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Epilogue
Lillian
OneYearLater
Ben and Lacy are so cute, it kind of makes me sick. I’ve never seen my sister so happy, that’s for sure. They moved into Rose Manor together a year ago, after Ben surprised her by buying it for them both. Since then, they’ve been the picture-perfect couple. Whenever I tell Lacy that I can’t believe she’s so lucky as to have hit this jackpot, she reminds me of the rough start she and Ben had—which is fair. Still, seeing them now, it’s hard to believe that they ever had any kind of problems.
“Babe, what color are you thinking for the writing room, eggshell or oatmeal?” Ben asks, leaning down to kiss my sister’s face as he concludes the question.
“Ugh, I don’t know, they all look the same to me. That’s why we have Lillian here,” Lacy says, turning to me with a big smile as she pushes her glasses up on her nose.
“I think eggshell for the writing room,” I say as I examine the paint swatches Ben hands to me. I’m staying with Ben and Lacy for a bit as I help them with some renovations at Rose Manor—upgrading the recording studio for Ben and a designing a writing center for Lacy. I’m sort of in between things right now, and it seemed like a good opportunity to spend some time with the family while I figure out my next step.
“Eggshell it is,” Ben says. “You’re a lifesaver, Lillian. Lace and I just don’t have the design gene you’ve got.”
“Happy to help,” I say, giving Ben a friendly smile. The former rebel rock star has really turned around since he got serious about my sister. It looks like some mencanchange, contrary to popular opinion. My sister has found a man who is worthy of her, a man who appreciates her creative soul and sweet, quiet nature. I’m happy for her—but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’m also a little bit jealous. Especially because of what’s about to happen next.
“I did want to check one more thing in the recording studio,” Ben says. “Let’s go,” he says to Lacy, giving her a little nudge. Meanwhile, he shoots me a meaningful glance. I give him a small wink. Ben talked to me about this a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been helping him with the details. I have my own small part to play now, in a moment that will change my sister’s life forever.
The three of us enter the recording studio, and I make my way over to the sound system, as discussed with Ben. Meanwhile, Ben leads Lacy over to the far end of the studio, where a guitar sits on the floor.
“I thought I’d like to mount this guitar on the wall there,” Ben says to Lacy, gesturing to an empty spot on the wall. “What do you think?” He asks, turning to her.
“Sure, that would look nice, I think. I mean, the recording studio is your domain. It’s your call. I get to call the shots in the writing space. What do you think, Lillian?” She asks, turning to me.
“Yeah, I definitely think that’s a good spot for the guitar,” I say, keeping my eyes as wide and innocent looking as possible.
“Cool. Lace, can you hand me a hammer? There should be one in that toolbox,” Ben says absentmindedly as he reaches for the guitar.
Lacy opens up the toolbox and lets out a gasp. I already know there’s no hammer inside. There’s nothing inside except for a little black velvet box.
“Find anything in there?” Ben asks with a grin.
Lacy turns to face him, shock written across her face, as she clutches the small box in her hand, which is visibly trembling. Meanwhile, Ben has picked up the guitar and slung it over his shoulder. He gives me the tiniest nod, and I turn on the stereo system, playing the backing track to his song—the song he’s going to propose with. Then, I take out my cellphone and start recording a video, making sure to catch every moment for the two of them to remember, forever.
Ben starts strumming along on his guitar and singing, gazing at Lacy adoringly as he plays the song he wrote about her over a year ago. The lyrics are beautiful, and I find myself blinking back tears as I film the scene and listen.
You were the dream girl I never knew I needed…
I was caught up in my own hurt, in my own curse…
I’m sorry.
Please come home.
Meet me in the garden of roses at day’s end,
We’ll watch the fireflies come out and pretend,
That this could be forever.
Finally, the music dies away. Lacy is still standing there, in shock, her face damp with tears. Ben gives her an encouraging smile as he sets the guitar away. Then, he takes the velvet box, still unopened, from Lacy’s hand and kneels before her. Even though I knew this was coming, I still let out a small sigh of surprise and delight. Ben flips open the ring box to reveal a glittering diamond on a simple gold band. He asked for my opinion about it weeks ago, and I know it’s perfect for my sister. Understated, elegant, and beautiful. On the inside, there’s a small inscription,To a lifetime of watching fireflies.Slightly poetic. Like Lacy.
Lacy’s eyes go wide at the sight of the ring. They get even wider as Ben starts speaking. “Lacy, I never thought I’d find not only a place to call home, but also a woman to call home. You are my true home, Lacy. Wherever we may roam on this earth, I know you’re the one I want by my side. Because with you, I’m always home.”
“Ben…” Lacy says, her voice breaking on a sob and then trailing off.
“Lacy, will you make me the luckiest man on earth? Will you marry me?” Ben asks, popping the question he’s been dying to ask for months, so he told me.
