Epilogue
APOLLO
Lily and I wave out the front window of Mr. Davis’ house at the little parasite sitting in his car waiting for the juicy scoop. The truth about why I retired and stayed in Towering Pines.
The stuff he’s come up with the last couple of weeks is terrible: Lily’s emotionally manipulating me, she got pregnant on purpose to keep me here, she’s holding some new secret he still hasn’t figured out over my head. Anything but the fact we’re madly in love and inseparable by choice.
We’ll wear him down, eventually. Until then, we’re going about our lives as usual. Today, we’re celebrating the completion of the renovations on Mr. Davis’ house. Lily and me, and all our friends.
Real friends.
I know this because they don’t coddle me. Luke, Gage, Oliver, of course, and even Blake, treat me like one of the guys. They give me shit as much as I give it. All in good fun and without expectations. Lily’s girl’s nights, that I have an open invitation to attend but don’t plan on always using, have completely desensitized Charlie and Haley to my presence.
The town, however… Well… We’re still working on getting them used to me being here.
“Apollo, son. A word, please?” Mr. Davis asks conspiratorially, moments after Lily starts the house tour to show off the amazing work Blake and his crew did. Seriously, I didn’t even have to see the place before to know it’s now like new but with all the old Victorian charm.
“I’m in a bit of a pickle,” Mr. Davis says, still keeping his voice low even though we’re alone.
“How can I help?” I ask wondering why he came to me and not Lily.
“I’m so incredibly grateful for everything Lily and you—Yes, I know you’re my anonymous benefactor. Word has a way of getting around.”
“Don’t I know it?” I joke and we both have a chuckle.
“Anyway, I’m grateful to both of you for all your help. But especially the company Lily has given this lonely, old man over the years.” His voice is thick as he taps a boney, age-spotted, and wrinkled hand over his heart. “My wife and I never had any children of our own. Lily has been the closest thing I’ve had to a daughter. I love that girl.”
My heart breaks for him not having a family of his own but mends with the love he expresses for my Lilypop. She deserves every bit of it.
“I want to give something back,” Mr. Davis goes on. “I know she won’t accept a gift from me, so I was hoping you could help with that.”
“Of course,” I say eagerly, always ready to do anything for Lily.
With a crinkly smile, he takes me further aside to conspire to give Lily the gift she’d never have thought to ask for.
∞∞∞
LILY
After completing the house tour, I stand in the middle of the living room I’ve stood in hundreds of times before in awe of its beauty.
It’s a shame it took nearly losing it to find a way for Mr. Davis to live in the home he should have had all along. It wouldn’t have even been this nice when they first moved in fifty or more years ago.
It makes me think of all the updates my house needs. Even just a fresh coat of paint would go a long way. But I can’t do it. It feels like I’d be painting over my parent’s memory or something. It’s probably why I haven’t moved out. I can’t stand the idea of someone living there that doesn’t understand what it means to me.
It’s just paint. The memories are mine. I’ll always have those. Maybe it is time to think about making some changes. I have Apollo to consider now. He’s not picky or in need of anything extravagant. But he’d probably appreciate being able to enter all the rooms in the house he lives. As long as I live there, I’m not touching my parent’s room. I can’t.
“This place is fantastic,” Blue says taking my hand. Oliver stands behind her with Mason, sleeping away, draped over one thick, tattooed forearm, his little head cradled in the crook of Oliver’s elbow. “Too bad he’s not ready to move out. We could buy it. Stay in town.”
“You find a place in the city?” I ask feeling a little panicked at the idea of my baby sister and new nephew moving away when I’ve barely had any time with them since he was born.
“Put in an offer yesterday. We were going to tell you when we found out if they accepted it,” Blue explains.
“Good luck,” I say trying my best to mean it.
“Can I have everyone’s attention, please?” The second Apollo speaks the room goes silent. He still has that commanding quality, even though everyone’s gotten over him beingHollywood heartthrob, Apollo Christiansen.
“Since I’m sure Lily didn’t plan on making any kind of speech because we all know the last thing she’ll do is put herself in the spotlight.”
