"Aunt Sapph! Aunt Sapph! Uncle Scott is not letting us play with the dogs!"
I closed the oven door and turned to look down at my nephew. Landon was a perfect mix of Lia and Stefan, with blue eyes, silky black hair and Lia's upbeat energy.
"You go tell Scott that he won't get any dessert if he keeps hogging the dogs," I said.
Landon was out of the kitchen before I even finished talking. I shook my head. I wish I had half his energy.
Our house never felt more full than it did right now. Stefan and Lia flew over yesterday with their twins. And Scott appeared at our door early today.
We always celebrated our birthday together, and this year it would be in mine and Hunter's place. Sam, along with his wife and kids would be driving over today as well.
Lia and Stefan walked into the kitchen right then. Lia was still in pajamas, bleary-eyed and scowling. Unlike my bright-eyed brother, Lia would never be a morning person.
"Did the kids wake you up?" Lia asked, her voice scratchy from sleep. She plopped down on a stool and dropped her forehead on the island. The kids' screeching laughter traveled through the open French doors and filled the house with warmth.
"No. Hunter and I wake up early."
I pointed Stefan to the coffee machine. Hunter and I weren't coffee people, but we bought it because most of our friends and family liked that black tar.
"Where's your hubby?" Lia asked me, accepting Stefan's coffee mug with a grateful smile. The mug was a gift from Hunter. Black with white writing that said: "I save animals. What's your superpower?"
"He's not her hubby yet," Stefan said, returning to the coffee machine for his own cup. "When's the wedding anyway?"
Lia took a sip and eyed her husband pointedly. "What? You and Hunter didn't talk about it?"
Stefan made a face. "Why would we talk about it?"
"I just thought you would. Since you two obviously talk without telling us anything."
Stefan groaned and shook his head, pouring coffee in a white mug with colorful paw prints all over it. Lia still hadn't forgotten how Stefan had spoken to Hunter a couple of years ago and not told her. She reminded him every chance she got.
"We already talked about this, Lia." Stefan sighed, running his fingers through his hair. He wore it longer now, the dark strands almost brushing his shoulders.
"Have we? Hmm, I just don't seem to remember," she said in a sweet tone. "Just like you didn't remember to tell me you met with Hunter two years ago."
I chuckled. Stefan just shook his head and looked at me. "You're the reason for this."
I shrugged. "Should've told her you talked to Hunter, Stefan."
Lia nodded. "Should've told me you talked to Hunter, Stefan."
Stefan chuckled. "Glad you guys are still the same."
He kissed Lia's temple and stalked out of the kitchen with his coffee. A minute later, the kids' squealing got louder.
Lia downed the rest of her drink and reached over the island, making grabby hands. "Gimme gimme."
"What?"
"The sparkly finger."
I held out my hand. She gripped it and brought it up to her eyes. "Oooh, it's so pretty."
I smiled. My engagement ring was a tear-shaped sapphire surrounded by diamonds. "You've seen it already."
She had made me take close up shots of the ring after Hunter proposed and send them to her.
She scowled at me. "It's not the same as seeing it in real life. So where's Hunter?"
"He went out to get some groceries," I said.
Lia smiled, leaning her chin on her hand.
"What is it?" I asked.
"You look happy," she replied, her voice thick. "I'm so happy for you, Sapph."
"I am happy," I said, rubbing my finger over the ring's surface. "I think I owe you guys an apology. I hadn't even realized it, but I made you worry about me during all these years because I was... too scared to live my life."
"You don't owe us anything. We're just glad you're finally moving on." She clapped her hand, as if to dispel the serious mood. "So, when's the wedding?"
I groaned. I didn't even want to think of all the preparations and the headaches of organizing a wedding. "I don't know yet."
"Emma is betting it's going to be a summer wedding," she said. "But Thalia says Hunter won't wait that long, so it's going to be a spring wedding."
I leaned against the counter and crossed my arms. "Aha. What about you?"
Lia smiled, her eyes twinkling. "I don't know if you want a wedding, at all."
I sighed. "I really can't be bothered, to be honest. It's way too much work and stress."
She glanced over her shoulder and leaned forward, her silky hair falling on the island. "You could just elope."
I blinked. Huh. I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it. "You're right," I said, slowly nodding to myself. "We could."
"Yep." Lia said. "By the way, Sam told me he's been seeing Hunter's father around town lately."
"Hunter doesn't talk to his father. But he talks to his mother from time to time. She hadn't been a good mother to him. But Hunter is over it. He forgave her a long time ago."
Lia hummed. "I'm surprised."
I shrugged. "He has a big heart. That's what I love about him. It helps that his mother seems to have matured compared to what she'd been like ten years ago."
His parents had divorced around five years ago. Which seemed to help her move on. His father was another issue. I doubt Hunter would ever forgive him. And who could blame him? The man had been an abusive bastard.
"Mooom!" Lander's high-pitched voice pierced the air.
"Thank God you don't have neighbors," Lia grumbled. "Do you need help with breakfast?"
"Everything is ready." I waved her off. "Just go have fun with the boys."
She gave me a salute. "Also, I'll keep my mouth shut if you do decide to elope with Hunter. Talk it out with him."
She jogged out, leaving me to my thoughts. Now that she put the idea of not having a wedding in my head, I couldn't get it out. The more I thought about it, the more appealing it sounded.
I checked the casserole in the oven. It was ready. I turned off the oven just as the front door slipped open.
Hunter strode in with a box of groceries. He had to make the farmer's market run on his own today. But this wasn't the first time. All the stalls in which I was a regular recognized Hunter by now, which made his shopping easier.
"Did you get everything?" I asked as he set the box on the island. He leaned in for a kiss, smelling of peppermint tea and his usual cologne.
"Yes. Nonna Gabriella sent some of her new gluten free gnocchi for us to try out," he said, dropping his cap on the island.
"How many today?" I asked.
"Just one. He wanted a picture."
I chuckled. Whenever we went to the farmer's market- or anywhere public, really- Hunter would be stopped by fans.
I peeked into the box and began taking out the items.
Tux snuck out of the hallway then. He'd been hiding in his usual bathroom ever since the kids and my brothers showed up.
Hunter bent down and picked up the cat, who purred and rubbed against his cheek. Awe.
After receiving his share of love for the day, Tux wriggled until Hunter put him down, and then made a beeline for his bathroom again.
He preferred Hunter over me, but considering the progress the cat had made, I was grateful he even allowed me to pet him. Especially considering I was the bad person who gave him his shots and medication whenever he was sick.
Hunter and I stocked the groceries to the tune of loud laughter and cheerful barking outside.
"So, about the wedding..." I began, closing the fridge and leaning against the counter.
Hunter glanced up from trying to sneak a taste from the breakfast casserole and raised his brows. "What about the wedding? Are you getting cold feet, Mrs. Jamison?"
I snorted. "You wish. You're stuck with me for the rest of your life."
He grinned, abandoned his fork in favor of pulling me to his chest. I sighed and melted into him. Hunter's hugs would always be my favorite place in the world.
He gave an exaggerated sigh. "What can I do? I guess I'll have to put up with you."
I went outside to call them while Hunter set up the table for breakfast. Lander and London were running circles around Scott, who held up a football over his head. No one would think the dog was blind by the way he dodged the twins.
Lia and Stefan were on the small bridge on top of the sparkling pond, taking pictures of Brownie who was frolicking in the pond, her canine grin radiating fulfillment.
Even after the pool was done, she still preferred the pond. The amount of mud she would trail into the house... I shook my head with a fond smile.
"The dogs are having a blast," Hunter said, coming to stand behind me. He wrapped one arm around me, his chin on top of my head. His camera dangled from his other hand.
"Yep. Brownie is looking like she's gonna need another bath," I said. "That girl is an amphibian, not a dog."
"I'll just hose her down. It's hot enough for it," he said.
I pinched his arm. "The last time you did that, you ended up as muddy as she was."
"And you dragged me to a bath," Hunter said, lowering his face to my neck. "I think we should have a repeat performance. I liked that bath very much."
I laughed, turning my head to kiss his cheek. "Aren't you smooth?"
"So you keep telling me."
We watched the chaos in the garden together. Scott grabbed hold of the twins by their legs and ran toward the pool, the twins' excited cries and Stevie trailing after them.
"Scott! Don't you dare!" Lia called out, but she was laughing. Scott dumped the twins in the pool with a resounding splash, clothes and all. The twins had swimming lessons since they could crawl, so they were safe. Water shimmered under the bright sunlight as the twins' heads broke through the surface.
Scott laughed, but he didn't see Stefan sneaking up behind him until he was falling on his way down to the pool as well.
Brownie, who'd heard the enticing sound of water splashing, abandoned the pond and sailed into the pool as well, leaving a brownish spot where she dived in the pool. Lia laughed, recording the entire thing with her phone.
Hunter straightened, raising his camera and taking a few shots. We never went anywhere without that thing.
"This brings back memories." Hunter smiled, checking the shots. "Only Jason is missing."
Jason had moved out of state a couple of weeks ago. Speaking of Jason... "Guess who Jason met a few days ago?"
Hunter raised his brows. "Who?"
"Liza."
Hunter narrowed his eyes. "Liza... his high school Liza? The redhead?"
"Yep."
Hunter whistled. "Damn."
Damn is right. We had lost contact with Liza after high school. When Jason told me that he met her a few days ago, I couldn't believe it. But he sounded... off. I guess some people we just couldn't forget.
Scott would also be moving out of state very soon. Thinking about it knotted my guts. He'd been nearby whenever I needed him for years. And now he would be halfway across the country.
It would be difficult to gather all of us together again. But it was useless to worry about it right now. Because that was life. And those were relationships. The risks you took to open yourself up, the efforts it took to maintain them, it was all worth it. Just do your best, fight for what you believe is worth it, and let life happen.
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Hey guys!
I hope you enjoyed the epilogue!
A bonus chapter is coming tomorrow! Say tuned!
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Much love <3 <3 <3
M.B.