Epilogue

Three Years Later

"Just say the word and we can go right back to the hotel," Mia told him as she stared up at her parent's house.

Her father hadn't invited either of them to the Christmas party two months after they left. He hadn't invited them to the one after either, though at least that year he'd been willing to join in on her and her mother's weekly phone calls. The year after that, he'd invited her, but not Adam. She'd declined, however, deciding to only go if he allowed Adam to escort her.

This was the first year he'd been on the invitation, sort of. Her father hadn't used his actual name on the written invite, but it was clearly meant for him.

This was also the first year without either of his parents in attendance as his mother died three months prior. She'd seen her dad the year before when he came to visit her with her mom, but her he had refused to see Adam during that trip. At Adam's mother's funeral, they did their best to make amends.

It was the closest they'd ever get to friendship, but Adam didn't mind the permanent loss of it. He'd thought he'd lose a hell of a lot more than that if they were ever together, so he considered only one tainted relationship to be a win.

"No point in wasting that gold dress of yours," Adam replied, giving her a slow once over.

Mia's skin flushed at his calculating gaze. "But at the hotel, you'd get to take it off of me."

A sly smile took over Adam's face, causing lengthy lines to form. "I could do that here too," he countered. "Truth was, that's what I wanted last time we both found ourselves here. It took all my self control not to bend you over your father's desk when you were yelling at me in his study."

Mia placed her hand on his knee, then allowed it to travel upward, feeling his erection twitch beneath her touch. "There're all sorts of tables at the hotel."

"And we'll christen every one of them... tomorrow." With those words, Adam got out of the driver's seat and went around the car to open her door, holding out his hand for her to take.

Mia pushed out her lower lip in a pout, but took his hand and lifted herself out of the car, taking small steps in her three inch sparkly gold heels; a poor decision given all the snow and small patches of ice and one she was foolish enough to make every damn time.

"You ready for some side glances and whispers?" Adam asked her once they reached the door.

Mia rested her back against the stone wall next to the door, feeling droplets of snow fall down her back. The cold never bothered her much, she just didn't like the ice and crappy roads that came with winter.

Many of these people she hadn't seen since his mother's funeral and they were hardly lovey dovey that day. But she knew that no matter what size the town that gossip would always run rampant and she was sure when Adam had kissed her in a room full of people before fleeing the house caused quite a stir.

But they'd dealt with those side glances and whispers plenty over the last three years, seeing she would turn thirty-two this year while he would hit fifty.

"I'm always ready," Mia said with a sly smile, then grabbed at his tie and pulled him closer.

"Your mom's about to give me a hug and I'd rather not have an erection during that time." Still, Adam gave her a soft kiss, then another.

After three years, Mia would have thought she'd grow used to his kisses. But she'd waited so long for him to kiss her this way that she realized now she'd never get enough. Mia had spent twenty years being in love with this man and she was still in awe over the fact she had him.

His lips were against hers when Mia's mom opened the door and let out a cough. Adam didn't seem startled by the intrusion and placed a last kiss against her lips, then took her hand in his own before pulling her toward the door.

"I'd recommend toning that down around Keith," her mom warned him.

"I'll do my best," Adam replied with a smile, "but no promises."

Adam had given up trying to get in her father's good graces. He'd come to terms with the fact that the trust between them existed no longer, and told her the only trust he was going to concentrate on rebuilding was with Mia, which he did. She hadn't seen that 'other Adam' since the night she'd arrived in Madison after his father's death, and he assured her she would never see him again.

"Get out of the cold, you two." Her mother waved her hand and ushered them inside.

It was a surreal experience coming back. She'd been in this house since everything had gone haywire, but only once. But this was the Christmas party her parents had thrown for the last twenty years.

Same food.

Same drinks.

Same music.

Same guests.

The party was stuck in time, even though she'd changed so much.

Mia was being given hugs left and right as they welcomed her back, while Adam received handshakes by her side. Unlike back home when they were together, Mia couldn't feel eyes staring at the back of her head and heard no whispers in the near distance. It seemed the gossip of their union had run its course and if anyone was judging them, they were doing so in silence or were waiting for the car ride home.

When they approached her father, he was standing next to the fireplace chatting up investors, but excused himself when he spotted them. "Happy to have you home, Mia." His smile was forced, but his hug was warm and gentle. "Adam," he said for more roughly than her own name.

"Keith," he spoke back with a firm tone. "Appreciated the invitation this year. Though I'll admit, I never thought I'd see 'Cradle Robbing Prick' in calligraphy."

"Hmm," her father responded dryly. "Must have been a mixup at the printers."

Adam gave him a slow nod. "That happens."

It did not happen, but Adam found the humor in it when he opened the envelope and even had it framed as a memento. Mia wasn't as amused by it.

"So, you two will come over tomorrow I hope."

Mia nodded as she took a glass of champagne off the nearest tray. "We'll be over in the morning and stay for dinner. Then we'll spend the weekend at William's, and Monday we're heading over to Chicago to spend a few days with Zoey, then head back right after New Year's."

"Speak of the devil," Adam chimed in, pointing toward his brother. "I'm going to go talk to him quick. Want me to bring anything back?"

"A few of those little crab cakes." Mia looked up and felt his lips touch her temple. "Be back." He gave her father a polite nod and took off toward his brother.

"So, he's still making you happy, I guess."

Mia turned her attention back to her father. "He's the love of my life, dad. I know you don't get it and never will, and I know he caused me a lot of pain, but now he brings me nothing but happiness and joy and excitement."

"A simple yes would have sufficed, but okay," her father countered before taking a drink of his scotch. "Has he proposed?"

She shook her head. "We've talked about it, but he wants you and me to be better first. He doesn't want to get married unless he thinks you'll come."

"I suppose he doesn't need my permission at his age."

"He'd still like to have it," Mia told him. "But he knows the chances of that are slim."

Her father did a cockeyed nod just as Adam returned with her crab cakes.

"That was fast," Mia noticed, taking the napkin from him.

"Will and I will catch up later."

"So, I hear you two have been talking about getting married."

Mia turned beat red, wishing her father hadn't put Adam on the spot. They hadn't had any serious discussions about it and only brought it up briefly about a month after his mom's funeral.

"We have," Adam confirmed, as if her father's comment was the most casual thing in the world to say. "Mia and I... or I guess just I have wasted too much time already. I put off being with her for ten years and I guess I just don't see the point in us waiting when we've already waited long enough. We want you to be there when it happens, but I have to tell you I only plan on putting it off for so long. It'll happen either way."

Her father looked at them both. "I know. I can't give my blessing since I've been waiting for this entire thing to blow up in your face, but I suppose it's about time I give my permission, seeing as I'm outranked. And I would never miss my only child's wedding. I may be a stubborn son-of-a-bitch, but I'm not that stubborn."

Adam let out a light laugh and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small box. Mia thought she'd need resuscitation when he opened the box and showed her a very familiar ring.

Mia dropped the crab cakes at the sight of the ring. "Shit."

"I'll get you new ones," Adam assured her. "Please don't eat those."

Mia let out a slight laugh at the memory of dropping her plate of food at this party when she was a child, then picking it up to eat it anyhow despite the amount of dirt that accumulated on the floor. Adam spotted her eating floor salami.

Her focus returned to the ring. "That's your mom's."

"It's what I needed to see Will about," Adam explained. "I asked him if I could have it after her funeral. She loved you, Mia, and she believed in us even before I did. Will and I both know she'd want you to be the one to wear it."

Adam dropped to one knee, shifting uncomfortably against the hardwood floor. In front of the entire party, he asked, "Would you do me the honor of wearing it for the rest of our lives?"

Mia wiped the tears from her eyes, hoping to God she wouldn't look like a raccoon by the end of this. Only a slight squeak came out when she opened her mouth to answer, so she had to nod her answer.

Adam slipped the ring on her finger, noticing it was too big. What Mia had always loved about this ring was that it was classic and simple. His father had tried to upgrade it after they'd made their fortune, but Mary declined. She said it was a symbol of their life together and love for each other and that symbol didn't need to be flashy.

"You better put it on my middle finger. I'd hate myself forever if I lost this."

He chuckled and moved the ring to the next finger, which fit perfectly. "We'll get it sized in Chicago."

Mia wiped her eyes again before bringing the ring up to look at. "You know what? No. I don't want to change a single thing about this ring and you and I are anything but traditional or ordinary."

Adam pushed himself off the ground, struggling a bit until she helped him to his feet. Aging seemed to happen in the blink of an eye.

Mia remembered how life seemed to drag on, but now that she was looking back, she remembered all of it like it'd happened only a few days ago. She remembered him so young and full of life and ready to take on the world.

"So long as you marry me, I don't give a shit where you wear it."

He took her into a warm embrace, squeezing her body against his own as the room clapped at the engagement. It wasn't the first to happen at this party, but it was hers and Mia had waited long enough for Adam to choose her and was beyond ready to spend the rest of her days as his wife and to get her honeymoon they'd planned so many years ago.

Author's Final Notes:

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