Epilogue Three
FIVE YEARS AFTER COMA…
CLEMENTINE
Today was a big day for us.
The house was alive with laughter and chatter as I stood in the kitchen, arranging the last platter of snacks. Through the doorway, I could see the living room filled with family and friends, all here to celebrate Evergreen’s second birthday.
Ever, as Leyland liked to call her, was darting around the room on unsteady legs, her curls bouncing with every step. She was a bundle of energy, pausing every few seconds to inspect a balloon or offer a delighted squeal when someone bent down to her level.
She had her father’s dark skin and my eyes to match—the perfect mixture of us both.
I watched her for a moment, my heart swelling with a lot of pride and a bit of disbelief.
Two years.
How had it been two years already? And yet, at the same time, it felt like she’d always been here, a part of us, her laughter filling spaces we hadn’t even realized were empty.
Leyland’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Need help in here?”
I turned to see him leaning against the doorframe, his casual smile and easy demeanor making him look as though the chaos of the party didn’t exist. In his hands was a brightly wrapped gift—one I hadn’t seen before.
“Is that from you?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“From us,” he corrected, grinning. “Thought our girl might like her first set of watercolor paints.”
I laughed. “You’re starting her early.”
“Never too early for art,” he said, setting the gift down before crossing the kitchen to me. He wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me close. “You’ve outdone yourself, tiny. She’s going to love this.”
“She already does,” I said, nodding toward the living room. “Look at her.”
We both turned to watch as Evergreen toddled over to Duke, who scooped her up with a grin, lifting her high into the air. She squealed with delight, her laughter ringing out above the noise.
By the time the cake came out, the living room was packed. Everyone gathered around the dining table, Leyland holding Evergreen on his hip as I carried the cake toward them. Her eyes widened at the sight of the brightly lit candles, her tiny hands clapping in excitement.
“Ready, Ever?” Leyland asked, leaning down to her level.
She nodded solemnly, her gaze fixed on the flickering flames.
We sang, the room filled with off-key but enthusiastic voices, and then Leyland leaned in to help her blow out the candles. As the cheers erupted, Evergreen threw her arms around his neck, burying her face against his shoulder.
I stood beside them, the scene forever etched in my memory. The way Leyland’s face lit up with pride as he held her, the way she clung to him with complete trust. He had taken to fatherhood as if he’d been born for it and seeing him like this made me fall in love with him all over again.
Later, as the party wound down, I slipped out onto the deck for a moment of quiet. The noise inside softened to a gentle buzz as I leaned against the railing, looking out at the darkening sky.
Footsteps behind me made me turn, and there was Leyland, holding two glasses of wine.
“Thought you could use this,” he said, handing me a glass as he settled beside me.
I smiled, taking a sip.
“Never can go wrong with a glass of red. Thank you, superstar.”
We stood there for a while, watching the party through the glass doors. Evergreen was sitting on the floor with her grandparents, opening presents while Duke and Ophelia hovered nearby, teasing her about the oversized wrapping paper.
“Can you believe she’s two already?” Leyland asked quietly, like he might interrupt the moment we were watching.
“Some days it feels like it’s flying by,” I admitted. “Other days, it feels like we’ve had her forever.”
He nodded, his gaze fixed on the scene inside. “She’s something else, isn’t she?”
“She is. And she’s ours.”
He turned to me, the love I knew he had for me dancing in his eyes.
“I know I’ve said this at different stages in our life together, but you’ve given me more than I ever thought I could have. I hope you know and feel that.”
I reached for his hand, threading my fingers through his. “You’ve given me the same. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
We leaned against each other, gazes fixed on the little drunken toddler we’d created.
When we finally went back inside, Evergreen ran to me, her small hands clutching a stuffed animal she’d just unwrapped.
“Mommy!” she cried, her voice filled with excitement.
I scooped her up, holding her close as her laughter bubbled against my ear. Leyland came up behind us, his arm slipping around my shoulders as he pressed a kiss to my temple.
I looked around the room—at our daughter, our family, our friends—and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
This was the life we’d built together. A life full of love, laughter, and possibilities.
As Evergreen squirmed in my arms, I let her down, watching as she toddled off to show Duke her new toy. Leyland pulled me close, his hand resting on my back.
“This is it,” I said quietly, more to myself than to him.
He heard me anyway. “It is,” he replied.
And as I stood there, surrounded by everything I could ever want, I knew he was right. This was it. This was home.