Epilogue
Four Months Later
“We’re here, Dad,” Jonah said on Valentine’s Day. “Right when you said to come in.”
He laughed over his son’s enthusiasm.
And that Molly took the afternoon off, picked his son up and was bringing him here for an early dinner.
The three of them were going to eat in the back.
And by early dinner, it was three.
Though the place was still hopping.
“Let’s go in the back. You got it covered, right, Sheila?”
“You know it, boss.”
“She called you boss,” Jonah said giggling.
He winked. “Because I am the boss.”
Everyone still only knew him as the manager.
There was no reason to change that fact.
If it ever came out, it did, but why change what was working?
But those in his life. Those important people. His son and the woman he loved.
They knew everything there was to know.
“Do you have a bunch of specials running today?” she asked.
“Marcus had fun with the menu.” He reached for the printed sheet and slid it in front of them as they sat in the booth. Molly and Jonah both sat across from him.
His son really was attached to Molly now.
“Great Grandpa called me before Molly got me.”
He lifted his eyebrow.
His grandfather had made a full recovery. Their relationship wasn’t great but they were better.
He’d gone back for Christmas this year with Molly and Jonah.
His cousins still didn’t talk much to him, as if he was to blame for so much more. Like the fact their grandfather was now talking to him again.
He’d just decided to live his life his way and screw everyone else.
But he wouldn’t keep his past life a secret from his son.
Jonah deserved to know his heritage because it’s the only one he’d ever have the knowledge of.
“And what did he have to say?” he asked, putting the menu down.
“That today was about your heart and not about love.”
He laughed. Leave it to his grandfather to say that. “What did you say?”
“I told him all I wanted was chocolate.”
“Good answer. Don’t change it either.”
Molly winked at him. “I didn’t get any chocolate.”
“You’ve got something better coming for dessert.”
“Really?” she asked. “Well, I can’t wait. So we should order our food now.”
Bethany came over, took their order, they ate and they laughed and he tried not to sweat his balls off over what he was going to do.
And here of all places on top of it.
But the truth was, it felt right that not only was it the time, but the place.
So when their plates were cleared and three red cupcakes were brought out, both Jonah and Molly were rubbing their hands together.
“Red velvet. It’s perfect today.”
“It is,” he said. “That one is yours. It’s a bit different from Jonah’s.”
“Why?” Jonah asked.
“Because you won’t like the one I had made special for us.”
“You don’t know that,” Jonah argued. “What’s different?”
“Well, Molly likes to experiment with food so that is what I did for her. There are beets in there.”
“Oh,” she said lightly clapping her hands. “I love it. I love beets too.”
“I’m not sure I’m going to love it, but I thought it’d be fun.”
“Totally fun,” she said. “Can I try it?”
Jonah was already diving into his and not paying attention. “Not yet.” He reached for her hand, his thumb tracing over her wrist. “This pulse right here, it’s beating. Just like mine does for you.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet. And very fitting. Today of all days and this place.”
“See, you get it.”
Her thumb landed on the top of his hand. “My beats for you too.”
He picked her hand up, put his lips to her wrist and then laid it down. “Cut into your cupcake.”
“I can’t just bite in like Jonah is?”
They looked at his son who had cake and frosting all over his face. Oh, to be a kid again.
Not that he’d be allowed to eat like that, but him, he was letting his kid…just be a kid.
Just like Molly was finally being who she always wanted to be too.
“No. Just do what I said and don’t ruin it.”
She laughed and picked up the fork, then sliced through it and saw something inside.
“What is that?”
He reached over and snagged it. “A tiny balloon.” He’d snuck into the kitchen and handed it over to Marcus to slip in before the cupcakes were brought out.
With his knife he popped it, then pulled the heart-shaped diamond ring out.
Because you know, everything had to be hearts.
“Oh wow,” she said.
“Molly Clarke. From the moment you walked in here full of all piss and vinegar, I knew right away, you were the one for me.”
Her jaw opened, then closed, then opened again. “I didn’t know it then, but I sure the heck wished for it.”
“Well, wishes come true.” He reached for her hand again, slid the ring on. “Will you marry me? Let our hearts continue to beat together, beat as one?”
She was nodding her head but no words came out. Finally, she said, “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“Does that mean now I’ve got a mom?” Jonah asked, still munching on his cupcake. Maybe there was a part of him that was thrilled his son was just so accepting of things.
Guess he was doing something right.
“If you want me to be your mom, I’d love it.”
“I can call you that?” Jonah asked, his head moving back and forth from Molly to him.
“If Molly is okay with it, that’s up to you.”
“Mom,” Jonah said. “Hey, that sounds good.”
“Yeah,” she said, putting her arm around his son’s shoulder and pulling him close. “It sure the heck does.”
The End!