The applause swells again, and then the kids are rushing us. Caleb throws his arms around both our legs while the twins hang back just long enough to pretend they're too cool before joining the hug enthusiastically.
Rosalyn appears, tears still streaming, pulling us both into her arms. "My boys," she keeps saying, over and over. "My beautiful boys."
Mitchell shakes our hands formally, then surprises us both by pulling us into a tight hug. "Welcome to the family," he says. "Officially, this time."
The reception that follows is small and absolutely perfect.
Tables set up in the backyard, Rosalyn's cooking spread out like an elaborate feast. Music playing from speakers Mitchell rigged up in the oak tree. We eat and drink—sparkling cider for everyone—and laugh and dance.
Ivan pulls me onto the makeshift dance floor for our first dance. The song is something slow and soft, chosen because neither of us are good dancers and we needed something forgiving.
"How do you feel?" Ivan asks, his arms around my waist, my hands on his shoulders.
"Like I'm dreaming. Like I'm going to wake up any second and be back in that motel room and none of this will be real."
"You're not dreaming."
"I know." I lean my forehead against his. "It's just... a lot. A year ago, I was barely surviving. And now I'm married. To you. With a family. A real family that chose me."
"You deserve all of it, Jay. Every single piece."
"I'm starting to believe that."
"Keep believing it. Never stop."
We sway together in the fading light, the string lights coming on above us, the people we love gathered around.
This is my life now. This impossible, beautiful, hard-won life.
"I love you," I tell Ivan, because I can never say it enough. "I love you so much it scares me sometimes."
"It doesn't have to scare you anymore," he says. "I'm not going anywhere. You're not going anywhere. We're in this together, for the rest of our lives."
Ivan kisses me again, soft and sweet, and somewhere behind us Caleb makes a loud gagging noise that makes everyone laugh.
The party goes on as the sun sets. Eventually the guests trickle away, leaving hugs and well-wishes in their wake. The kids are ushered inside to get ready for bed, protesting loudly that they're not tired even as their eyes droop.
Ivan and I stand in the backyard alone, surrounded by the remnants of the celebration. Flower petals scattered on the grass. Empty glasses waiting to be collected. String lights still twinkling overhead like tiny stars.
"We should help clean up," I say.
"Rosalyn will murder us if we try. She already told me three times that we're not allowed to lift a finger tonight."
"I feel bad leaving her with all this mess."
"She has Mitchell. And the girls will help in the morning." Ivan takes my hand, rubbing his thumb over my new ring. "Tonight, we're supposed to go home and start our honeymoon."
Home.
Everything terrible we went through led to this moment. All of it was worth it, because it brought me here.
To him. To us. To a future I never thought I'd have.
He's right here. He's mine.
Forever.
Epilogue Part Two: Ivan
