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Epilogue
Sophie
One year later
“Merry Christmas,” I said with a big smile as Vanessa opened the front door with her daughters standing on either side of her.
The five-year-old girls were dressed in matching red and green dresses, and immediately shrieked, “Uncle Connor!” before rushing forward to tackle the man beside me. I chuckled at their antics as he pretended to be bowled over on the front porch, taking them down with him.
“Come in and let me see the ring,” Vanessa said with excitement as her husband took the gifts we’d brought from my arms.
She beamed as I held out my left hand, showing off the engagement ring that Connor gave me two weeks ago. It was a square-cut diamond with our initials engraved on the inside. I hadn’t known it was coming at all when he’d taken me out to dinner at a nice Italian restaurant, and the surprise sent me into a fit of happy, joyful tears.
We’d been living together since January of last year, after the company retreat to Colorado. Going back to Mount Surris less than a month after we’d been snowed in there had felt strange, but I had to admit that skiing was fun. And sharing a room with my boss, of course.
I’d moved into his condo when we got back, and I had never been so happy. We didn’t have any trouble adjusting to living together. It felt like we were always meant to do it. We justfit together, like two pieces of a puzzle.
No longer having to pay rent and the substantial raise that came with my promotion made it easier for me to pay for my grandmother to stay in the nursing home, erasing that stress from my life. We’d gone to see my grandmother before coming here to spend the evening with Connor’s family, and it had been a good visit. She even recognized Connor, who had started coming with me every week. He even brought her carnations most of the time. I was incredibly lucky to be with a man that cared so much about me that he made such an effort with the only family I had.
He was still technically my boss, but my new position in the company meant that I didn’t work with him directly on a day-to-day basis, so it didn’t create problems at the office. He did come by to see me way more often than he probably should, though. I was constantly reminding him that he needed to get back to work. At least, until he found delightful, sinful ways to make me forget about paperwork and contracts for a while.
I loved my new job. I oversaw the production of new products, including research and development, and thanks to me, the company had released a new line of training equipment this fall that was proving to be massively successful. I was thriving, even if I was so busy that things sometimes slipped between the cracks. Like remembering to take a daily pill.
Not that I considered that to be a bad thing, in the end.
“That’s beautiful,” Vanessa gushed, looking at the ring. “Have you guys chosen a date yet?”
“No,” I said, thinking that it would probably be in the next couple of months.
Connor didn’t know it yet, but we had a big year ahead of us. After our company retreat next week—we were going to the Florida Keys this year, at my request—I wanted to start planning the ceremony.
“It’ll probably be small. Just family and close friends,” I told her. “And I want my grandma there, of course. I’m sure that Connor would love for the twins to be flower girls.”
Vanessa beamed. “They are so excited that their Aunt Sophie is going to officially be a part of the family.”
There was a warmth in my heart at her words. Connor’s family had completely embraced me as one of their own, and it meant the world to me that I had them. Vanessa treated me like I was the sister she never had, and his mom was thrilled that he’d found someone to love, despite the influence of his promiscuous father. I felt like I belonged. The girls had started calling me their aunt out of nowhere a few months ago, and I had teared up a little.
“Don’t mind me,” Connor said from behind me, and I scurried out of the way as he came through with one girl on each of his feet. “For some reason, I’m having a hard time walking. These shoes are just so heavy.”
The girls giggled at his antics and the smile on his face was so genuine that I felt my heart skip a beat. My hand went to my stomach automatically, but I pulled it away quickly, hoping no one noticed. I turned back to Vanessa, but she was busy taking a picture on her phone of the trio.
Connor continued into the living room, and I joined Vanessa in the kitchen, helping her finish the feast she was making for all of us. We chatted as we worked, and I tried to stay focused on the conversation, but it was hard to keep my mind on the right track. I was too excited to give Connor his Christmas surprise.
Finally, we all sat down to dinner, and I tried to eat, despite the way my stomach rolled at the mere thought of food. But the rich dinner Vanessa made proved to be too much for me to handle. Eventually, I had to excuse myself to the bathroom and by the time I returned, everyone was eating dessert, and Connor looked at me with concern.
“Are you okay?” he asked with a frown.
I glanced across the table at Vanessa, who had a knowing look in her eye, and a small smirk on her lips.
“Yeah,” I said, smiling. “I’m just not hungry.”
“Or thirsty?” he asked, looking at the wine glass that sat untouched.
I shrugged. “What can I say? I had a big lunch.”
That wasn’t true, and he knew it. I’d barely eaten all day.
“Let’s go get some fresh air,” Connor said, standing.
