Epilogue
Loaded Question
Punc
One year later…
“Where are we going, Punc? Between your cooking and the parties at the clubhouse, no five-star restaurant can beat those options. Bonus, we wouldn’t have to be dressed up.”
Punc kept his eyes on San Jose Boulevard. If he’d done this at the clubhouse, they’d have had an audience and a blow-out party would have ensued. After he’d given her a property cut, he’d learned that Savannah preferred keeping things low-key.
“Ted, are you listening to me?” Savannah asked, cutting into his thoughts.
“Yeah. It’s a surprise, babe. A good one.”
She glanced out the window. “I’ll take your word for it. It’s been nice not dealing with surprises left and right.”
He reached out and gave her hand a squeeze. “We’ll both be surprised because I’ve never been to this place.”
She nudged her bicep into his. “If we don’t like it, promise we’ll stop at Cold Stone on the way back.”
The turn for Muriel’s neighborhood came into view and he veered left. “Don’t borrow trouble, sweetheart.”
She glanced up and shook her head. “Wait. Why are we at Epping Forest?”
He didn’t answer that because it would give too much away. He’d asked Catalina if she knew Savannah’s ring size. A few days later, Cat came to him with her phone in hand, and Muriel on the line. The woman insisted Punc bring Savannah to the yacht club when he was ready to pop the question.
At the guard gate, he spoke in a low voice before driving into the neighborhood.
“I can direct you to Muriel’s,” she said.
“We’re not going to her place.”
Savannah shifted in her seat. “Then why would the guard let you in?”
“She let him know I was coming.”
From the corner of his eye, he saw her shake her head. “That makes even less sense.”
He parked the Buick and leaned toward Savannah. “Just go with it, babe.”
Once she angled out of the SUV, he closed her door and tucked her hand into the crook of his arm.
They went inside the yacht club restaurant and a host led them to the patio overlooking the St. Johns River.
Punc pulled Savannah’s chair out and grinned at her puzzled expression. “You weren’t kidding earlier.”
After Punc settled in his seat, the host handed them menus and left. A server quickly filled their water goblets, and a waiter brought a bottle of red wine.
The moment they had a second of privacy, Savannah leaned forward. “What is all of this?”
“It’s a celebration.”
“Of what?”
“Of life. Of being together.”
She stared at him. “It’s very fancy.”
He nodded once. “It is, and you deserve something like this.”
She aimed a skeptical look at him. “Thanks, honey. But next time you can save your—”
He put his hand over hers on the table. “You’re worth it, Savannah.”
His nerves were getting to him. He’d planned to wait until after they ate, but he wouldn’t make it that long.
“Okay, I’m sorry. I’ll enjoy the surprise,” she said, picking up her wine glass.
He let go of her hand, leaned back, and pulled the ring box from his pocket, but kept it under the table.
“This wine is really good.”
He smiled, while plucking the engagement ring from the box. With his left hand, he grabbed his wine glass and took a sip to keep up appearances.
Savannah’s eyes danced over his face. “Are you okay?”
He put his right hand over her left again. “Sweetheart, I’m fine.”
As deftly as he could, he slipped the ring onto her third finger.
Her warm brown eyes widened, and she looked down. When she looked back to him, her mouth was slightly open. “No bended knee?”
He wiped his hands down his thighs. “I don’t know why, but this made me nervous as fuck. I’d rather break up ten bar fights. If I’d done the knee thing, I might’ve passed out, then Muriel would be pissed.”
She threw her head back and laughed. Then she leaned forward. “Hate to say it, but she’s gonna be pissed when she finds out you went unconventional.”
He slid the ring off her finger making a mental note to have it sized because it was too loose.
After a deep breath, he stood and dropped to one knee, holding the square-cut diamond engagement ring in front of him. “Savannah Smythe, will you do me the honor of spending the rest of your life with me as my wife?”
Savannah put her hand to her mouth. “I love how you did that. Yes. Of course I will.”
He slid the ring back onto her finger. Her eyes shimmered with moisture as she cupped his cheeks in her hands and leaned down to kiss him.
The sound of polite clapping made him smile and break the kiss.
A flash distracted him, and he wondered who would take their picture.
As he took his seat again, a middle-aged woman approached their table. “I don’t mean to intrude, but my daughter just got engaged and she wishes someone would have taken her picture. So… I thought you might like the moment. I can airdrop it to you if you have the right kind of phone.”
Savannah gushed her thanks and pulled out her iPhone.
Punc grabbed his glass, but he drank more than just wine. He drank in the gorgeous sight of his woman looking downright radiant with happiness.
He couldn’t wait to see her on their wedding day.
Savannah
Two years later…
“Are you sure you’re not contagious?” Catalina asked.
That was a loaded question at this point. If I’d shared with Punc, I’d have no issue telling my sister that I wasn’t contagious. However, until my man knew what was going on, I wasn’t telling anybody.
“I’m fine,” I said, stepping out of the bathroom.
Cat widened her eyes and tilted her head. “I sure hope that’s true, because it’s nearly go-time. You gotta get into this gown, sis.”
“I know.”
Catalina wandered to the other side of the hotel room and rummaged in her makeup case.
Alanis brought my wedding gown over to me.
I grinned and took the dress from her. “I’ll be just a minute.”
She nodded and spoke in a low voice. “For being a college grad and now a pre-med student, how is it that your sister isn’t picking up what you’ve been throwing down all morning? Or should I say throwing up?”
I gave my best friend (and soon to be sister-in-law) a pointed look. “Food poisoning is no laughing matter, Alanis.”
She shot me a dry smile. “I’ve had three, chickie. You aren’t fooling me…and my guess is Ted doesn’t know, so I’ll keep it quiet. But I’m so damned excited for you both.”
“Thanks,” I whispered, because if I said anything more, I’d end up crying.
While Alanis zipped up my gown, Cat came back to us holding a pair of combs lined with what looked like diamonds.
There was happiness shining in her eyes, but it was subdued, and I braced myself.
“I should have had the hair stylist handle this, but… when you first moved in and before you really cleared out Mom’s bedroom, I snagged these.
She’d told me they’re real diamonds, probably the only real diamonds Dad ever gave her besides her engagement ring. ”
I pressed my lips together and fought off the encroaching doubt about that statement.
Cat read my look. “I had them appraised after I went to college. They’re real. I thought you could wear them and have a little bit of Mom with you today.”
I tipped my head back and willed the tears away. “You aren’t supposed to make me cry, sis.”
“I know, but I miss her.”
With a nod, I opened my arms and hugged Cat. “I do, too. Put them in for me?”
“Oh, let me,” Alanis said from behind me. “You two are gonna be too bleary-eyed to do it.”
We giggled, and let Alanis handle it.
Fifteen minutes later, the photographer finished taking pictures of me before the ceremony.
I couldn’t wait to see the candid pictures of me, Cat, Alanis, Kyra, and little Nina.
Proving to be just like her mother, Kyra was convinced she was old enough to be a bridesmaid, but at eight years old, I was pretty sure she was still in flower girl territory.
That meant she had to supervise her three-year old sister, which seemed to rankle Kyra at first, but then she took to being in charge like any big sister would.
Michael strolled down the corridor toward us. “Are you sure you want me to walk you down the aisle? I’m honored to do it, but there are women who know how to make an entrance all on their own, and you’re one of them.”
I smiled at him. “I appreciate that, but we’re sticking to the plan.”
Dad hadn’t changed his ways since Mom’s passing. When Catalina shared the news about the wedding, he hadn’t even asked when it would happen. As it stood, I doubted Dad would even be in attendance.
The delicate guitar notes of “Hawa Dolo” sounded and Alanis leaned down to tell Kyra it was time for her and Nina to go toss the flower petals. Muriel had insisted I listen to this song, and it was so beautiful, I knew I wanted it played when I walked down the aisle.
Catalina followed the girls out with Alanis a couple steps behind.
“You look gorgeous today, Savannah,” Michael murmured. “Ted’s a very lucky man, and even if he’s my brother-in-law, if he does you wrong, I’ll kick his ass.”
I chuckled and nudged my bicep against his. “He would never, Michael.”
Michael glanced down at me. “He better not.”
We made our way to the large patio where everyone was seated and waited for them to stand. For a brief moment as we stood there, I noticed the way Brian, Punc’s best man, stared at my sister. She held his stare for a second, then turned her gaze pointedly to me.
Everyone stood. Punc locked eyes with me, and I swallowed down my nerves.
We’d already told Cathy, our officiant, that I wasn’t being given away. Once Michael and I reached the end of the aisle, Punc crooked his finger at me. I beamed at him and joined him under the arch of flowers.
The ceremony was blissfully short, and before I knew it, Punc had me arched back over his arm as he kissed me breathless.
He broke the kiss, and his eyes glittered with satisfaction. “Best fucking day ever, Mrs. Chisholm. I love you.”
I smiled and he pulled me upright. “I love you, too, Mr. Chisholm. The best is yet to come, though, because we’re gonna have a baby.”
His eyes rounded. “Are you serious?” He shook his head. “That’s why you picked at your food last night.”
I nodded.
He clamped his arms around my waist, lifted me up, and let out a whooping yell while spinning us around.
I laughed and put my hands on his shoulders. “Honey, spinning me isn’t a great idea.”
He lowered me down to my feet. “You’ve made me the happiest man, Savannah.”
“That goes both ways, Ted. I’m beside myself that you’re my man.”
Thank you for reading.