Epilogue One

Brandy

1 year later

The smell of death hung in the air. I had a feeling it'd be a smell I wouldn't be able to soon forget, but this was a necessary visit for Wyatt and I. I knew it'd been a while since he'd come to see Susan's grave, so I ordered flowers last night and suggested he visit, but I never thought he'd ask me to come along.

We walked down the hallways of the building, our steps echoing with every foot we walked. It was quiet once you passed the rooms where services were going on. I thought about all the lives lost and all the people they left behind. I couldn't imagine what it felt like. Personally, I never really lost anyone, not anyone particularly close to me anyway.

Wyatt, however, had been to hell and back with his loss of Susan and my heart ached for him every time I saw his grief written on his face. It showed up in all the little things, and it certainly was less than when we first got together, but it was still there. Sometimes I felt like it'd always be there. Susan was a constant in our relationship and I'd come to accept it. In a way, Susan and I shared so much, the love of a great man and for a great man. I only wished I got to meet her. I had a feeling we would've been good friends.

We turned right and I could sense we were close. I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, but he didn't look over at me, just kept going. I knew this was something he needed and was just glad I could be here for him. That he let me be here for him in this way.

Another few steps and then he stopped. "This is it. Fourth one up from the bottom," he said and dropped my hand, his eyes finding the right stone. He brushed his fingers over the marble. "Hi, Susan. It's been a while. I brought someone with me today, I hope you don't mind. She's special, but I'm sure you already know that."

I laid the flowers I ordered on the floor under her column. They looked good and sat among an array of other flowers, likely from other families who visited people buried nearby. "Hi, Susan," I started, not sure what else to say. "I hope it's okay I'm here." Really, I had so much I would've wanted to say, but didn't know where to begin, so instead I looked at Wyatt who just nodded at me and I backed up and sat on a marble bench in memoriam of a little girl.

Wyatt said his prayers and continued talking to Susan, all the while I just observed, taking it all in. It was clear he still felt very strongly for Susan, but by including me today I got all the reassurance I needed from him. He was all in with me and we had a very bright future ahead of us. I think now, finally, Wyatt could see that, too. He could see the light at the end of the tunnel. His life didn't have to end with Susan, he could open up and let someone new in. I was just lucky that someone was me.

We had talked recently about getting engaged and I knew that was coming, eventually, but he moved at his own pace and I was okay with that. We didn't have to rush anything, but he knew when he was ready, I'd say yes. That much I made sure he knew. I suspected that day was coming sooner than either of us anticipated and I couldn't wait.

In fact, I realized as I looked up and stared at him that if he said he wanted to run off and get married tomorrow, I'd actually be okay with that. I didn't need much, just the love of a good man, which I finally found.

Wanting him to know I was here for him just like he was there for me, I got up and came to stand at his side again. "So, what do you think, Susan?" I asked in a quiet moment. "Do I pass? Am I good enough for our guy?"

Wyatt snaked his arm around my waist and pulled me close to his chest. With a kiss on the top of my head, he said, "There's no question about it. I know she loves you."

I smiled and winked at him. "Good."

Suddenly, he snapped his fingers. "I forgot, I had something I wanted to add to the flowers but I left it in the car. Do you mind if I run back outside? You can come with me if you want."

I shook my head. "No, I'll stay and wait for you here." It would give me a minute alone with Susan.

Without a moment's hesitation, he left, promising to be right back. I looked up, not able to reach the stone, even in my heels, and laid a hand over my heart. I thought about everything I wanted to say, trying to piece it all together. But there was no perfect way to do it, I realized, so I spoke from my heart, letting the words flow naturally. "I really do love him, Susan. I hope you can see that. He's it for me. I wish that wasn't the case, that he wasn't meant for me, that he was with you, but since you're not here anymore, just know he's in good hands. I promise to take good care of him. I promise to never let his memories of you dim. I promise to honor you and him with everything in me. And, above all, I thank you for sharing him with me. We're quiet the lucky girls, aren't we? To have met and fallen for such a good man. I'll never forget that, how lucky I am, that is." I wiped a tear from my eye and heard footsteps approaching. Wyatt.

"Told you I'd be right back," he said out of breath and pulled a rosary from his pocket. "This was one Susan's. I carried it with me when I was in the Army. I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to let it go, but I think I'm finally ready to give it back to her," he explained and draped it over the flowers, letting the crucifix hang over the front of the vase. He laid his one hand on her stone again and brought his other to his lips. "Rest peacefully, my Susan. You'll always be in my heart."

I stepped up next to him and waited, my hand extended. When he took it and squeezed, I asked, "Ready?"

"Finally, yes, I am."

I winked at him, understanding what he was saying with those two little words, and we walked out hand in hand, the same way we came in. My heart was heavy for all the loss crammed into the space, but I knew that even death couldn't sever some bonds.

* * *

Not long after we left the cemetery, Wyatt got called into work to meet with a prospective new client while Andrés was away meeting with another one in Palm Beach. Apparently, it was a threatening weekend for the rich and famous and security was a must.

I, however, wasn't needed anywhere. Laurel's beau, Leo, finally returned from wherever he was last and they were going to be holed up in bed all weekend. That meant no last-minute calls, no midnight runs to her place, nothing. It was both refreshing and boring.

As I sat in our new condo in downtown Miami, I looked out the window and thought about my next move. One look at the clock and I realized Wyatt should be home any minute. I could try my hand at dinner. If I wanted to poison us.

I crossed the living room and retrieved my cell phone from my purse. Delivery it was. I called my friend who was a chef at my favorite Italian restaurant and placed an order.

"That's good," I talked to myself aloud. "We'll have a nice romantic dinner." I went in search of candles and found some music to play. I was hoping to create a mood where Wyatt might feel inclined to finally pop the question. I mean, we just went to see Susan, it felt like the last piece of the puzzle. We had talked about getting engaged several times, so he already knew I'd say yes.

And it wasn't like I was in some big rush to get married, I just wanted to be engaged. I wanted it to be official. Was that so wrong?

Before I could go change, Wyatt walked in. "Brandy, I'm home," he called out into the empty living room and my heartbeat faster.

I turned around from where I was just outside our bedroom door and ran over to him, coming to a stop when I saw him carrying a bottle of champagne and holding a dessert box from my favorite bakery.

Mentally gasping, I wondered if this was it.

Not keen to my curiosity, he kept going in the direction of the kitchen to put everything down.

"We should put the champagne on ice. We can pop it tonight," he said casually, looking oh so delicious in his navy blue suit—it was my favorite on him.

Still eyeing him, I couldn't help myself. "Wy, what's all that?" I asked, wondering if he was going to stick it in the dessert.

He laughed and finally turned around to face me. "Champagne and dessert. I thought we could have a little fun tonight," he said suggestively.

I knew what he meant and I was all for fun, but it looked like we were celebrating something. "Did something good happen at the office?"

He shook his head. "Not particularly."

Frowning, I cocked my head to the side, trying to figure this out as he kept moving about, settling in. He never brought dessert home for no reason. It was always usually to celebrate something. But today was nothing important, nothing worth celebrating. Not that I knew of.

I followed him to the bathroom where he was washing up, all the while my thoughts spiraling. I knew he was going to propose. I just didn't know when. Or where. But was this it? I mean, he came home with dessert and champagne for no apparent reason. It felt almost too obvious, so why would he make me wait?

"Wy," I called again, hoping he'd finally stop to look at me.

He did. "Yes?"

I took the towel from his hands and tossed it on the counter and jumped up in his arms. "Don't make me wait," I said. "Please, do it now."

Holding me around his waist, he looked me in the eyes. "You want to, you know. Now?" he asked, his voice suddenly husky, eyebrow raised and eyes turning dark, like the ocean during a storm. He was definitely becoming a willing participant if I did want to do what he thought I was suggesting now.

But I couldn't get sidetracked. That wasn't the point. I planted a quick kiss on his lips. "I love you," I said.

He nodded and laughed. "I know. I love you, too. But what's up with you?" He asked his hands firmly cupping my ass.

In a rush, I blurted out, "Ohmygoodnessaskmealready."

"Huh?"

Slowing down, I tried again. "If you're going to ask me to marry you, can you please do it already?"

Understanding crossed his face and he laughed again. "Silly girl, you want me to ask you now?"

Frowning, I let go of my hold around his neck and hopped down. "Isn't that what the dessert and champagne are for?"

He shook his head. "I just wanted to do something nice."

"Aren't you going to ask me, though? I thought we talked about it and were on the same page."

"We are. I just didn't know you wanted me to ask you now. I was waiting," he said and was stopped before he could explain because there was a knock at the door.

Our dinner.

Wondering what he was waiting for, I turned to answer it and retrieve our dinner. While the delivery guy waited, I pulled some cash from my wallet and handed it over. "Thanks," I said, closing the door behind him.

I turned around to bring the bags into the kitchen, but was stopped short. There he was, down on one knee with a ring box in his hand, smiling.

"Brandy, will you—"

"Yes!" I answered without hesitation. I didn't need to think about it. I ran over, forgetting all about the bags until I stopped to drop them on the floor on my way.

Laughing, his amusement was evident. "Let me finish the question."

Biting my lip, I nodded in enthusiasm and forced myself to slow down and savor the moment.

"Will you marry me?" he asked, slipping the ring from the box and on my finger.

I looked down at it for a brief moment, but I didn't care what the ring looked like, only that it was on my finger. I grabbed him by his jaw and tugged him toward my lips. "Yes," I said against his mouth. "Yes," I repeated as he swept me up in his arms.

It felt good being in his big, strong arms. It felt like home.

He spun me around and I laughed, giddy with excitement. Finally! He'd finally asked me. I wondered if he'd gotten what he needed from Susan today, which was why he could finally do it. Or maybe he just decided not to keep torturing me. Whatever it was, I was ecstatic. I was going to be Mrs. Wyatt Ryder.

Finally looking at my ring, taking it in, I admired its beauty. It was a colored gemstone that sat on a white gold band.

"Ruby," he confirmed, cutting into my thoughts, "for the red you wear on your lips that I love so much. Do you like it?"

I nodded and to show him just how much, I kissed him with everything in me.