Epilogue
Sophie
“Gabriel, listen to mamma and get your cute little booty over here right now.”
“I don’t wanna.” He wines as most four-year old’s do.
“Nana’s expecting us soon, we have to get going. Come put your pants on sweetie.”
Finally, he complies and walks at the worlds slowest pace towards me. After he’s dressed and wiped free of the juice mustache on his lips, we head for my car. My eyes roam around the yard of our new house. It’s not what some people would describe as much, but it’s ours. Me and my sons. I worked damn hard to get where I am right now and I’m proud of our little house.
When my mom called me a few months back talking about a gorgeous Victorian style house she bought I knew what was coming. She asked us to move back and help her turn it into a B & B. I graduated from college with a degree in business management so it made sense to give it a go. I had a great job living back home in Texas again and was able to save up enough for a down payment on our little dream home. Everything fell into place easily like it was meant to be.
“Let’s go sweet boy.”
“Mama, do we have to go see Nana today? She smells funny.” I buckle him in the back seat of my car and smile.
“She doesn’t smell funny, that’s just how old people smell sweetie.”
“I’m never getting old.” He mumbles making me laugh.
We pull into the parking lot of the local grocery store. It’s weird being here again. I didn’t live here long, but it felt like home. After transferring colleges my Sophomore year, I haven’t been back. My plan was to never step foot here again, but sometimes life throws a curve ball your way.
Gabe starts singing the song on the radio. “Do you want to stop and pick up a snack to bring bud?”
“Chocolate cake!” He bounces in his booster seat.
“I don’t know kiddo, didn’t you say you hated chocolate?” His face falls and it takes everything to try and keep a straight face.
“No mama! I love chocolate, it’s my favorite!”
“Oh, well if it’s your favorite I supposed we can get some.” I laugh.
We exit my 02’ Ford Focus and walk hand in hand to the store. It’s a wonder this thing’s still kicking it after our long road trip from Texas to Massachusetts. A drive I will never be repeating in my life.
I reach down and hoist him in the air under his arm pits and sit him in a carriage. After buckling him, we go on the hunt for some chocolate cake. As we get to the bakery section Gabe freaks over this giant triple chocolate cake covered with strawberry’s. Where he loves chocolate, he’d happily offer me up as tribute for a bowl of strawberries.
After placing it in the carriage I decide to grab a few muffins for the week. Blueberry for me and surprise, chocolate chip for my boy.
I grab a few more things before heading to the checkout line. While waiting I try to keep my eyes off the gossip magazines and fail miserably like I usually do. There he is in all his glory. Kyle “The Killer” Cage drunk off his ass exiting some night club with his flavor of the week on his arm and her hand in his pants.
“What a pig.”
“Hey now, don’t go knocking my baby bro.” I know that voice and cringe as I turn around to face him.
“Soph?”
“In the flesh J baby.”
“No way! How have you been, it’s… it’s been a long ass time.” He pulls me into a brief hug.
“It has. I’ve been good, great even. Just moved back into town to help mom with the new venture.”
“Josh said something about your mom contacting him for some reno work. That’s awesome! Glad to have you back.”
“It’s not like I was here that long. I moved up when you guys did.” I laugh, then remember Gabe. Shit!
“You know what I mean. You’ve always been with us.” He peaks over my shoulder. “Who do we have here?”
“My son.” I don’t move. He can’t see him, I’ve dreaded this moment since I moved back.
Jay looks around me and starts talking to him. It’s not until Gabe actually looks up at him that Jay’s eyes bulge out and he looks at me with extreme confusion on his face.
“So, how old is he Soph?”
“He turns five in a few months.” I shouldn’t be worried, he doesn’t know anything.
“We’ll have to get the kids together. Josh and Zander have five combined and I have a very rambunctious three-year-old and one on the way.”
“Oh wow. It’s weird, isn’t it? Us all grown up with kids?”
“Somethings weird, that’s for sure.” He levels me with his gaze then looks back to my boy.
“Hey buddy, what’s your name?”
“Gabriel.” He answers and if I was worried he knew before I’m certain now.
“Gabriel…” He looks at me and mouths what the fuck.
I shrug my shoulders and quickly pay for all my stuff while avoiding eye contact with Jay. My saving grace is the fact that he has to pay for a whole cart of groceries so I’m able to make a quick exit before he leaves the store. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t try to stop me.
“Hey, hold up Soph…”
“I have to be somewhere.” I push my cart like I’m on Super Market Sweep and get the hell out of there.
After putting the cake on the front seat and Gabe in the back, we exit the parking lot. A few minutes down the road I pull off on a side street. “Mama just needs a minute baby.”
When I look in my rearview mirror he’s bopping along to the song not a care in the world.
Not a care in the world… just like his Daddy.
I shake my head slowly and take a deep breath. The one and only Kyle Cage, prized fighter and MMA’s bad boy may not have a care in the world right now, but that’s all about to change.
With another calming breath, I pull the car back onto the road and head towards my mom’s.
“Step right up ladies and gentleman,” I chuckle sarcastically. “Kyle ‘Reckless’ Cage better get ready for the fight of his life.”
The End
(CONTINUE ON FOR A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT)