Epilogue One year Later
“Harper, this flower crown is absolutely adorable! Thank you again for making it for Ava.” Zoe said, placing the small creation on the one year old's head. “It's perfect for her first birthday photos.”
“Of course! I still can't believe the twins are a year old already.”
“What about you, and Cole? You've been married for an entire year.”
“And it's been the best year of my life.” I chimed in, coming to stand beside Harper.
“Speak of the devil.” Zoe said, rolling her eyes. “Didn't you two just celebrate yesterday?”
“Some of us enjoy spending time with our wives Zoe. Do you need me to talk to Wes?”
“Fuck off!” Wes yelled from the backyard. He was taping balloons to the picnic tables in preparation for the party. “Get over here and help me with these damn things!”
“Damn things!” Gabriel yelled, as he rushed by us. “Balloons!”
“Wes!” Evie yelled. “You just wait until your kids start speaking. I'm going to make sure I teach them all kinds of colorful words.”
“No she won't.” Jake said, placing his hand on the small of her back. “Don't mind her, she hasn't been feeling like herself lately.”
“Don't apologize for me.” She snapped, turning to face him. “Sorry.”
“Evie?” Zoe asked, eyeing her suspiciously. “Are you pregnant?”
Before she had the chance to answer, the smile on Jake's face gave it away. He may have been able to run special ops in the army, but keeping secrets from his sister? Not so much.
“Congratulations!” Zoe, and Harper said in unison, as they rushed towards the couple for hugs.
“What the hell Harper? You told them?” I asked, just catching the tail end of the conversation. “I thought we were going to wait until we were sure. You made me promise not to say anything.”
“Cole, I didn't say anything. Evie's pregnant.” Harper said, with an awkward smile.
“Fuck.” I said, instantly feeling like an asshole.
“Fuck!” Gabriel yelled, as he came running towards me.
“Gabriel!” Evie yelled, making everyone laugh.
“What did I miss?” Wes asked, approaching our small group with Ethan on his hip.
“Well.” Zoe said glancing around. “Evie's pregnant, and Harper, and Cole have a secret that he thinks she spilled but she didn't. And now, they're about to tell us their secret because the proverbial cat is kind of out of the bag.”
Everyone's eyes were locked on Harper, and I, waiting for some kind of explanation to my little outburst. I cleared my throat, reaching for Harper's hand. “I guess now is a good a time as any.” I said nervously.
“Are you pregnant too?” Evie asked, excitedly.
“Um, no. Not exactly.” Harper said nervously.
“You're adopting?” She asked.
“Would you let the woman talk Evie.” Jake said, giving Harper a small smile. “Sorry about that Harper, go ahead, take your time.”
I could tell that she was uncomfortable with being put on the spot like this, so I took the lead on the conversation. “We applied for our foster licenses.” I said, ripping the band-aid off. “We thought we'd be denied because of my felony, but due to the circumstances in which I received it, a judge was able to override it.”
“What do you mean override it? Like it's gone? It never happened?” Wes asked.
“In a nut shell? Yes.”
“So you're planning on becoming foster parents? I thought you guys didn't even want kids?”
“We don't.” Harper said. “I mean, we don't want to have children of our own, and we don't plan on fostering young children. We want to help the kids who no one wants. The teenagers that always get passed over, or sent to places like Vanessa, and I were in.”
“That's a very noble cause.” Jake said.
“But?” I asked, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“But. Teens are hard. You yourself know how hard it is being passed around from home, to home. One of the kids you help could come to you straight from Juvie.”
“I was in Juvie.” Evie said. “And look at me. I'm a pediatrician now. Having the right people in your corner really does make all the difference Jake. I think it's great. I'm happy for your both, and I wish you the best of luck.”
“Thank you Evie.” Harper said, pulling her in for a hug. “And, congratulations again.”
“Well, it looks like we have a lot more than the twins' birthday to celebrate today!” Zoe said. “The six of us have come a long way, over the last few years, but I couldn't ask for a better family.”
“Remember when you hated me?” Evie asked.
“She hated me too.” Harper said.
“Me too.” Wes added.
“Yeah, Zoe was kind of a bitch.” Jake said, nudging his sister.
“You're all assholes.” Zoe said.
“Ash holes!” Gabriel yelled, clapping his hands in delight.
I've always thought of Wes as family. He's been my brother for as long as I can remember, but today was the first time that I actually saw Jake, and Evie in that same way. When Harper and I first started seeing each other, everyone was skeptical. Wes, and Jake assumed she was using me to help Vanessa in some way, and the girls were kind of indifferent. But when she was taken, that was when everyone saw what she really meant to me. I wasn't able to keep the facade of tough guy up any longer. That's when everyone's opinion changed. That's when they welcomed her into their lives as if she'd always been there.
I was doing things now that I never imagined I would. Violet's are Blue did so well in it's first six months, that Harper and I opened up two more in surrounding cities. We did weddings, baby showers, photo shoots, you name it. Harper designed all of the arraignments herself, and I found that I really enjoyed the business aspect of it. Making decisions, crunching numbers, I was good at it, and together we made a great team.
Ten year old me thought about the future and saw nothing. That's one of the main reasons Harper, and I wanted to foster older kids. We've both been there, and somehow we both came out stronger. Neither of us ever thought we'd find love, least of all get married. But, here we were, proving that if we can pull ourselves from the darkness, and find the light, anyone can.
“What are you thinking about?” She asked, looping her arm around my waist.
“The future.” I sighed, kissing the top of her forehead.
“Yeah? And how does it look?”
“Pretty damn perfect.”
~ The End ~