Epilogue: We Are One
Dina
you, Dr. Edwards.”
“That sounds really weird. All I can picture is being in a restaurant or on an airplane and someone shouts, ‘Is anyone here a doctor?’ I raise my hand and realize someone is having a heart attack. ‘Oh, sorry. Not that kind of doctor. But if you need any information on historical gender roles, let me know.’” He gives a cheesy wink and two thumbs up.
That scenario makes me laugh—only because it’s hypothetical. Someone having a heart attack is no laughing matter. “You know, I think that could make a great book. What would you call it?”
He leads me into our living room, responding, “Doctor Dickens Doesn’t Save the World.”
“Well, I’d read that one. As long as you don’t spoil the ending.”
“I’m learning to enjoy a surprise ending.” Holden smirks as he drops on the sofa, pulling my hand so I follow suit. We only have a few minutes alone before our company will arrive.
It’s been eighteen months since Holden and I reconciled, and we haven’t looked back. His mother is coming around, but still seems upset that Holden went against her wishes. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me, but I hope one day she’ll see I’m just a woman who loves her son. Because of the tension, he moved out of the house with his brother a year ago and we bought a small condo closer to the university—and my sister.
“What do you think about us taking a weekend away? Maybe The Couples’ Resort in Algonquin or camping in Tobermory? I’ve heard they’re both beautiful, and I’ve never been.”
Excitement bubbles through me at his suggestion. We’ve talked about our next step—at length—and my one stipulation was that he finish his PhD first. Now that he’s done, it makes sense for us to take that leap. That sounds like a perfect romantic getaway to, at the very least, discuss a future wedding. I have no doubts that’s what I want.
“That sounds perfect. Just let me know the days you have planned so I can book them off work.” My job as an assistant librarian—at the renovated public branch that was destroyed by the fire—has been so rewarding and a great learning experience. Ideally, I’d like to get into a university library someday, but for now, I’m content working under Julie and learning the ropes. If Holden takes on a job as a professor, that may require relocating, so I can re-evaluate when the time comes.
“Which one do you think you’d like better? Hiking or hot tubs?” he asks.
“Probably hiking. That way we can bring Nacho. He might even find some real squirrels, and learn that he’s not as tough as he thinks he is.”
My handsome graduate laughs. Then, like he’s been waiting all day, he pulls me in for a kiss. “Hiking it is, then. I’ve wanted to visit Tobermory for years.”
We’re interrupted by a knock at the door. We shut Nacho in the bedroom, because he still has a tendency to snarl at people, though he is getting better. Boyd arrives, looking smart and handsome in equal measure. I’ve been so happy watching his and Holden’s relationship return to one that resembles friends as much as brothers.
Not long after Boyd, Phil and Sam enter. Sam has his guitar, and Phil holds a twelve-pack of beer. Holden welcomes them inside, where they greet me as enthusiastically as they always do.
We congregate in the living room, Sam in the lone chair, Holden and me on the loveseat, Phil and Boyd on the sofa. It’s only a few more minutes before Angel, Hollis, Aven, Phoebe, Aaron, and Grace arrive. It’s a full house, but that doesn’t stop the little toddler heading straight for her favourite uncle, whom she calls “Unk”. It’s been a point of pride for Holden, who insists I trained Grace to call him “hunk”. I told him I considered teaching her his actual nickname, but was afraid it would go terribly wrong. Holden lifts her onto his lap and kisses her head.
Baby fever may not be an actual medical condition, but I swear I suffer from symptoms every time I see these two together.
Thirty minutes later, a knock at the door interrupts the clamoring consuming the living room.
“Pizza’s here!” Phil shouts as he jogs toward the door. He swings it open, but the people on the other side aren’t holding a pizza.
Alfie and Imogen Edwards step into the front hall. Alfie is holding his wife’s hand, looking confident, but Mrs. Edwards is staring at the floor. Panic rises in my chest seeing them here. On one hand, I’m grateful they’ve shown up, but on the other, I’m afraid they’ll come in between us again. It’s already difficult to swallow the fact I’ve unwillingly come between parents and children.
“Dad.” Holden reaches out his hand to shake his father’s. Then, with a brief hesitation, he hugs his mother. “Mum.”
Boyd, Phoebe, Aaron, Sam, Phil and Grace all go through the process to greet the newcomers. Angel and my friends follow suit. I’m last in line. Alfie gives me a weak side hug and a smile, but says nothing. When I step in front of Imogen, I’m begging my hands to stop shaking on account of the nerves coursing through me. In what I’d consider one of the greatest shocks of my life, she wraps her arms around me—my torso and arms, so I’m locked in her hold—and the realization she isn’t going to body slam me offers little relief. She’s hugging me. And… crying.
Without the ability to pat her back or offer some sort of comfort, I’m stuck and desperate for a rescue. I plead with Holden, and now, after two years, he’s finally learned to pick up on my signals.
So what does he do? Wraps his arms around both of us. Maybe he’s privy to something I’m not, but I’m wondering if I should fear for my life.
An eternity later, Holden and Imogen release me so I can use my arms again. Though I’m not sure for what. The way the tiny woman is staring at me, I don’t think I’ll have to fight my way out.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers. Literally whispers.
Sorry for what? The awkward extended hug? Pretending I haven’t existed for nearly two years? For giving your son the cold shoulder because he stood up for himself? Or for the prejudice against me based on my skin colour? I could ask for clarification. Demand she prove how sorry she is. Let her know what an impact her interference had on our relationship. But I don’t do any of those things. Today isn’t about me.
“I know. I’m happy you’re here for your son.”
It’s the truth. Holden has worked hard for nine years. He’s sacrificed a lot to achieve what he has, and he deserves to know they’re proud of him. His accomplishment should be celebrated.
His parents don’t stay, though. When the pizza delivery woman appears at the door, Alfie and Imogen make a hasty exit. It doesn’t feel like anything was resolved, but it feels like a weight off, knowing there’s been an acknowledgement that something needs to change. Something we can work on in the future.
The rest of us sit down in the living room, and Holden drops a stack of paper plates beside the boxes of pizza.
Sam pulls out his guitar and announces, “Before we eat, I have a little song I want to play in honour of the coolest nerd I know.” He starts singing the intro before he strums a single note and it doesn’t take long to recognize this tune as Why Don’t You Get a Job? by The Offspring. I laugh; I’m familiar enough with the lyrics to know it’s about a guy whose friend has a deadbeat girlfriend.
But Sam has completely rewritten the words. So instead of saying the friend wants to dump his girl, he sings about having a girlfriend he loves. I set my drink down to give Sam my full attention as he belts out, “Man, I wanna make her my wedded wife, in the worst kind of way.”
My eyes widen as Sam looks at me and winks, then turns his attention to beside me, all while continuing the re-written song.
When I follow his eyes to my left, Holden is crouched beside me, holding open a box. Not a ring box, like a normal person; a pizza box. Inside the top, is a message: You have a pizza my heart. Will you marry me?
My hands fly to my mouth—half in shock and half trying to stop myself from laughing as hard as I did when he pulled this stunt before.
“What do you say? Can you and I make a deluxe combo?” The smile on Holden’s face is almost as cheesy as his joke.
I love him so much. Him and his terrible pizza puns. “You are well and truly a weird-dough, Dickens. Nothing could make me happier.”
Holden sets the pizza on the coffee table and pulls me to stand along with him. This time, when he kisses me, it’s full of promise and anticipation. Whatever our next step will be, we’ll make it together. And that’s not so scary anymore.
Our perfect moment and electric kiss is interrupted by Phil saying, “Another one bites the crust. Am-I-right?”
Amongst the cheering and clapping, everyone is laughing. It’s the perfect soundtrack to the happiest moment of my life.
“We’re going to have a good life, Minnie.”
I slap him on the chest and reply, “We better, Dickens. I have Great Expectations.”
The End
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