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Epilogue

Epilogue

C

ady - Six Months Later

I

stretch in my chair at the new office, arching my back. My baby bump sticks out even further, pushing against my desk and levering me away in my office chair. I eye my ever-expending stomach; I’m wearing the stretchy black maternity skirt that I favor and a white tank top, plus a pink cardigan. I pick a couple of Milo’s hairs off my skirt, then make a face.

“Oooh,” I say, wincing. “Careful with my organs in there, kid.”

The fun new thing that my little boy is doing is doing what feels like kick flips inside my belly. Putting my hand on my stomach to try to calm the baby, I rise from my chair to walk a little. I look out my wall to ceiling glass windows at the downtown skyline of Seattle.

It’s still unbelievable to me that I’m here. The first couple months of my pregnancy were hard as hell on my body… and that’s not even considering the whole moving across the country thing.

Luckily, Jett is here with me, and Olive too. It took Jett and I a bit to figure out how we were going to do it: Jett had his job and his house, I had my house and my baby to worry about.

But Jett managed to keep most of his clients through telecommuting and once per month trips. And both of us sold our homes, finding a perfect three-bedroom home on the outskirts of Seattle.

As for my health, I’ve been super pro-active during my pregnancy. Yoga, running, birthing classes… Seattle is the place to be for expectant mothers, it seems.

The baby won’t stop kicking. I fold my hands over my belly and pace. It usually calms him down.

Today is a challenge of sorts. It seems like everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. First, one of my clients was a no show during our depositions, apparently having overslept. Then I wasn’t paying attention, barreling down the hall and talking on my phone. I ran right into one of the first year associates, who was carrying a cup of hot coffee.

Unsurprisingly, the hot coffee ended up all over the right side of my skirt. That was at least an hour ago, but it’s only just now drying. Damn Seattle humidity.

To top it all off, I got the yearly photos back that the firm forces everyone to take. After looking at the proofs, I locked myself in my office and bawled at how fat I’ve become.

So yeah, today has been a test. Of what, I do not know. I just know that hormones and emotions are running high.

At least my pacing has calmed the baby down a little. I bounce for another minute, then head back to my desk.

As I’m settling in, Olive knocks on my open door. She looks gorgeous as ever, wearing a perfect black silk dress with a huge black bow on one shoulder. “Hey, you.”

“Hey,” I say, trying not to be envious of her ability to wear normal clothes.

She looks at me, her gaze narrowing. “You look tired. Are you feeling alright?”

“Yup,” I nod. “Except there is this creature feeding off of my essence. Everything else is alright.”

“Ha ha,” she says. “Where are your shoes?”

I turn and look at my black flats. I wore heels until month five, and then it was laughable to think about continuing. “Oh, under the desk. I’ll put them back on if anyone I don’t know comes by.”

“Well, you might want to put them on. I’m taking you to lunch.” She smiles, a little too broadly.

I cast a suspicious gaze in her direction. “Why?”

“Can’t a girl just want to take her best friend to lunch? Besides, I got reservations at Altura. You loved that place, according to Jett.”

I brighten up. “I did! They do the best cannoli. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.”

Olive beams. “Great! Get your shoes and make sure you bundle up. It’s cold outside. I’ll meet you in the lobby downstairs, alright?”

I nod. She shuttles out of my office, leaving me to get my big blue wool maternity coat on. I put on my coat and my shoes, groaning a bit when my sore feet hit the soles. It’s almost time to go up a size in shoes, if I continue to hold so much water.

A few minutes later, I head down to the elevator. When I hit the lobby, Olive is waiting.

“Did you hear that the lead witness in my case might have bailed?” she says. We both shield our eyes as we head out into the bright light of downtown, here amongst the tall, grey buildings. “Oh, I think that’s our Uber right there.”

I’m so glad to have Olive with me, because even though Altura is technically walkable from here, no way do I want to try. Luckily, she didn’t even consult me, she just called for an Uber without me. We walk down to the curb, where our car is waiting. I shiver against the cold breeze that rattles through downtown.

“No, I didn’t hear anything. What happened?” I say as I ease into the new Toyota. We pull out and take a right.

“So the guy, Tony Grimes, is now worried that his family might be in danger if he testifies in open court.” She wrinkles her nose. “He knew that from the get go, but now he’s

concerned

, whatever that means.”

“Do you think he’s going to testify?” I ask.

“I don’t know. We’ll sit down with him tomorrow and see if we can allay his concerns.” She pushes a hand through her long red hair. “It’s kind of a tense situation.”

We chat for a few minutes, and then the car pulls up outside Altura. It’s a simple little glass doorfront, without any showy stuff. It’s pretty unassuming. That’s one of the things that I think makes it special.

“Here we are,” Olive announces.

We both get out of the car, walking up to the restaurant. I squint.

“Are you sure they’re open?” I ask her. “It looks… empty. It’s never empty.”

“I’m sure,” she says with a wink. She looks secretive as she opens the door for me. “You first.”

I glare at Olive. She knows something, and she’s not telling. I try to think of what it could be. My birthday was two months ago, and we’re past the New Year already. Could it be a really early baby shower?

I don’t actually think I know when a baby shower is even supposed to happen

, I think.

That must be it.

I head inside the restaurant, which is almost empty, the tables all set and the bar polished. There is only one waiter, standing there ready to take our coats. I pull my coat off and hand it over to him.

“Hi,” I smile at him, a little puzzled.

“Miss Ellis,” he says, bowing. “We have a table for you, right this way.”

I turn to Olive, but she hasn’t even taken her coat off.

“Aren’t you coming?” I ask, my brow furrowing.

“In a little while,” she says, waving off any concern. “Don’t worry, you’re where you’re meant to be.”

“What?” I say, but she backs toward the door.

“If you would, please?” the waiter says.

“Ummm… all right…” I say, shaking my head. I follow him into another room, which is cleared out except for one white linen-covered table and two chairs.

Jett is there, handsome in an immaculate dark grey suit. Even now, his dark hair and tattoos give me chills, even though I am irritable. He grins when he spots me, standing up.

“Jett!” I scold him. “What the hell is going on?”

“Cady,” he says, pulling out a chair for me. “Sit.”

I waddle over to the chair and sit down, internally sighing. He rubs my shoulders for a few seconds, which is heavenly.

“This is a baby shower?” I murmur, letting my eyes close a little.

He chuckles. “No.”

I open my my eyes as he releases me, taking his seat beside me. “Then why are we here?”

“You aren’t going to make this easy for me, are you?” he jokes.

“Make what easy? Baby, you know that I don’t like surprises…” I say, rubbing my baby bump. “Also, your son doesn’t like them either. He won’t sit still.”

He holds up his hand. “Okay, okay. I was going to ask the kitchen for dinner first, but I think you’ll be more comfortable if I just say it.”

“Say what—“ I begin, but I cut myself off when he reaches in his pocket and produces a black velvet ring box. I look at him, my hands flying to my mouth. “Is that—“

“Shhh,” Jett says, trying not to laugh. “Just let me do this the right way.”

Tears start leaking down both sides of my face as he moves from his chair, kneeling before me. My heart feels like it’s beating so fast that it might break free of my chest. When he opens the ring box with a snap, I’m overwhelmed.

He’s chosen a beautiful emerald, flanked on both sides by diamonds. He clears his throat, and I look at him, trying not to cry too loudly.

“Cady Anne Ellison,” he says, his voice tense. “From the day I met you, I knew that you were special. I love your passion, and your intelligence blows me away. I even like your cat, even though I’m not a cat person. I love you, Cady.”

I am trying to hold back my sobs. I manage, “I love you too.”

He gives me that million dollar smile. “Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

I nod emphatically, too choked up to speak. He plucks the ring out of the box, and holds his hand out for mine. I shakingly put my small hand in his big one, and he slips the ring on.

Then he stands and helps me to my feet, dipping me just a little as he kisses me. I curl my hands around his nape as I kiss him back, sucking in lungfuls of his clean scent.

In that moment, I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am going to be happy and cared for the rest of my life.

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