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At the end of the year, Special Edition winds down, but Sticks and Stones keeps me busy. I promote Zoe, who’s all too happy to take on more work, freeing me up some nights to come home to my girls.
Elodie’s busier than ever since her store continues to reap the benefits of the buzz she so rightfully deserves. But she’s hired smart and capable employees, and she has Kenji, who’s her right-hand man.
As for Sebastian, it’s such a shame. It seems he’s going out of business. Everything is ninety percent off as he’s been forced to shut down his shops. I guess no one wanted his brand of small batch after all.
In early January, Elodie is at work and I’m at her place, packing up her kitchen cabinets, when Felix calls me. I answer it so fast.
“Hello, sir.”
“I have an update.”
“I’m ready,” I say, steeling myself for whatever verdict he’ll render. I took a big swing and there’s a good chance I’ll miss. “I leased it on Friday and Saturday evenings to a cake shop that makes the best flavors—Earl Grey, lemon cake with blackberry jam, chocolate cake with potato chip filling.”
Damn, my mouth is watering while he’s rejecting me. “Those all sound delicious.”
“But wouldn’t you know? The cake shop owners want one Friday night off a month, so I’d happily take cocktails and chocolate on the first Friday of each month. And the place is yours on Sundays too…on one condition.”
I punch the air. “Anything.”
“You should have a real wedding. At my hotel. It’s on me.”
I’m not saying no to that.
But there is something I have to do first.
Grams and I do a little shopping, heading to a certain jewelry store on Fillmore Street, owned by Rachel. It doesn’t take long for me to find the perfect ring, bright and sparkling, like my wife.
“So this is her third engagement ring?” Grams asks when we leave.
“Yup.”
“You should make it a thing. Give her one each year.”
“Don’t tempt me. I will.”
She laughs. “Don’t I know it.”
Elodie’s at work, so I head to the store, and it’s teeming with customers. I go right up to the counter, like I did the first day I asked her out, with the blue velvet box in my hand.
“What can I do for you, handsome?” she asks.
I get down on one knee, flip open the box, and say, “Marry me again. So all our friends and family can come to our wedding.”
When she races around the counter, saying yes, yes, yes, the whole store erupts into cheers.
A few days later, my brother and his partner return from their trip and take us out to dinner. Zane walks into the restaurant with a shopping bag from what looks like a men’s store in London, Maddox by his side. When we make eye contact, he thrusts the bag at me. “Figured you’d need a wardrobe upgrade for all the dates you’ll be taking your wife on.” Then he turns to Elodie and says, “Thank you for making my brother happy.”
“Anytime.”
One day in February, we invite all our friends and family to an intimate ceremony in the courtyard of The Escape near where we had our first kiss, and then our first official date. Maybe we did this whole romance a little out of order. Or a lot.
But as I wait at the fountain in the courtyard, my brother beside me, watching my wife walk up the steps while a string quartet plays “It Had to Be You,” and Amanda and Eliza by her side, I’m pretty sure everything worked out exactly as it was meant to.
I say I do to Elodie for a second time, then I kiss my bride.
