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I pulled Zoe close to me and kissed her deeply as the moon shone down on us. It was truly a perfect night, and I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life with this amazing woman by my side.
Epilogue
Zoe
3 years later
The sun set inspectacular fashion with a sky full of shades of red, while the seaside restaurant hummed with the sound of laughter and conversation. It was a beautiful evening, and as I glanced around the dining room, I was pleased to see my customers enjoying their food and drinks.
I had franchised out the food truck business a couple of years back, choosing to focus on this little restaurant, and more importantly, my family.
Lucian was sitting at a table with our daughter, Violet, trying his best to persuade her to eat her dinner. She was a rambunctious two-year-old, and it was no easy feat to get her to sit still and eat. But Lucian was determined, and usually he managed to win in the battle of wills with her veggie consumption.
He was such a doting father, and it warmed my heart to see them together. Though I was being as sneaky as I could be from my vantage point by the kitchen door, Violet’s keen eyes spotted me all the same.
“Mommy!” Violet cried out, fidgeting in Lucian’s arms as she reached for me. “I want Mommy!”
Lucian chuckled and set her down, and she rushed over to me, her little legs carrying her as fast as she could go. Lucian’s eyes were full of adoration as he watched her. Our daughter was a beautiful child, with my brunette hair and her father’s fiery eyes.
I scooped her up into my arms, planting a kiss on her forehead. “How’s my little helper doing?” I asked, smiling down at her.
She giggled, squirming in my arms as a waitress walked by with a slice of rum cake.
“I’ll light it!” she said, and before I could react, she shifted in my arms, taking on her hellhound puppy form as she blew out a spark of fire that set the dessert ablaze.
“Oh, sweet Jesus,” I said as the waitress quickly hurried off to serve the dish before the fire went out.
Lucian was at my side a moment later, fussing at our daughter as she looked down with sad puppy eyes. “No fire, Violet! I’ve told you before: it’s too dangerous.”
Violet shifted back, her eyes filling with tears. “Sorry, Daddy. I forgot.”
His tone was stern, but gentle at the same time. “It’s all right. You just need to always ask permission first. Fire is very dangerous.”
She nodded, saying, “I know,” as her lip trembled. Then, almost as quickly as she had shifted, her head lolled to the side as she mumbled, “Sleepy.”
Violet was out like a light one moment later.
Lucian and I shared a quiet chuckle. Though she was a handful, it all balanced out with how eager she was to please us, and how quickly she’d get tuckered out from her own shenanigans.
“I’ll take her upstairs,” Lucian offered.
I kissed his cheek. “Thanks.”
As Lucian carried our daughter up to the loft we had set up for her, I couldn’t stop smiling.
We were a team, and nothing would ever change that.
As Lucian returned to the dining room, I caught his arm and pulled him in for a quick kiss.
“What was that for?” he asked.
I grinned at him. “Because I love you, dummy.”
He smiled back, his eyes shining. “I love you too.”
We stood there for a moment, just enjoying each other’s company as the sounds of the restaurant faded into the background. I glanced at a photo on the wall of Grandma Violet, the woman who inspired me to be a chef in the first place, and I decided we’d visit her tomorrow to catch her up on her great-granddaughter’s antics.
But before I could get too comfortable, a boisterous group of muscular firemen made their weekly appearance. Though Lucian had retired to focus on taking care of Violet, his men from the station still kept in touch, not letting him off that easily.
Lucian gave me another kiss before heading over to join his friends at their table. I gave them a wave, then returned to the busy kitchen to begin prepping the next round of orders, the smile never leaving my face.
Life was perfect, and I couldn’t ask for more.
The End
