EPILOGUE
Amelia
One month later
“Did you check the L.A. Times this morning?” I ask as I prepare breakfast.
“Not yet. Anything interesting?” he asks.
“There’s one thing in there that might be worth a read.”
“What page?”
“Well I guess it’s technically not in the L.A. Times. It’s on the L.A. Times, as in on the front cover.
He reaches for the newspaper, which is sitting on the kitchen table. He’s a throwback, still reading an actual newspaper in the morning.
“Well, lookie there. Don’t those two make a fine pair?”
“They sure do,” I say, running a spatula under his sunny side up eggs.
“Cash and Cash Get The Credit. Some snazzy writers they’ve got there.”
“And they somehow found out we’re already married.”
“That was fast.”
“They must have been hiding out in the bushes, as they always do around Southern California.”
“Who cares?” he says. “It’s past time the world knows who my number one partner is in business, and more importantly in life.”
“And my number one, too,” I say, playfully slapping his butt with the back of the spatula.
“Says here they’re giving you the credit for the deal. Apparently your people skills are what impressed the Chinese the most. They quote them as saying you were very humble, professional, and courteous. They aren’t accustomed to working with powerful women in business, but they say working with you has opened their eyes and makes them realize the value of women in executive roles.”
“Smart guys,” I say.
“They are smart, but I’m the smartest,” he says, putting the paper down and hugging me.
“And why might that be?”
“Because I saw just how amazing you were right away and I wasn’t about to let you slip through my fingers.”
“Speaking of fingers, I still haven’t got used to this absolutely gorgeous diamond you put on one of mine.”
“Would you prefer something smaller?”
“Are you joking me? I love it, plus it always reminds me of that moment. There you were, standing just out of the rain on my doorstep. You were my knight in shining armor there to save the day.”
“I just needed the horse.”
“You didn’t need anything. Just you. You were all that I ever needed.”
We kiss and it feels like the first time all over again.
I’ll always remember that moment, but I sure am glad to be out of that crummy apartment. Living in his house, scratch that…houses, is an experience I could have never imagined. I sleep better. I feel better. Everything is just…better. I don’t even have to cook and clean anymore, but I do enjoy making him food when we’re not in a rush. If I can’t keep my man fed, then who can?
And the best part is he cooks for me too. He knows all these unusual and delicious recipes from places he’s been all over the globe. Places we’re just starting to travel to, and a lot of places we have plans to visit soon.
But it only matters because we’re doing it together. We’re the perfect match in every way possible.
We both came into this world under less than ideal circumstances, but together we created our perfect world…with each other.
“Oh yeah. Our pilot confirmed our flight to Rio tomorrow.”
“Rio. I can hardly wait.”
“Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit.”
“Swimsuit?”
“Yeah, you’re going to be the Girl from Ipanema.”
“I didn’t know we’d be leaving the hotel room.”
“I hear they have lifeguard towers there too.”
“Oh, so we can have our own little game everywhere we travel now. Instead of collecting magnets, we can collect…ahem…lifeguard tower experiences.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“And I like that I’ll hear the sound of your voice everywhere we go.”
“And the sound of yours.”
“I love you.”
“And that’s the sweetest sound in the world. I love you.”
The End, but the story doesn’t have to end here.