Forever After (Unrestrained 5)

She covered her mouth and I could see her eyes sparkling from across the room. She finally blew me a kiss and wiped her eyes. Kevin leaned over and squeezed her shoulder, smiling at her, and several in the crowed clapped as they heard the famous opening to “And I Love Her.”

I sang that song with all my heart, for I felt every word. It was all true for me when it came to Kate.

She was everything to me – the true love of my life.

I’d spend the rest of my life making sure she knew that – that she felt it every single day. I almost lost Kate less than ten months earlier on a warm day in late June when the heat of summer had yet to set in and a woman crazed with jealousy and envy tried to kill her.

That event made me realize for the first time – truly realize – how happy I was with Kate. How she was perfect for me, and I believed, I was for her.

We finished the set to a round of applause and cheers, and even did an en

core before leaving our instruments on the small stage and joining Kate at the bar for a drink.

“I’m going to miss you guys,” I said after we found a table and sat together with a pitcher of draft.

Across from us, Johnny Mears and Cliff Walters sat side by side. Johnny held up his glass of beer.

“We’ll miss you, brother,” he said. “I don’t know what we’ll do without your voice. Have to get Ken to sing, I guess.”

Ken sat up straighter. “I’ll have you know that I sing almost as well as Drake. Besides, I already have a line on a new guy from Brooklyn. Was in a band that fronted for Bowie once.”

The other guys raised their eyebrows at that. I turned to Ken. “You do? I thought you said--.”

From the look on Ken’s face, I knew he was joking. “Got you!” he said with a huge grin. “We don’t have a replacement – yet. Gotta give us some time to mourn the loss first.”

“Drake will miss you all,” Kate said and held up her glass. “Here’s to old friends and never losing touch.”

“Here, here,” Ken said and we all drank a toast.

Finally, I saw Kate yawn, trying desperately to hide it behind her hand, but failing.

“Time for us to go,” I said and stood up, grabbing my jacket from the back of my chair. “My lady is tired and has a very busy day of packing tomorrow.”

“And dinner with us tomorrow night,” Ken said, his eyebrows raised. “Don’t forget Sunday dinner.” He turned to Johnny and Cliff. “You both are invited, too. One last meal together. How does that sound?”

“Sounds perfect,” Cliff said and they both stood and we embraced.

Before Kate and I left, we stopped at the office to say goodbye to Mrs. O, who gave Kate a big hug and kiss.

“I can’t wait to see that baby of yours,” she said. “Drake said she looks just like you.”

Kate turned to me and smiled. “She has her father’s eyes, and coloring, but she has my face.”

“Thankfully,” I said with a laugh.

We said goodbye and promised to return for Sunday dinner, then made our way down the street to where my car was parked.

“That was nice,” Kate said as we drove off. “You will miss them.”

“I will,” I said. “But I’m excited about Monterey.”

We held hands while we drove through the streets back home. When we got inside the apartment, Karen was sitting on the couch watching television. The kitchen was clean and from the sounds of it, Sophie was sleeping in her crib.

“How was everything?” Kate asked, her voice soft.

“She was as good as gold,” Karen said, smiling as she got her coat. “Didn’t wake up once.”

We said our final goodbyes to her, and I was surprised how attached I had become to her. She’d helped us out on many a night when Ethan was sick and when Kate and I needed some time to ourselves.