Movement out of the corner of my eye catches my attention.I turn to see Kip, his wife, Sara, and their daughter, Sophie, stepping into the backyard.“Look what the cat dragged in!”I call out, standing to greet them.
“Good to see you, Cope,” Kip says, pulling me into a hug.I step out of his hug to kiss Sara on the cheek and lift Sophie into my arms.
“How ya doing, Soph?”I ask her, placing a kiss on her cheek.
“Uncle Copeland, we drove so far!”she exclaims.
“I know.I’m glad you’re here.Come on.There’s someone I want you to meet.”With Sophie in my arms, I nod for Kip and Sara to follow me.I stop at the guys and introduce them before we move to where Ellison is standing with her sisters and my sister-in-law, soon to be hers, too, Macie.
“Hey, Ells,” I say, stopping next to her and sliding the arm that’s not holding Sophie around her waist.“This is Sophie.”
Ellison’s eyes light up.“Hello, Sophie.It’s so nice to meet you.”
“You’re pretty,” Sophie tells her.
Ellison smiles.“Thank you.So are you.I love your braids,” she says, nodding toward Sophie’s braided pigtails.
“Uncle Cope, is this your girlfriend?”Sophie asks.
She’s so much more than that, Soph.“Yeah,” I tell her.“Ells is my girl.”Sophie giggles, and I tickle her belly.“This is Kip, and his wife, Sara.They made this one,” I say, bouncing Sophie in my arms.I can’t help but think about our baby, and that this time next year, it will be my son or daughter in my arms.
I can’t fucking wait.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Ellison tells them.They both pull her into a hug, but Kip’s eyes find mine over her shoulder.I nod, and he grins.
From the very first day of boot camp all those years ago, Kip and I hit it off.He heard my woes about missing Ellison, and he’s been there every minute since.I’m so glad they were able to make it today.I didn’t tell him we were getting married.He’s going to be shocked but happy for me.
“We’re going to go say hi to your mom,” Kip says, taking Sophie from my arms.
“She’s going to be excited to see you.”
He nods and leads his wife and daughter to the porch, where my mom is sitting with a tired smile.
I offer Ellison my hand, and she takes it, allowing me to lead her to the edge of the yard so that we can talk privately.“Everyone is here,” I tell her.
“Are you ready for this?”she asks, smiling up at me.
“I’ve been ready,” I tell her, leaning in for a kiss, but she turns her head, giving me her cheek.“Ells?”I ask, concerned.She’s not having second thoughts, right?
“The next time your lips touch mine, you’ll be my husband.”
I don’t get to reply before her grandparents join us.“You kids ready?”her grandpa asks quietly.Her grandparents are the only two who know what’s really happening today.Well, outside of Edith from the pharmacy.She hasn’t told anyone that we’re aware of, but when we see her around town, she gives us a knowing look, accompanied by a smile.
“We’re ready,” Ellison answers.
“I feel like we’ve barely seen you in the last few months,” her grandma tells her.
“That’s what happens when you retire and travel the world,” Ellison teases.“I feel like you’re barely home before you’re gone again.”
“We’re going to cut back,” she tells her.
“Don’t you dare,” Ellison warns.“You worked your entire lives.Enjoy this time together.Travel, be gone, see the world, and when you need a break, you come back home to Magnolia Ridge.You’re always here for the big stuff.That’s what matters.We know that if we need you, you’ll come home.Today, I need you.”Ellison glances up at me.“Weneed you.”
“I’m thrilled that you kids were able to find your way back to one another.”Her grandma smiles kindly.
Ellison decided not to tell her grandparents or her sisters about the letters, at least not yet.She’s still processing the fact that her mother played a huge role in our separation, and she needs time to do that.I’m sure she’ll tell them eventually, and if not, that’s okay.What matters is that we did find our way back to each other, and after today, she’ll be my wife.Everything else is just background noise.Pieces of the past that led us to today but are no longer essential to our future.
The sequel to our story starts today.
