EPILOGUE
SIX MONTHS LATER...
“I said I'd never move back to California,” I groan.
“No, you said you'd never move back to Southern California,” Sydney reminds me. “And we're not moving to Southern California. Palo Alto is much different than Los Angeles.”
“Still a bunch of super wealthy people who've got way more money than sense.”
She side-eyes me. “You're one to talk.”
“Hey, I may be rich, but I don't flaunt it.”
We're looking at homes in the Palo Alto area – much to my chagrin. Sydney's started medical school at Stanford, and the long-distance thing isn't working out. It's been her life-long dream to be a doctor, so who am I to take that away from her? Besides, once she graduates, we can go anywhere, and we will. Together.
“The hipsters are going to love your furniture,” she teases. “Lumberjack is totally in right now.”
I roll my eyes. Great. Hipsters and yuppies. Just what I need in my life. Still, I can't help but smile, seeing her so happy. Soon, we'll be living together. For good, this time. Over the last few months, Sydney recovered completely, and is back to her old life now. With a few, small changes, of course.
Peter was locked up for a bit, but money can buy the best lawyers on the planet and he's already out, unfortunately. Sydney took out a restraining order, and after breaking his arm like I did, I don't think he's going to be messing with her again anytime soon. He's a distant memory now.
“Look at this one,” Syd points at a listing.
I glance at it. It's nice, but it's missing a yard for my buddy.
“Gunner will hate it,” I say.
“Yeah, probably,” she says.
Her cat, Hermes, hops up on the couch and begs for attention from her. He's still not sure about me and tends to keep his distance, but that's fine. I'm more of a dog person anyway. Hermes and I can co-exist, but I think that's about as good as it's going to get.
“Wonder how Gunner and Hermes will get along?” she asks.
“Oh, he loves cats,” I say. “He loves everything and everyone, honestly.”
“You've had a cat?” she looks skeptical.
“We've run into strays before, yeah,” I say. “He's always been really good with them.”
That seems to appease Sydney as she pets her feline friend.
“So, we need a place with a yard,” Sydney adds it to her list. “It's a good thing you're rich.”
Tell me about it. The Bay Area is not cheap, not in the least. But, it's her dream school, and there's no way I'm letting her give up on her dreams. Not that easily. Having to live in Palo Alto for a bit is a small price to pay to make sure we both can live out our dreams – hers of being a world-class doctor, and mine of making furniture and being with her-- the woman I love with every last fiber of my being.
The sale of my dad's company went off without a hitch, thankfully. I am now free and clear of any and all responsibility. I'm free to retire and live off the money from the sale. Once Sydney's done with school, we'll start a family, and we'll be able to do so without any issue. There is literally nothing holding us back.
Sydney's phone rings, and she rolls her eyes. “It's my dad.”
Not even her dad. After I saved her life – twice – her folks seemed to have warmed to me a bit. I dare say, they might even approve of me being a part of Sydney's life more now, these days than they did in the past. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the amount of money in my checking account. No, not at all. Not that it matters. They gave us their blessing, and we're on good terms. Sydney still harbors some resentment toward her dad for trying to pay me to break up with her back in the day – not that I took the money. Not even I'm that big of an asshole.
When she gets upset though, I have to continually remind her that it was a long time ago, water under the bridge and all that. A fresh start is a fresh start – for everybody. Even her parents.
She silences the phone and curls up with me on the couch, her body fitting perfectly against mine. I pull her close to me, enjoying this little slice of heaven.
“He can wait,” she says. “I only have you for a few days.”
“Only until we find a house.”
Soon. Soon, we'd be together and there will be nothing that can tear us apart again. Not old boyfriends, not old girlfriends, not even parents. Once we're settled and together again, we're going to create memories. Many of them.
The End