I cup her chin and lean forward, placing my lips on hers with a promising kiss and as I feel her body soften, melting into mine I know we’re going to be okay. We’re going to make this work. No more secrets or hurdles to overcome. Mae and I are having our second chance.
Chapter 26: Epilogue: Mae
Nine months later...?
“Everyone who knows Dexter Black knows he loves four things: football, Las Vegas, getting me so drunk I do something stupid that he films and uses as blackmail against me,” the crowd laughs gently as I continue, “and being a father to his son." I smile and look out at the crowd.
“Most of you know me as Mae Sterling, Dexter’s publicist, and friend. But what many of you don’t know is that six years ago, my life was in shambles until Dexter stumbled across me in a Las Vegas casino, hustling a group of men. When Dexter met me, I was broken, cynical, struggling, and had lost hope in the goodness of people and the ability to trust. Dexter’s support not only helped me pave a new future for my daughter and me, but five years later, brought me back to the love of my life, Cody.”
I take a deep breath, steadying myself while my eyes connect with Cody seated in the front row on the lawn of the beautiful home I’ve rented for Dexter’s retirement party in Los Angeles. He winks and smiles while I try to hold back the tears that I know are coming.
“Dexter, your consistent friendship throughout my twentieshas been the catalyst for so much healing, laughter, love, and success. But no amount of financial independence and sports acumen could have prepared me for the way you showed me that it’s okay to ask for help sometimes. That it doesn’t make me weak. And that not all men are bad. That I would trust again. That I would love again without being hurt. Thank you for being my friend. You deserve a retirement full of rest, relaxation, and love. I’m so happy you are stepping into this new season, where the real journey of your life begins, with your son.”
Everyone in attendance claps as Dexter smiles and nods from the corner of the crowd where he’s holding his son, my godson and the little boy that I worked tirelessly to protect when I didn’t know what I was doing.
The MC of the night returns to the tiny stage we’ve set-up on the lawn.
“Alright everyone, that concludes the toasts for Dexter. There are food stations set up around the sprawling property and guests are welcome to serve themselves, cafeteria style. Enjoy the night.”
I return to my seat next to Cody, who instantly scoops my hips up and places me on his lap with a gentle kiss on my lips.
“That was a beautiful tribute to your friend,” he murmurs, nuzzling into my neck.
“I owe him a lot. Without him, I don’t know if our paths would have crossed again, and that means Elsie wouldn’t have known her father and this new baby...” My voice trails off as Cody’s hands move downward where he rubs my tiny, three-month pregnant stomach lovingly.
He pulls back and looks into my eyes. “I like to think about what I said to you the day we parted the summer you turned eighteen. It wouldn’t matter where you’d go, and who you’d love, we’d find our way back together.” He kisses my lips gently and then lifts me again, this time into the empty seat next to him.
“Where are you going?”
He smiles. “What the planner of this wonderful event tonight doesn’t know,” he sends me a wink, “is that I agreed to a private concert for Dexter’s guests.”
I smile and clap eagerly as I watch Cody head towards the stage and swipe the guitar that was leaning against the microphone.
A few weeks after we found out Cody’s paternity status, I gently broke the news to Elsie in a way that she could understand and introduced her to him after we attended one of his concerts. Elsie was thrilled to have Cody as her father and took it much better than I’d expected.
Ever since Cody’s US tour ended three months ago, we’ve spent every day together with Elsie in Nashville. I’d catch Cody often simply watching her with awe as she’d talk excitedly and share with him everything about her life. Though Victor had pushed Cody to prepare for his next tour while his star is bright, he’d decided to take a few months off while he adjusts to his new role as a father. During that time off, we found out that we were expecting again. This time, a baby boy. Cody cried when he heard the news—tears of joy—and Elsie screamed with delight at being promoted to big sister.
Cody strums his guitar gently as he smiles over the crowd before beginning to sing his latest song, “Forgotten Fire.”It’s a beautiful song of lost love and reconnection that he wrote when we first got back together. When he finishes the song, he sets down his guitar and then grabs the microphone from the holder before walking across the lawn straight towards me.
“Um… what’s happening?” I laugh as I realize he’s kneeling now.
“I love you, baby,” he says through the mic.
“What are you doing, Cody?” I smile nervously, looking around the crowd who are all watching us. I catch Dexter’s eye from where he’s now positioned behind Cody. He’s grinning like he has the world’s biggest secret.
“Mae Sterling, I’ve loved you since I was a boy. I’ll never not regret the wasted years I missed out on loving, protecting, and cherishing you and Elsie, but I’m trying to put my pain and regrets about that behind us as I look forward to welcoming our new son into the world. I love you and I always will. Will you marry me and finally change that last name to the last one you’ll ever need? Cameron?”
I jump up, wrapping my arms tightly around Cody’s neck as I hug him tightly. “Yes!” I shout as the attendees gathered around us cheer and Dexter meets my side with a smile.
Cody slips a beautiful diamond on my ring finger and kisses me while Dexter nudges my hip.
“You knew about this?” I ask as the fireworks I planned are set off over the lake in celebration of his retirement.
“Of course I did. I may no longer be a client of yours, but I’ll always know everything about MaeCameron,” he laughs. “Cody asked if he could do it here tonight and I saidhell yeah.”
I wrap my arms around him in a hug before he heads back to his other guests. Cody pulls me tightly to his chest, holding me close while we look out over the waterfront.
“One thing I’ve learned over the past nine months with you is that if two people are meant to be together, nothing and no one can stop it,” he whispers in my ear gently.
And he’s right. The Cameron name sounds like the one that I’ve been searching for my whole life.
The End
