I walk back into the room, my bag is already packed, and in his hand. Everyone else is gone.
“Ma went to check you out.” He dangles my keys in his other hand. “You ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I slip my shoes on. We run to my car in the rain, getting pelted with the large drops as they splash against our bodies.
Two months later
I’m with Nathan at his parent’s house for Natalie and Trey’s engagement party. After seeing that Nathan and I were going to make things work, Natalie decided to take a chance at finding her own happiness. Trey got down on one knee for her two weeks ago at the bar. I was scared for him for a minute. I thought she might say no, but as she stood there seeing his love for her in his eyes she said she just knew that he was her one.
She met his son, Treyton too. We all adore him. He has his daddy’s blond curls and grey eyes. Sometimes Nathan and I babysit so they can go out.
It feels strange, but it also feels right to be here as Nathan’s date. We’ve gotten a few strange looks from other family members, but Ma, believe it or not, tells me to ignore them.
We had a good talk, just the two of us a few days ago. She came over and brought me an I’m sorry apology cake. It was a sweet gesture and I know it came from the heart. Three months ago, I would’ve thought it contained poison.
She apologized for how she treated me when I was with Joey but holds firm she doesn’t believe we were right for each other. Part of me believes her. The part of me that believes in fate.
Nathan’s eyes find mine from across the yard. He makes his way to me, and we go over to Joey’s grave together.
I’ve not visited Joey’s grave since he died. It was too hard to think of him lying here in the ground.
Kissing two fingers, I touch them to the headstone. “I will always love you, Joey. I’ll never forget the man that you were. The love you showed me. The woman you made me want to be for you. I hope that one day when I see you again that you can forgive me and be happy that I found love again.” Before I pull away, a monarch butterfly lands on my fingers, and in this brief moment I feel Joey is giving me his blessing. I can’t stop the tears as they fall steady as rain.
“Hey, you okay?” Nathan twists my chin in his direction.
In his eyes, I see nothing but love and adoration. I feel able to let go of the past. I can finally move forward with him.
“Never better.” I offer him a true smile, feeling at peace.
Natalie joins us and gives us both a hug. She has decided to move in with Trey and his son to better help him. I guess Yvonne isn’t a great mom and Trey has full custody of him now. She’s leaving the running of the bar to Nathan and me, with the help of Lewis.
We are renting her apartment out to Freddie and Sasha, they decided to move in together.
I still have Joey’s apartment, but I spend most of my time next door at Nathan’s.
I’ll never forget Joey or the love that we shared, but life does go on. I will always love him and a part of me will always wish that he were still here with us, but I have to live my life. We only get one and tomorrow is never promised. Everything can end in the blink of an eye. I never want to take what I have been given for granted. The early detection pregnancy test I took this morning is evidence of the fact.
We haven’t told anyone. It’s so early I don’t want to jinx us, and I don’t want to steal Natalie’s thunder. Today is all about her and Trey. I’m going to miss seeing her every day, but I’ve never seen her happier than she is right now. I think just maybe she does love Trey.
She can’t stop smiling, it’s contagious.
The three of us walk back to the tent where all the guests are gathered.
The food has been served and is waiting on the table for us. I take my seat next to my man and Lewis. When I reach for my water instead of the wine, with piqued brows Lewis says, “Hold up. Since when do you turn down any form of alcohol?”
I give him a mean scowl. He needs to be quiet. “I do like water from time to time.” I take a hearty sip.
“What’s that?” Ma questions from across the round table.
“Audrey isn’t drinking her wine,” he rats me out.
Traitor.
“Is something wrong with the wine? It’s not bad is it?” Joe asks with a grin. His smile is handsome like son’s.
“I’m sure the wine is fine.” I look to Nathan to help me out and he has the biggest smug smirk on his face.
Ma and Lewis look at him and back to me.