“Took you long enough,” she replied, finally catching his gaze and holding it. She savored the moment,because it was definitely a moment worth savoring.
All the moments with Travis were.
Then she stood, and kissed him.
“I love you, too,” she said against his lips.
She hoped, really hoped, this would be enough to get them through whatever the future tossed their way, because she had no doubt their story was only beginning. The last chapter ended for her, but it wasn’t the end. It simply led to the next part.
There would be fractures, and splinters, and she’d probably want to invest in poisoned peach toaster tarts at some point.
But, then again, that was the funny thing about perfection being measured by degrees. The imperfection—the ugly and dirty and messy parts—those are the bits and pieces that brought meaning to her life.
She understood that now.
The ugly parts were the ones that made the goodness shine extra bright.
Epilogue
Travis
Four Months Later
He was late, and that was unacceptable.
Rachel was expecting him for dinner, but he’d gotten caught up with a supplier at the office.
Finally off the phone,he grabbed his wallet and his keys and headed out the door.
“Travis,” his mother called.
He tried the box-breathing thing Rachel had showed him. It never really seemed to work.
“Try this for me, sweetie.” She lifted a toaster tart to his mouth.
He shook his head. “I’m late. Gotta get to Rachel.”
“One bite. Tell me what you think.” Evelyn tried again, holding the pastry only millimeters from his mouth. “It’s for the airline.”
“Seriously, I’ll try it later.”
“When is the last time you ate?” she asked, following him as he moved to the elevator, still holding the tart to his mouth.
“Lunch, Mama.” He pressed the button to call the elevator.
“You go too long between meals.” She did not move the pastry from in front of his mouth. “There’s a correlation between sugary treats and the pleasure center of the brain. One bite produces oxytocin, dopamine, and raises your serotonin levels. I think if you ate the product we produce more often, you’d be a much happier man.”
He was a very happy man, thank you.
She didn’t move the pastry from his mouth.
Fine.
He took a bite.
Then he gagged.
Her newest Puffle Yum creation was not good. At all.
