Just the Epilogue
THE MINUTE JOE TOOK HIS hand from my eyes in that flaming-Poe bathroom, I knew I was in love with him. I mean, the minute I opened my door and he was standing there looking so delicious in his tool belt and muscular arms. Sigh. I’m not usually such a teenage girl about such things but he makes me feel fifteen again. Even when I was fifteen, I didn’t feel so free. My parents were not fun and we’ve spent enough time dwelling on all that.
I’m waiting outside my therapist’s office for Joe to come pick me up. My house has been finished for over six months and today I’m telling him I’m selling that bad boy. I know, I spent a crap ton of money and time on it, but honestly, the only thing I’m going to really miss is the bathroom. Convinced Jack to paint the tiles in Joe’s master bath so it won’t be too bad. I’m taking the bath mat, shower curtain, and faucet cover. Actually, I’ve already taken them.
I’ve moved all my stuff to Joe’s but he hasn’t noticed. Jack has helped me be stealth about it. My closet is full, my kitchen stuff is here, and everything else is in storage or going with the house sale. Joe has been asking me to move in with him for a few months. He’s offered to move into my newly and beautifully renovated home. He said he’d keep the house for Jack so it made no difference to him.
I love that dude so much it hurts. I’ve never met someone so determined to charm the pants off everyone he meets. It’s awesome and exhausting. It works though. He has most people eating out of his hand within five minutes. Maybe not Frank, that’s his life’s work, I guess. Trying to get Frank to be charmed by him. I’d never tell but I think he’s succeeded many a time. I’ve seen Frank half smile at him when his back is turned.
When Frank’s daughter, Reilly, was born Joe brought like twenty balloons and a tiny guitar. Mikey asked him to be a godparent and Joe started to cry. Frank told him to shut up but he also hugged him. I was looking at Frank when Joe held Reilly for the first time and he definitely wiped a tear from his eye.
“Hey, Betsy Boo,” Joe says as I hop in his truck. I give him a huge smile and then plant a big kiss on his lips. My man can kiss. Ugh, when we were kind of pussyfooting around and I got a few kisses I wished he would’ve just tied me to the bed right then. “You feeling good?”
“Yep! I’m all fixed for today,” I say tapping my head.
“Not broken in the first place, but I’m glad you’re happy.” Joe has been very supportive of me going to therapy. Jeannette recommended a great therapist. I think she was tired of psychoanalyzing me and just wanted to be my friend. It’s been great and helped me open up.
When Joe cut me off after I left his house, I had a hard time. I knew I was being an idiot but I couldn’t get past my own fears. Seeing him in tight ass sparkly hot pants was enough to push me through the fears. Well, it was more the gathering of all my friends that pushed me over the edge, but Joe’s sparkly ass helped.
I can finally see myself fitting in and being a part of a community. Joe is at the center but I don’t feel like an outsider at either of my jobs or with my new-found friends through Joe. I still have my low moments but it’s easier to get out of them because I know Joe loves me. I know other people love me too. It’s a good feeling.
“Where we headed?” he asks.
“To my house,” I say.
A few minutes later he pulls into my short driveway and turns the truck off. He turns to me and I can see concern in his eyes. “Why is there a for sale sign in the window?”
I get out of the truck and go to his side and open the door. “Come inside,” I say and he takes my offered hand and follows. It’s funny that I can see him physically stifle a joke about coming inside me or something silly. It’s too cute.
We walk up the steps and enter my perfectly renovated home. The floors are perfect, the fireplace is majestic and lovely because it works. The kitchen is a work of art. It’s a masterpiece and that’s why it’s been a hard decision to sell but I know it’s the right move.
“Where’s all the furniture?” he asks totally confused now.
“It’s either in storage or at our house.” I have him sit on one of the stools that are staying with the home. “I’m selling this house because although it’s beautiful, it’s not my home. You are my home and your house is where I’m meant to live. That and I can’t resist that overtly sexy bed, obviously.”
“You’re going to live with me?” he asks and his smile is enormous.
“I do live with you, silly,” I say hoping he doesn’t freak out. “I’ve been slowly moving in for weeks. Jack and Don helped me.”
“But, why? You just had all this work done and put so much time and money into it.”
I shrug. “The agent says I should get way more for it than I put in so I’m making a profit. It’s a great place but it’s no Casa Davis. So, what do you say? I’m already moved in.”
He picks me up and swings me around. “I just want to be wherever you are, even if it’s just a shack in the woods.”
“The things you say, Joe.” He kisses my nose. “There is one thing I want to take with me.”
“If you say that disgusting butcher block then I change my mind. You can’t move in.” Damn, I did want to take that.
“Ugh, no, I meant the flamingo bathroom mat.”
“You could say that we flamin-go together like birds of a feather,” he says.
“You could if you never wanted to have sex again.” I tilt my head and give him a look.
“Like you’d be able to resist me.”
“Nevermore,” I say and he kisses me.