Epilogue
Two years later
Vicky was thankful that the weather had decided to cooperate. As a matter of fact, it did better than cooperate. It was a beautiful Indian summer. The sun was beaming and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
Angel’s fifth birthday party was in full swing. A circus theme in the backyard was Jason’s idea. He’d hired a magician, a clown, a mime, there were people on unicycles, and at the end of the night there was going to be a fireworks display.
Although, Vicky was more confident and comfortable in the world of the wealthy, she still thought this party was over the top especially when Chuck E Cheese probably would have been just as fun. Still, everyone seemed to be having a good time.
But, if throwing this party for Angel is what makes them happy then Vicky was fine with it too. Angel was running around playing normally with all the other children. With therapy, her limp had almost disappeared.
Jason, his father, Franklin, John Lucas, and some of the other fathers were standing around the barbeque grill talking.
John Lucas didn’t want to bring it up but didn’t want Jason blindsided “So, I hear Ryan Carter has started an exploratory committee to test the waters for another run for the governorship. If he runs, all the craziness from a couple of years ago could come back up.”
Ryan Carter and his ilk didn’t faze Jason any longer, “I don’t give a rat’s ass what he does. If it comes back up, we’ll deal with it.”
John Rutherford tapped Franklin on his shoulder, “Well, we could always run someone with morals and integrity against him, somebody like Franklin.”
Franklin almost spit out his drink, “Oh no. Not me. Politics is definitely not in my future.”
Jason teased him, “I don’t know my friend. We could use somebody in the governor’s mansion to clean up that budget.”
They all enjoyed a laugh at Franklin’s expense.
Vicky was sitting on the other side of the patio next to the pool with Aunt Shirley, Miriam, and some of the other moms.
So much had happened over the last couple of years. Angel was now Angel Rutherford but the most surprising, Aunt Shirley and John Lucas were dating. And, the most disappointing was that Franklin and Sandy never got back together. He was still dating April. However, he never brought her around when he thought Sandy might be around too.
Speaking of Sandy, she still hadn’t arrived yet. It was unlike her to be this late. She said she and Roman were coming.
Sandy started dating Roman Benton shortly after she quit CkR International and moved to Atlanta. It was such a small world. She’d met him during an early morning run in their neighborhood. According to Sandy, they literally ran into each other. Roman was a nice guy, Vicky had always held out hope that Franklin and Sandy would get back together. Neither of them had been the same or seemed as happy since they’d broken up.
There just didn’t seem to be any spark between Franklin and April. Not to mention, she couldn’t put her finger on it, but something always bothered her about April.
However, Roman was nice but more importantly seemed to really care about Sandy. Yet, something seemed off there too. At the end of the day, they were both her friends so she would support them no matter what.
It was as if Vicky conjured them up. Roman and Sandy magically appeared walking arm in arm into the backyard with a ton of balloons, a couple of bottles of wine, and carrying a big gift box for Angel, “Hello everybody!”
Franklin saw them as soon as they walked through the door. Sandy still made him take a breath every time he saw her.
“It’s about time you got here!” Vicky was about to get up from her chair to hug her friend.
“No…don’t you get up. It looks like a lot of work. I have to be honest I didn’t think you’d make it until this weekend. I expected that the newest member of your family would have arrived by now.”
Jason walked over just in time to overhear Sandy. He bent down to kiss his wife, “Hey Sandy…I know. This little boy or girl is definitely taking their sweet time getting here. But, we’re ready, hey Roman. Let me take that box from you. Would you like a beer?”
Roman held up the bottles, “Actually, I was hoping we could have some champagne to celebrate. I brought a few bottles and some sparkling white grape juice for you Vicky.”
Vicky looked curiously at Sandy, “Champagne? What are we celebrating?”
Sandy held up her left hand, “We’re engaged! That’s why I am so late. Roman proposed to me tonight!”
“Omygosh! My goodness…congratulations.”
Jason wasn’t that happy and didn’t think Vicky was either. But, he still slapped Roman on the back, “Congratulations. You’re going to have your hands full with Sandy but she’s an amazing person.”
Roman looked lovingly at Sandy, “Yes she is. And, I couldn’t be happier that she accepted my proposal.”
Vicky touched Jason’s arm, “Jason.”
He looked down at his wife’s face, “Yes?”
“My water just broke.”
“Are you sure?”
“The pool is over there and I haven’t been in it, but it’s wet over here. So, I’m pretty sure it’s my water bag.”
After a moment of pause, there was a flurry of activity. “Okay…okay. I’ll go get the car.”
Miriam yelled over to John, “It’s time! It’s time! The baby is coming.”
John, Franklin, and John Lucas
