Chapter 98: Epilogue: A Glimpse into the Future

~“I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know. She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I’ll share her home. I found a lover, to carry more than just my secrets. To carry love, to carry children of our own.”~

Chapter Theme Song: “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran.

BLAZE

“Mr. Xander, would you like some coffee?” Mirelle, one of my employees, asks. She’s bending over the coffee machine, her skirt riding up a little too high. There’s a rip in her fishnet stocking.

“No, thanks. Just had one,” I reply, tossing my empty cup into the trash.

As I walk away, she calls out, “Alright, sir. Just let me know if you need anything!”

I make my way down the hallway, acknowledging the occasional nod from passing coworkers. When I finally reach my office, I close the door behind me and lean against it, letting out a sigh of relief.

~Man, it’s like navigating through a den of vampires.~

I straighten my jacket and sit down at my desk, ready to dive back into my work.

~Ping!~

Blake

I brought you lunch.

I glance at my phone, then shake my head and refocus on my computer.

The phone on my desk rings, and I hit the speaker button. My secretary’s voice fills the room.

“Mr. Xander?”

“Yeah?” I respond, squinting at a file on my screen.

“Would it be alright if I went to get my lunch now?”

I glance at my watch. ~12:49. ~Her lunch break isn’t until one.

Part of me wants to tell her to wait, but another part of me recognizes her hard work and thinks it wouldn’t hurt to let her go early. This is the same part of me that’s asking why I have to be such a jerk.

It’s a question I’ve asked myself many times.

Life is easier when I don’t have to feel anything for anyone—except for Harmony Skye. It’s not the healthiest way to live, but I’ve been seeing a psychiatrist.

It wasn’t my idea. Harmony practically begged me to go.

She thinks it’ll help me understand people better, which will make me a better CEO of my own law firm.

I’m a lawyer now. My uncle, the chairman at Homewood, let me switch majors without much fuss when I finally figured out what I wanted to do.

I’m not sure if it’s the right career for me, considering my difficulty with empathy, but it’s teaching me a lot.

It’s one of the best ways to learn about emotions and how the human brain works.

A while back, I found myself showing up at the grand opening of a bakery owned by a couple I’d recently represented. I don’t know why I did it, but I did.

They’d almost lost their land to a wealthy businessman who wanted to build a housing development there. I fought for them and won.

I was surprised when the woman ran over to me after the final court hearing and hugged me. I didn’t know what to do with my hands. They just hung there while her husband apologized for his wife’s sudden display of affection.

I managed a smile and a pat on her back.

When she let go, she was smiling. “You’re such a sweet young man, Mr. Xander. Are you married? Do you have kids?”

I’m not married yet, but I’m engaged to Harmony. And I don’t have kids yet, but...Harmony is pregnant.

“Not yet, and yes,” I answered. And in that moment, I felt something I rarely feel. I felt anticipation. I felt excitement. I couldn’t wait to hold my baby.

And that moment is coming soon. Harmony is nine months pregnant and could give birth any day now.

Today, I met with a client who admitted to beating his mother. As he talked, I realized he didn’t seem to feel any remorse.

My colleague, another lawyer from Harmony and my college, asked him if he felt sorry.

His answer was: ~I wish I did.~

I was intrigued by the case and decided to take it on.

After thinking it over, I finally respond to my secretary. I’m trying not to be a jerk. “Yes, you can go for lunch.”

“Really?” She sounds surprised, like I’ve never done anything nice for her. Just last month, I paid her son’s preschool fees. Well...Harmony asked me to, but I did it. I even went there myself.

“Thank you, Mr. Xander. Oh, and your father is here to see you.”

I roll my eyes. ~Already? Doesn’t he have anything better to do?~

“Alright, send him in.”

The door opens and Blake walks in. “Blaze. Pack up. Harmony’s at the hospital.”

“What?” My heart skips a beat. “Why? What happened to Harmony?”

Blake chuckles, looking relaxed despite my panic. “Relax, Blaze. Your baby’s here.”

***

I drive like a maniac to the hospital, with Blake holding onto the overhead handle like his life depends on it. When we get there, Harmony is in a hospital bed, looking a little weak.

~My beautiful Harmony.~

Her mom is there too.

Harmony sits up. “Blaze...” She’s pale, but her smile is bright and beautiful. It takes my breath away.

When I lower my gaze, I see her cradling a tiny figure, almost lost in the swath of clean white cloth. I wobble on my feet.

Her mom grins at me. “Aren’t you going to hold your little baby, son?”

~Son.~ Harmony’s cheeks flush a deep pink.

I’m frozen in place, as if my feet are glued to the floor. Blake gives me a reassuring pat on the back.

“Go see your son, Blaze,” he advises, then turns to Harmony’s mom, shaking his head with a fond smile.

I swallow hard.

“Blaze...,” Harmony calls, her voice weak but full of life. “Come here.”

I start to move toward her, but it feels like I’m walking on air. ~Shit.~

As I approach, Harmony gently lifts her arms toward me. Her eyes are sparkling, and she’s glowing with happiness. “Hold him, Blaze...”

I gulp again, slowly taking our baby from her, cradling his tiny body in my arms. His eyes are barely open, his skin red but soft. I take a deep breath, staring down at him.

Harmony giggles softly, looking at her mom.

“I haven’t named him yet,” Harmony admits, and the nurse, who I hadn’t noticed before, smiles and adds, “She was waiting for you. She wants you to name him.”

“What would you name him?” Harmony asks me, her gaze dropping shyly to the sheets. How can someone look so exhausted and so beautiful at the same time?

I swallow again, my fingers trembling where I’m holding him against my chest. I can’t tear my eyes away from him. He’s a perfect blend of Harmony and me.

I’ll be there for him. I won’t abandon him. I won’t let him feel alone. I won’t hurt him.

My vision blurs. I can’t believe I’m crying. A tear slips from my eye and lands on his tiny forehead. I sniffle, quickly wiping the tear away with my thumb.

He stirs a little, blue eyes peeking out from beneath his half-closed eyelids. I don’t think I ever want to let him go.

“Name him,” Dad instructs, because the nurse is waiting to complete the paperwork. “Or I’ll name him Peter.”

Harmony giggles, and I manage a small smile, tears streaming down my face. ~I’m crying. Wow.~

~“Blaze,”~ I decide, my throat feeling raw. “I’m naming him Blaze Xander.”

I look up at Harmony. Her mom’s smiling. Blake looks sad, but he’s still smiling. “Is that okay?” I ask Harmony.

Tears stream down her cheeks, but she nods and reaches up to wipe her eyes. Her mom reaches over and rubs her back.

My hands start shaking uncontrollably, and I’m afraid I’ll drop him, so I carefully pass him to Blake, who looks surprised.

What? Did he think I wouldn’t let him touch my kid?

I move closer to Harmony and sit on the bed. She’s still crying, trying to smile at me through her tears, and I wrap my arms around her and pull her close.

She feels fragile, but she’s still ~mine.~

“I love you. Thank you for giving him to me...” She has no idea how lucky I feel to have them both.

“Marry me, Harmony,” I sniffle, holding her tight. Not too tight, just enough for her to feel my heart pounding. For her and for our son.

“Blaze...,” she whispers tearfully, pressing her face against my neck. Her tears soak my skin. “You don’t have to ask twice. I want no one but you. I love you, Blaze. I’ll always love you.”

“I’ll always love you too,” I promise her, and I mean it.

I’ll never let her go. The girl who makes me ~feel.~ I’ll always be grateful for the love she’s given me, even when I’ve proven to be unworthy.

“Thank you for loving me,” she murmurs, and I sigh.

“No. Thank ~you~ for loving me, Harmony.”

She’ll always be the one who makes my heart beat in ways no one else ever could.

We’ll be okay together.

Harmony works as an elementary school English teacher, and she teaches little kids how to play the piano, paint, and draw on the weekends. She’s so perfect, it’s unreal.

I’ll take care of them both.

We stay like that, holding each other tightly as if we never want to let go. Then Harmony whispers in my ear.

“Blaze... Um, I wanted to ask you something...”

“Yeah?”

“Um... Have you ever...slept with Yuna and Tia?” She whispers the last part in my ear.

I’m taken aback and pull away slightly to look at her. She bites her lip nervously.

“I-I’m just curious. I’ve always wanted to ask you.”

“No,” I answer honestly, “definitely not. Where’d you get that idea, Harmony?” I start to worry. I don’t want my past to cause her any stress.

But Harmony giggles and says, “It’s okay. I was just curious.”

I smile softly and pull her close again. “Curious?” I kiss her nose, and she grins widely. “Don’t worry about anyone or anything else. You’re the only one I want.”

“Mm. Me too. April says everyone is coming here later. To see the baby.”

“Everyone like who?” I ask her, as I hear Blake and Harmony’s mom leaving the room. I brush Harmony’s hair away from her face.

“Everyone like April, Tia, Yuna, and James...”

I smile. “Okay.”

As long as I have ~her~, as long as she’s here, sharing my heart, my home, my kids, that’s all I need. She’s the one who, as cheesy and unlikely as it sounds, saved my sinking heart.

^~“I saw that you were perfect, and so I loved you. Then I saw that you were not perfect and I loved you even more.” —Angelita Lim^~