Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 117(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 117(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
She pulls me into a tight embrace, kissing my cheek and then immediately turning her attention to the baby. “This is my granddaughter? My first grandchild?”
I can’t help but smile as she leans down to gently stroke Emily’s face. I'm overwhelmed by how much I've missed her.
My mother continues to fawn over Emily, and I see Craig standing in the hallway behind Mom, his arms folded but a smile tugging at his lips.
He steps forward, offering a hesitant but genuine smile. “Laurie, Adam,” he says, his voice warm, though there’s still a hint of uncertainty. “It’s good to see you both. All three of you now! We, ah, have a lot to catch up on. Come in. Please." Then his voice goes tight like he's choking up. "We've missed you."
As we all gather in the living room, Emily cooing in my arms, I glance over at Adam. He smiles at me, his eyes full of tenderness, and I know, deep in my heart, that everything will be okay.
We’ve made it. Together.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
ADAM
Ten Years Later
I've learned to stay out of my wife's way when she's working, and now is no different. Except tonight, there is a new sort of buzz radiating off Laurie. She's about to take the next step in her career, and she's practically vibrating with nerves.
A major fashion show and her pieces are front and center.
Our two daughters, ten-year-old Emily and five-year-old Ava, are with our parents. They're both fiery and determined like their mother, and while it's odd to experience something so big without them, this is their mother's moment.
I’m so fucking proud of my wife. Her designs have come so far, her reputation even further. The woman I fell in love with all those years ago has become a force of nature.
She’s adjusting a piece of one of her dresses, her brow furrowed in concentration, and she looks absolutely radiant. But when she turns to me, ready for the final check before heading out to the runway, my smile falters slightly.
Laurie’s not wearing the dress she designed for herself. She’s in something modest, simple, black, understated. Something about it feels off, like it’s not the woman who’s about to take over the runway, not the woman who’s spent years building her brand.
“Hey,” I say, stepping toward her. “Why aren’t you wearing the dress you designed for yourself? The one you were so excited about?”
She hesitates, looking down at her outfit, a quiet sigh escaping her lips. “I just don’t feel like I look the same as I did ten years ago, Adam. After two kids, the late nights working, the stress. This body is not the same. I’m not the same.”
I feel a knot twist in my stomach. “Laurie, are you serious?” I step forward, lifting her chin gently, forcing her to look at me. “You’re more beautiful than you’ve ever been. You always have been. You were stunning back then, and you’re stunning now."
She looks into my eyes, searching for something, maybe the reassurance she needs.
“You’ve given me two beautiful daughters, Laurie. You’ve built a life we both love. You’re the strongest, most amazing woman I know, and you're mine."
Her eyes soften, a tear glistening at the corner of her eye, but she quickly blinks it away, a small smile starting to pull at the corner of her mouth. “You always know how to make me feel like I can do anything.”
Laurie takes a deep breath, the tension in her shoulders easing just slightly as she looks back at the outfit she chose, still resting on the dress form. A moment passes, and then she nods. “You’re right. I’m not letting anything hold me back.”
When she comes back out of the dressing room, I barely recognize her at first. The dress she’s wearing is exactly what I knew she could pull off—bold, elegant, and full of the kind of energy she’s always exuded. It hugs her body just right, and her confidence is soaring.
My Laurie. Fuck, how did I get so lucky?
“How do I look?”
“You look perfect.” I can’t stop myself from grabbing her, growling in her ear, “These curves drive me fucking crazy, you know that?”
She giggles, and it’s exactly the same as when we first met. She smirks, giving me a playful wink as she heads toward the door. “Ready to go show the world?”
"Always."
It's been a wild ride, and I wouldn't change a second of it.
The End