“Hang on, the baby won’t be here for another month, but I do need to take it easy,” Penny said to her mother with a laugh.

“I just don’t want you to slip on these slick floors,” her mother said as she looked down worriedly. Penny was about to reply when her father walked up, Chase by his side.

“And what does my new business owner of a daughter think about her new store?” he asked, and all four of them laughed.

“Well, Chase is the one who bought the building,” Penny said modestly. “His club is on the second floor.”

“But all of this here is your business. Besides, I’m pretty sure I gave this to you as a wedding gift,” Chase cut in. He looked around the building, and Penny stepped forward, wrapping her hands around his arm. She always felt more secure when she was standing right next to him, so she often did.

“Why don’t you and Dad go find some champagne? Angie is good at serving it,” Penny said with a smile. Chase had readily agreed to hire most of her old girlfriends back at the old nightclub, paying them much more than Doug ever did and making sure they were all taken care of. He never allowed anyone to be grabbed or harassed in any way by the clients, and if there were any who disobeyed the rules, they were immediately asked to leave.

“I think that is a lovely idea. We are so proud of you, honey.” Her parents gave her a hug as her father congratulated her once more, then the two of them headed off toward the champagne table.

“I’m looking forward to the day I can have another glass of champagne,” Penny said longingly with a sad smile. She put her hands on either side of her protruding belly, and Chase laughed.

“It’s not going to be too much longer. Of course, we might not stop at one, you never know.” He winked at her and she punched him playfully in the arm.

“You don’t know what it’s like to be pregnant! How do you know that we’re going to have more than just this one?” she asked with a teasing grin. He smiled down at her.

“You don’t know what it’s like to be married to a gorgeous girl such as yourself. I can promise you, there are going to be more to come.” He winked at her, but before she had the chance to say anything else, Angie walked up with a grin.

“I’m so happy for you! I knew the day was coming when you would have your own clothing line!” she said with a laugh. Penny hugged her friend and nodded.

“I’d always hoped it would come, but I didn’t know if it would actually happen. It’s all so crazy,” she said with a shake of her head. “Chase gave me a little push. I’d always thought I needed to do this all on my own, but I’m just grateful for all the support I have.” Angie glanced over at Chase.

“I knew from the moment the two of you met that you were meant to be together. Didn’t I say?” she asked eagerly, and Penny shook her head.

“I don’t remember you saying that. I think it was more that you thought I had a crush on him or something,” she said with a laugh. Chase looked down at her.

“Are you trying to tell me that you didn’t?” he asked, appalled. She smirked.

“Maybe I did, but then again, maybe I didn’t. You will never know.” She laughed as he shook his head, then he lifted his glass.

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please?” he called out. The crowd turned to look at him, and he smiled.

“I would like to propose a toast to the love of my life and the owner of his wonderful store!” he said, holding the glass out. Everyone in the room lifted their glasses, and shouted, “Hear, hear!”

“And to Chase for his new club!” Penny added over the cheers.

After draining his glass, Chase looked back down at his bride with another smile. “Now, if you are quite happy with how things are looking, I think that it’s high time you and I get out of here. We could use all the alone time we can get before the baby arrives, and as it’s looking, it’s not going to be too long before that happens.” He looked down at her belly, then kissed her forehead, and Penny agreed.

She bid her parents and her friends goodnight before walking out of her own clothing store, this time on the arm of her husband. Penny smiled, but she couldn’t help but look across the street at the old nightclub where she used to work and think of all the times she had dreamed of the life she would now be living.

It had gone out of business and the windows were now boarded up. She didn’t know what happened to Doug, but she couldn’t have imagined he had gotten very far in his life. Not after all of the allegations made against him.

The fact of the matter was, though, she didn’t care.

“Ugh, I can’t believe I used to work there,” Penny said with disgust as she shook her head at the old club. Chase laughed. The boarded-up windows looked eerie in the fading light, and it was far different from the club she used to know. He pressed his lips to the side of her head and wrapped his arms around her body.

“I guess it’s hard to run a VIP club when all the VIPs stop coming,” he said with a laugh, and she smiled.

They slid into the car and drove off into the fading light, eagerly awaiting what was to come. Together.