Epilogue
Eagle Valley High School
Eagle, Colorado
Eagle, Colorado
Angelica Shepard could not recall when she enjoyed a local production as much as that night’s performance of Angels with Paper Wings. And they were high-school kids! Awed and overwhelmed with emotion, she didn’t care when Parker saw the tears flow down her face like two shimmery Christmas ribbons.
The gymnasium was packed, standing room only. She could see why. These kids were better than some of the actors and actresses on Broadway! The actors returned to the small stage one last time for yet another standing ovation. Angelica clapped so hard her hands hurt, plus she was beginning to feel a slight headache just as Doctors Mahoney and North had promised. She’d taken three ibuprofen before she left the hospital just in case. All of her test results were perfectly normal, and for that she was grateful. But more than anything, she was so excited over the performance she’d just witnessed. Not because it was pure excellence, though that was part of it, but she knew what she wanted to do in her professional life. Now more than ever. Why she’d spent so many years wasting time onstage didn’t matter. She’d learned her craft, had been moderately successful, and she wouldn’t trade the experience for all the tea in China. However, it was time to move on. Her reason for taking this strange trip. And now, here she was, barely a day into the trip, and she’d solved her career dilemma!
“Why are you crying?” Parker asked as he thumbed the tears from her face.
“Have you ever had an epiphany?” she asked, knowing he’d just had a rude awakening in the career department himself. On the drive from the hospital to the high school, he’d told her about his doubts when he’d lost the little girl who’d been hit while riding her bicycle. Doubts that had sent him into hiding. Doubts that had led them straight to one another, she’d thought then and still did. This was not going to be easy, but they would make it work.
“I’ve had a few in my day. I take it this is the reason behind your tears?” he asked.
Never in her life had she ever been in such sync with another human being, and especially one of the opposite sex. “Yes and no. When I left New York, my agent had just told me that a younger actress had gotten the role I’d been dying for. If I’m honest with myself, she is the best actress for the part. Al said he’d find another part for me, but just now, here in this gymnasium filled with normal people, I realized I don’t want to be onstage. I want to direct, to lead and guide and show and . . .”
She didn’t get the chance to finish. Parker wrapped his arms around her and pulled her next to him. As though they’d been a couple forever, he leaned down and kissed her fully on the mouth. It took a minute for Angelica to break away. “Hey, we’re at a high school! What will all these kids think? And their parents?” she asked, not really caring about anything except the moment.
“They’ll think a sexy hot actress from New York City just kissed a handsome prince.” He kissed her again, only this time it was deeper, more passionate. He drew in a deep breath. “Maybe this isn’t the place, but I promise you, I won’t forget where we left off. Now.” He turned to a group of people who were waiting by the foot of the stage.
Angelica realized that they were waiting for Parker. Without another word, Parker introduced Max Jorgensen, and he, in turn, was introduced to Max Jorgensen’s wife, Grace Landry, and their daughter, Ella. Not to be outdone, next came Patrick and Stephanie.
Then came the girls and Mr. Nicholas Star.
“Now, these are those girls I was tellin’ you about,” Nicholas said. “I think they’re just about as pretty as this little actress you’ve hooked up with. What’d ya think?”
“They’re beautiful,” Parker said.
Two girls, around nine and twelve, held out their hands as though they were royalty and did this every day. “I’m Ashley, the oldest, and this is Amanda. She’s three years younger than me. Are you and Dr. Parker going to get married?” the dark-haired oldest girl asked.
Normally, Angelica would’ve been mortified by such a question, and coming from a child, too. Not this time. She looked at Parker before answering. “Someday, I’m sure, we’ll both get married. I don’t know if we will marry one another if that’s what you’re asking.” Pure and simple. No in between the cracks.
“Ashley! I can’t believe you asked Ms. Shepard such a personal question. You know better,” Stephanie said to her daughter before turning to Angelica. “I’m sorry. I hope she didn’t embarrass you too much. She is obsessed with weddings now. Ever since Patrick and I married, then it was Melanie and Bryce. He’s Grace’s younger brother. Well, I’ve said too much. Please, accept my apologies,” Stephanie asked, then grabbed both girls by the hand and took them to a nearby corner.
“And to think I was going to catch the next flight back to New York,” Angelica said, still in awe.
“You know, it is quite a leap from Colorado to New York. You have any suggestions?” Parker asked as they followed their new friends out of the gymnasium. “And there’s Leon to consider. He hates flying.”
“I hope you have a lot of frequent-flier miles,” Angelica teased, before adding, “but if not, I kinda like this neck of the woods. And I’m sure Leon will fall madly in love with me when he gets to know me.”
Parker leaned down to whisper in her ear, “Does that mean what I think it means?”
“What do you think it means?” she couldn’t help but ask.
“I think it means this is the beginning of something new, maybe the best new beginning of my life. Would I be correct in my assumption?”
“Look, we hardly know one another. Plus, you owe me big-time for today’s injury. But, I am willing to make you a deal,” she stated before climbing back inside the limo Max had sent to the hospital.
“And what would that deal be?”
“I want free medical care for the next two weeks. If, and this is a very big if, you and I, well, if we are as good as we are right now . . .” She let her words trail off.
“Sweetie, you ain’t seen nothing yet. This is only the beginning,” Parker said before sliding in beside her.
“Something tells me this is going to be the merriest Christmas ever.” Angelica finally relaxed. Her trip had started out on a sour note, but something told her this was just the beginning.
“And you have your very own personal angel to watch over you,” Parker added, then kissed her.
Today was perfect, Angelica thought as she melted in his arms. Tomorrow would be even better.