, stories shared, and toasts raised to our future happiness. As the night wears on and the last bonfire embers fade into darkness, I find myself nestled on the couch beside Bobby, a peaceful contentment washing over me.
He fiddles with the ring on my finger. The cool metal feels so good, and warmth radiates from his hand intertwined with mine. It's perfect—a simple band adorned with a single, brilliant diamond that shimmers in the moonlight filtering through the window.
"It's beautiful," I whisper, tracing the delicate setting with my thumb.
"Not as beautiful as you," he whispers, leaning down to brush his lips against mine. The kiss is slow and sweet, a silent promise.
In that moment, staring out at the moonlit expanse of the estate, a wave of gratitude washes over me. The journey hasn't been easy—there have been missteps, misunderstandings, and more than a few bruised egos. But through it all, the one thing that never wavered was Bobby. My rock and the love of my life.
Our love story was born from a messy, complicated situation. But it's ours, a testament to life's unexpected twists and turns.
Tonight, surrounded by the people who love us most, we’ve finally sealed our fate—no longer a secret or question. We are engaged. A future stretches before us with love, laughter, and a lifetime of memories yet to be made.
As I snuggle closer to him, I know with absolute certainty that there is nowhere else I'd rather be.
THE END