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"I want to do better than that," I tell her. "What do you think about starting our own lab?"
Her eyes light up. "Our own lab? Really?"
"Why not?" I shrug. "Anything's possible. At least that's how it feels when you're around."
I kiss her again, this time drawing it out like I'm savoring her. I will kiss her like this for the rest of our lives, because she's going to be mine.
It's true that she makes anything feel possible. Including marriage, kids, the whole thing. None of it seems so scary when she's the one I imagine doing all of it with.
"It's been a stressful past couple of days," she says after we pull apart. "I say we have some drinks and wind down. What do you think? My place or yours?"
"You know...I have a pool out back. Maybe Addy wants to come over and go for a swim?"
"Really? You don't mind us crashing your pool?"
"I don't mind at all," I grin, pulling her in close again. "I should also mention that the guest bedroom is upstairs, and you'll be downstairs with me in the master. We won't have to worry so much about being quiet."
"Ah-ha! Now I know your real motives!" she teases, playfully smacking me on the chest.
"One of the motives," I assure her. "One of many. A few others include the fact that you and Addy are pretty cool chicks...and you're welcome to crash my pool any time you want."
"Starting now?"
"Yes, please," I nod.
"Then, my answer's yes."
"You're sure about all of this?" I ask her. You don't think you're crazy for trusting the big bad ex who cheated on you...and falling for me all over again?" I ask, searching her face and wanting to be sure.
I couldn't bear to get my hopes up only to have her decide it's too much later on.
"It is absolutely crazy," she says with a smile. "And I can't wait to dive right in."
Epilogue
Vanessa
I love the wild look Joshua gets in his eyes when I emerge from our bedroom wearing my new gown for the charity fashion event we've organized. The way he looks at me makes it abundantly clear that he still finds me just as irresistible as he did ten years ago. I don't think he'll ever make the mistake of forgetting that, even for a moment, ever again.
He whistles and drinks me in from top to bottom. "Damn, baby. I have no doubt we're going to blow our funding goal out of the water tonight. You look so good, I'm ready to cough up a million bucks right now. I'm sure every other guy in that place will feel the same."
My dress is a gorgeous Schiaparelli creation, red satin layered with black velvet and a dramatically slashed neckline. I don't clean up too bad and I know it, especially when I see the unmistakable appreciation in Joshua's eyes.
All the same, I shudder slightly, remembering that Sturgill has seen a little too much of me on hospital security cameras as it is. I can only hope he doesn't think of that when he sees me in this sexy gown.
"You look amazing!" Sam gushes, rushing over to hug me.
Addy isn't far behind. I nearly burst into tears at the sight of her all dressed up.
"Oh my god…look at you," I whimper, fanning my eyes. "You look all grown up."
She's wearing a fairy-like dress, just a slim slip, but flashing with the opalescent colors of a moon rainbow. I blink back tears, wondering what my sister would have felt like if she could see her sweet baby now.
Addy tilts her head to the side with a disapproving glare. "Mooom, come on. Don't be so embarrassing."
I flash a look of victory to Sam, gorgeous in peach satin, then at Joshua. Addy took up the habit of referring to me as 'Mom' weeks ago, and I'm happy to hear it's stuck. I made a point not to draw attention to it or make a big deal about it. But it still fills me with joy and sadness every time she says it.
We both know her mom, my beautiful sister, is the person that title belongs to. But if that's what Addy needs me to be in her life, then I'll do it. I know Maria would have wanted it this way, just like I know she's probably cheering and laughing all at once from wherever she is - knowing that Joshua and I ended up together in the end after all.
