Epilogue: Got the Guy
Georgia
as I drop a piece of paper in front of him.
“You promised me a date, and I didn’t forget.”
He picks up the single sheet and reads the details. “Beach volleyball tickets?”
“Time for you to see what all the fuss is about, Prewitt. Grab your shorts and a hat. It’ll be more fun if you go topless.” I wink at him and duck into the bathroom.
“I could say the same for you,” he shouts as I close the door.
That makes me laugh. I walked right into that one. “The last thing I need is for another highlight of me to end up on SportsCenter, thank you. Get yourself ready. We leave in thirty.”
It’s a complicated dance, both getting ready in my tiny apartment, but we manage.
Archie let Theresa and Xena stay in his house for a few extra months, but they’re finally moving into their own apartment in the same neighborhood next week. Archie has been staying with me for a few months, after he felt he had more than worn out his welcome on Sanders’ sofa, so it will be weird when I have the place to myself again.
Twenty-eight minutes later, we’re both ready. As requested, Archie is wearing shorts and a whole lot of sunscreen. I’m wearing my favorite denim cut-offs and a tank top, despite Archie’s request we wear matching outfits.
We opt to take the subway to Oak Street Beach, and it feels so nostalgic, considering this is where we first met. I don’t think either of us would have predicted we’d be here under these circumstances nine months later.
There’s a small crowd gathering at the beach when we arrive, but we’re here a little early. I wanted to make sure we got good seats to enjoy the action. It doesn’t take long for us to walk past a few women who are well over six feet tall for Archie to give me a look that says wow, you were right. He watches in awe as these impressive athletes get themselves prepared for their matches. Finally, I drag him toward the bleachers that have been set up, and we get situated to the left of the net, three rows up from the sand.
“The water is calm today,” Archie notes, looking out at Lake Michigan.
“Those are micro-waves. Get it?” I laugh at my own joke, which prompts Archie’s too.
“That was o-fish-ally your worst one yet, Peaches.”
I bump him with my shoulder, still laughing. “Rude. No need to be salty.”
He grumbles, but leans in to give me a quick kiss.
The first match is a perfect demonstration of what I was trying to explain to Archie all those months ago. He’s enthralled by the rallying and intensity. Seeing how fast the athletes react and their well-practiced moves is amazing.
“I have to hand it to you; this is pretty cool.” He smiles at me and, like every time he does, it makes my stomach flutter.
The Archie I first met was so conflicted and withdrawn, but I still saw glimmers of who he really is. Given the situation he was in and what he suspected me of, his behavior made sense, but now, getting to see him thrive as his true self makes me fall more in love with him every day.
He reaches over to squeeze my hand. “What’s on your mind?”
I doubt my sunhat and sunglasses hide the blush that engulfs my cheeks like a burning flame. “It will be weird.”
He raises an eyebrow, which peeks out the top of his own aviator glasses. “What will?”
“Not waking up with you every day.”
His head drops to look down, but before he can speak, his phone rings. He pulls it from his pocket and turns the screen to show me. “It’s Nate.”
“Answer!” I demand.
“Hey, bro.” He stops for a second to listen, then shouts, “What? Now?” Another pause. “Okay, we’re on our way.”
I’m bouncing in my seat by the time he hangs up, hoping what I think is happening is actually happening. “Is it time?”
“Yeah, J is at the hospital now. Come on. Baby’s coming with or without us.”
He doesn’t need to tell me twice. I hop up and grab his hand, dragging him through the bleachers to the exit. I’m full of so much excitement, I could probably run home, but I’m wearing flip-flops, so we opt to take the subway. It’s a short trip and a quick walk back to our building. We don’t even stop to change; we just go straight to the parking garage to get in Archie’s old Mustang.
We arrive at the hospital a little over ninety minutes after Nate called. The woman at the nursing station says we can’t go into the room while Janine is in active labor, but we can sit in the waiting room and she’ll let them know we’re here. Archie texts Nate to tell him as we walk down the hall to the waiting room.
Surprising us both, his sisters and parents are in the waiting room already. Penny and Elle jump up to hug us. I’ve only met them twice, but they’re both really sweet. Archie’s father, David, offers handshakes and his mom, Angelina, squeezes us together in a joint hug.
“Any news?” Archie asks once all the greetings are out of the way.
“Well, you know Janine is a tough cookie. She didn’t want to labor in the hospital because they’ve spent so much time here over the years. By the time she got here, she was eight centimeters dilated. Shouldn’t be too long now,” Penny answers. “What’s with the outfit, Arch?”
Total detour of the conversation, but we both still look ready for the beach. Thankfully, Archie had a clean T-shirt in his car, so he’s not still topless. He explains where we were when Nate called, which seems to satisfy everyone.
We occupy the next thirty minutes with updates on what’s happening in each other’s lives. Archie mentions he’s moving back into his house soon, which forms a pit in my stomach again. All of his family members are looking at me, though, so I try my best to keep my expression neutral.
Nate bursts in the room seconds after Archie’s comments, averting everyone’s eyes. “He’s here. Oakley David Prewitt.” His eyes are glowing with pride. So much so, my happy tears burst from their dams.
The entire family gathers around to ask questions and arrange amongst themselves to go see the new baby. Graciously, his family members insist Archie and I go first since we have a long drive back to the city. I feel a little out-of-place meeting their grandson before Angelina and David do, but they tell us they’ll have plenty more time with baby Oakley in the future. It’s a stark contrast from my family and the arrival of baby Leah—whom I have still only seen three times.
Nate leads us into the delivery room where Janine is holding Oakley on a propped up hospital bed. Archie quietly walks toward her, stopping at the far side of the bed. His smile is wide and unreserved. A facial expression I’ve seen a lot over the past few months, and it’s always easy to read.
“Hey, Momma. How are you feeling?” He leans down to kiss Janine’s cheek, then reaches his hand out to touch the cute cotton hat on Oakley’s head.
“I’m fine. This little guy was in such a hurry, he didn’t torment me for too long.”
“Taking care of his mom already. Good man, Oakley.”
Janine offers for Archie to hold him, so I sneak in and position myself on the opposite side of the bed. Once Archie is staring down at his new nephew, I lean down to give Janine a hug.
“Congratulations, J. He’s beautiful.”
We both stare at Archie as he does the same to Oakley, all while shifting from one foot to the other to rock him.
“Why Oakley?” he asks out of nowhere.
Janine and Nate exchange a look that tells me there’s a funny story behind the name.
“Uh…” Nate holds onto the single syllable for several seconds. “We named him after where he was conceived.”
“Oakley? When did you go to California?”
Nate pinches his lips together to suppress a smile. “Not California. Oak Park… Specifically, South Oak Park Avenue.”
Now I understand what’s so funny. Janine chuckles, but grimaces, which stops her laughter. Nate rushes forward to ask if she’s okay. Archie is still processing Nate’s comments.
“But I live on Oak Park Avenue…” Finally, recognition sparks in his eyes. “Oh. Oh! You guys! I let you stay in my house and you… You know what? I’m not even mad. I’m burning the mattress, but I’m not mad.” He looks back down at his new nephew. “Welcome to the world, little Oakley.”
Finally, it’s my turn to hold the baby.
Archie places him in my arms and takes a step back. “Looks good on you, Peaches.” He winks at me, and I swear my ovaries just about reach out to grab onto him as he walks the few feet to where Nate is situated.
I stare down at the new little bundle, taking stock of his dark eyes, tan skin, light downy hair covering his exposed skin, and the cutest button nose I’ve ever seen. The number of times I’ve tried to capture pure joy and love in an expression, I think this is the epitome of both. A perfect moment I can’t wait to re-create.
Minutes later, I realize I’ve been so caught up in studying Oakley’s features, I tuned out the ongoing conversation around me.
Nate is staring at Janine, speaking to Archie. “All the hours and weeks spent in this hospital, I’ve never felt happiness inside these walls before. But watching the woman I love give birth to our child, Arch, all of those old memories are eclipsed by that moment.”
Archie lifts his eyes to look at me, but addresses his brother. “I’m happy for you, man. Really. He’s beautiful.”
“Promise me something,” Nate requests, turning to face Archie. “Learn to let things go or they’ll only bring you down. You can spend your life dwelling on everything that went wrong, or you can hold on to the moments when things went right. Only one way will make you happy.”
Archie doesn’t hesitate, still looking at me, he replies, “I promise. I know where my focus needs to be now.”
Nate claps him on the back, his massive smile growing impossibly wider. “Good.”
We stay in the room with the happy couple and their new gorgeous baby boy for about twenty more minutes before the nurses come in to transfer Janine and Oakley to the maternity ward. We congratulate them one last time and say our goodbyes with promises to come back within the next week to visit once they’re settled at home.
Penny and Elle are missing when we return to the waiting room and update Angelina and David on the room switch. David takes the opportunity to ask Archie about his new job. The pride in his dad’s eyes is obvious when Archie talks about his switch to private security consultant. He drones on about how the world is relying so much on technology, which, with the right skill-set, is easy to override, so his focus is on old-school methods in conjunction with technology to protect homes and businesses. He finally looks excited to talk about his work.
Angelina strikes up conversation with me to ask about what I’m working on and admits she tried out a paint night—without wine—with Janine, but discovered they’re both terrible artists. She shows me pictures of their paintings and if that’s how good Janine’s karaoke skills are, I’d be afraid for my ears. We have a good laugh over what is supposed to be a city skyline, but looks more like a mutant frog. That in itself is a remarkable talent.
A nurse returns to let the Prewitts know they can go meet their grandson, so Archie and I say our goodbyes as they head out.
Instead of leaving, Archie pauses by the windows, staring out over the parking lot.
“Do you want to wait for your sisters before we head out? Your mom said they’re in the gift shop.”
He spins around to face me. His movements are rigid and slow. “Move in with me? I don’t want to wake up without you.”
All the air escapes my lungs. Archie has told me he loves me every day since he first uttered those words, but this confession feels like taking our relationship to another level.
“I’ll turn the spare room into your studio. There are a few windows, so you’ll still have good lighting. Bruce will provide plenty of inspiration. Whatever you need, we’ll make it work. I just… you make me happy, Georgia, and I like to think that I have the same effect on you.”
I nod. “You do.”
He clasps both of my hands and pulls me against him, then wraps his arms around me. “One day soon, I’m going to ask you to marry me, but I don’t want to go backwards. I love you, Peaches.”
My heart skips a beat, leaving me with stalling lungs and a faulty cardiac rhythm. But I’ve never doubted that my heart beats for this man holding me upright. “Okay. Yeah. Let’s do it.”
He loosens his grip on me, only to place one hand on each of my cheeks, tilting my head to look at him. “Yeah?”
“I don’t want to wake up without you, either. But you could have left a little mystery about proposing.” I laugh to stem the happy tears from starting again.
“No more secrets, remember?”