“It’s so much better this month that I don’t know what to do with myself,” I tell him.
The relief of being pain free during my period is indescribable. Endometriosis doesn’t just go away, and I may need surgery again at some point if I get more lesions, but for now I feel so much better.
He puts on khakis, a pale blue button down, and navy blue jacket, while I slip into a simple black sweater dress paired with textured tights and ankle boots. The Spanish restaurant, Malaga, that we’ve been wanting to try isn’t far. It’s a fairly new place that’s been on our radar, and I’m so excited to check it out based on the rave reviews it keeps getting.
The meal is everything we could hope for and more. The empanadas are to die for as an appetizer, with the most flaky and flavorful crust, and a beef filling so tender and flavorful, that I have to close my eyes in pleasure. The paella for two is their signature dish, and it more than lives up to the hype. They have a land only version with chicken and chorizo, the server assuring me that there’s no cross contamination with the shellfish. The rice base and vegetables tie it all together in the mostflavorful way.
Looking at Gage, I can’t help thinking how surreal my life is now. I have the most wonderful person to go on dates with, and celebrate the little wins of life. We’ve built something so special together, and it will keep evolving as our relationship grows. It’s not something I ever thought I wanted or needed, but now I can’t imagine life without coming home to him and the birds. For the first time in my life, there’s a true home for me to go to, and my own little family there who loves me.
The high from his proposal has yet to go away. I’ll never forget his earnest, beautiful face as he got down on one knee, promising to love me forever, with the stunning waterfalls as a backdrop. As long as I live, it will be etched in my psyche as one of the best memories of my life. I didn’t end up with a fairy prince in a cottage like I had once dreamt as a kid. Instead, I found the most real, substantial, steady, and passionate love beyond anything I could have ever thought possible.
“It’s been a great day,” I say, lifting my wine glass to his, my thoughts choking my voice.
He leans across the table and cups my cheek with his free hand.
“Any day with you is a great day,” he replies, looking deeply into my eyes as he clinks his glass to mine.
Epilogue
Gage - Six Months Later
The first strains of ‘You Are the Best Thing’ by Ray LaMontagne play as I sweep Celeste into my arms to dance in the middle of the makeshift dance floor. All of our family and closest friends are here to properly celebrate our marriage at a casual reception we decided to throw. It’s what Celeste calls rustic chic, with wine barrels as little cocktail tables around the edges, two long wood tables decorated with gauzy runners and battery operated candles with benches for dinner, fairy lights in the beams of the barn we’re in, and mason jars filled with wildflowers everywhere. Celeste’s phone is hooked up to the speaker with a very curated playlist that we spent hours making. I love how low key and purely us it is, with both the rustic fairy tale vibes she loves, and the understated minimalism I favor. It’s beautiful and perfect.
My dad is beaming and wiping his eyes, looking so proud. Tania is tearful in Carlo’s arms, her new engagement ring flashing brightly under the lights. They just got engaged in Spain near the house Tania inherited, and I could not be happier for them. Lyra and Gina are snappinga million pictures and videos. Carlo’s whole family is here, the sisters chatting and laughing with their parents Hector and Alejandra. Wayne and Taran are keeping the kids occupied with goofy jokes, and Iggy gives Chloe a sweet kiss. Tia Carmen, Tio Phillip, and Diana stand next to my dad looking absolutely overjoyed for us.
Celeste has her own entourage of people here that she’s become close to these last few months. Doreen from the diner, Michelle from the animal shelter, and a few friends from Celeste’s anger management class are all smiling and cooing over us from the sidelines.
My attention never strays far from the incredible woman in front of me, though.
She’s wearing the same gorgeous white jumpsuit she wore to our courthouse wedding, and her hair is all pinned up beautifully with flowers again, courtesy of Tania.
“I might as well get another wear out of it. Besides, I consider it lucky now,” she’d told me as we were planning this whole shindig.
Life with her these past six months has been the happiest time of my entire existence. El Abrevadero keeps growing to the point where we might even start looking into a second location. Celeste has opened her non-profit with a lot of success. There’s been a steady stream of women using either the website or the storefront to get their lives back on track, and seeing all of her hard work pay off in making her dream come true has been so incredibly gratifying to witness. She’s even started her studies for business, taking one class at a time at night online. Her eventual goal is to get an MBA.
The list she made all of those months ago is all but completed, and now she and I can simply enjoy our life together. We’ve been enjoying it on another level since I gotmy vasectomy a couple of months ago. Feeling her bare, getting connected that intimately with nothing between us, has been as mind bending as I thought it would be.
“What are you thinking about?” she asks as I bring her even closer. Those mesmerizing grey eyes are practically sparkling, her smile making the corners crinkle adorably. I rest my forehead on hers.
“I’m thinking that this night is perfect. I’m thinking I have the best wife. I’m thinking seeing everyone that we love here celebrating is a core memory.”
“It’s a core memory for me, too,” she whispers, her eyes getting shiny with unshed tears.
“Relaxing with you for a week on a beach is going to be one, too,” I tell her.
We’re taking a honeymoon starting the day after tomorrow to an all-inclusive resort in Antigua. Neither of us have ever been, and it’ll be our first time going on a true vacation together. We’ve done a weekend getaway or two here on the East Coast, but have never taken off of work for so long to travel farther. The break and quality time will be amazing since we’ve both been working so hard.
I hold my wife close as we sway to the music, my hand cupping her neck to bring her in for another kiss. Her arms wind around my neck, and her fingers play with the hair at the nape a little as our gazes lock. So much love looks back at me, and it nearly stops my breath. The skittish, untrusting woman I met what feels like a lifetime ago is gone, although she thankfully has never lost her sass. The loving, sweet, and hilarious woman I’m looking at shines so brightly with confidence, surrounded by people who love her and would never abandon her.
Case in point, I feel a tapping on my arm as we dance all lost in our own world.
“Can I please dance with my Auntie?” Braden asks shyly.
“Of course, B,” I say, stepping aside. I can’t help but tease him a little, though.
“I thought you didn’t like any of this stuff, though. Didn’t you say girls were gross?”
He rolls his eyes playfully but doesn’t reply as he starts swaying adorably with my wife.