I love where my life is now, even if I haven’t always liked the journey to get here. It definitely hasn’t been perfect, but we’re here now, just about to start another chapter of our love story, the ‘happy ever after’ part, and I have a funny feeling this will be the best chapter of them all.
Bring on the future, I cannot wait for it.
Epilogue – Veronica
One Year Later…
“What is all of this?” I ask with a laugh as I enter the kitchen with Zaalia attached to my hip. “Dinner, flowers, even some music. What are you up to, Jordan? This is just too sweet.”
He shrugs and smirks. “Well, since you’ve been so busy all day with Zaalia’s first birthday party I thought it best to organize something nice for you this evening. It is our anniversary, after all. You haven’t forgotten that?”
“Of course I haven’t, I guess I just thought… well, I didn’t think anything. It’s been a bit manic today.”
Actually, it’s been manic all year long. Motherhood is a crazy challenge that I couldn’t be prepared for however hard I tried. The sleepless nights, the endless diaper changes, the feeding… there’s no time for a schedule, no way I can get my days in order quite like I thought I was going to. It’s a good job that both me and Jordan are stationed permanently in the country because I don’t know what I would do otherwise.
We’ve done this as a team, so while it’s been incredibly hard it’s also been very rewarding. I’m very much enjoying it. Every time Zaalia smiles at me, or coos and giggles, it makes up for how tired she’s made me the night before. I just love her so much and I can’t wait for her to continue on growing into the amazing little girl she is. One year in and her personality is shining through loud and clear. She’s going to be a real character.
“I cannot believe you forgot after everything you said the day Zaalia was born. Well, it’s just lucky that I managed to remember. I even went out and got you a very thoughtful gift, because I’m so good.”
As he hands me the parcel he’s even gone as far to wrap for me, I give him one right back. I might have been crazy busy, but not enough to forget completely. “See?” I tease. “I did get you something after all.”
His eyes widen in surprise, but he waits for me to open it first. I unpeel the wrapping to find a gorgeous little gold chain inside. A bracelet with crystal flowers doted up and down it. It’s so delicate and sweet.
“Oh wow, I love it. It’s amazing.” I throw my one free arm around him. “Thank you so much.”
“Well, you’ve been through so much and you’ve really blossomed. I just want you to have a permanent reminder how proud I am of you. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met in my life.”
These days, I barely think about the past. I can hardly remember those long, endless days where I was locked in that horrible cell with only the promise of death for company. Even now as Jordan mentions it, the memories spark back a little, but they’re so dull. Faded, blurry, as if they’re something I saw in a movie rather than real life. I have too many other memories to take their place. Happy ones. Ones that I actually want to think about.
“Thank you, again. I love it.” I hand Jordan the bracelet and watch as he fixes it to my wrist. In my mind, this will be a reminder of how far we’ve come together, as a couple. “It’s lovely. Now open your gift, will you?”
Impatience creeps up through my veins, it makes me feel all buzzing with excitement. Any minute now, Jordan will finally discover what I’ve been cooking up for him too. I’ve had to hold this inside for the right moment and finally, the time has come. I can share everything that I’m absolutely dying to talk about.
“You’re… you’re…” He holds out the stick to me with a nervous smile. “Is this for real? Are you actually…?”
“Yep!” I clap my hands together gleefully. “I really am… we’re having another baby. This crazy little family is getting bigger once again.” I glance to my baby in my arms, giggling as I notice she’s asleep. The day must have tuckered her right out. “Zaalia is going to have a little brother or sister to play with.”
“How did this…? How did you…? Oh, my goodness, I’m just so stunned. This is nuts. I don’t think Rachel will be annoyed that she isn’t here for this announcement.” He sees my guilty face. “Oh, my goodness. Did you tell her first? How is it fair that she always gets to know before me? I suppose the only thing is that I did get to find out today, which is the most monumental day of the year for us… I’ll let it go.”
He wraps his arms around me and his daughter and we all embrace. Talk about coming far, we’re making it further and further every single day. There doesn’t seem to be any end as to what we’re capable of doing. Nothing keeps us down, we simply get better and stronger all the time. We’re both the heroes now.
“Right, come on. Let’s sit you down and get something to eat. We aren’t going to have many more peaceful times now if our family is getting bigger, we should enjoy it while we can.”
I lay Zaalia down in her baby basket and take my seat at the table, opposite my husband of one long year. It feels like a whole lot longer, but at the same time, it feels like only yesterday we had our wedding day. The start of our happy ever after.
“I love you!” I lift up my glass of what has quickly been changed to orange juice. “Now, and forever.”
“I love you too, so much, Mrs. Veronica Miller. You are the best wife I ever could have hoped for, the best mom too. I’m so lucky to have you, and I can’t wait for our next baby. This time, I think it’s definitely going to be a boy!”
We laugh together, knowing that neither of us mind. Every adventure is fun together, no matter what. This baby will share in our intense love.
It’s going to be wonderful.
Book 2
First Time With The Major
Blurb