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Nick’s joking, of course, hiding the emotion of the moment with humor. I decide not to press it. Nick can tell me more later, if he wants to. This has been a lot of soul-baring in one day for a guy like Nick.
“Let’s hope Dalton doesn’t have to lay any of them out,” I tease.
“Knowing those assholes, it’d probably do ‘em some good.”
Nick and I watch the crowds disperse, snaking out like tendrils of smoke to drift from Washington Square Park to every corner of this great city. The light is starting to fade; a pink and purple glow touches the towers of Manhattan. A beautiful night. I breathe it in, enjoying the moment. A few months ago, I was alone and depressed in Boston, left not quite at the altar but pretty damn close, thinking that I’d never be happy again. I never could have envisioned that a moment like this would be right around the corner.
And then I feel his gaze on me, and I turn to see that Nick has stepped closer to me. That he’s looking down at me with that sad and curious expression in his eyes.
“My whole life,” he starts, “I was afraid that I was going to end up like my father. I’ve been realizing lately that I’m more like him than I ever wanted to admit.”
“Nick…” I start, but he puts a hand on mine, stopping me.
“Just let me finish, Evie.
“My dad had, by all accounts, a successful business, just like I have, albeit on a smaller scale. What he didn’t have?” Nick nods toward the stage, the emptying crowd. “People who cared about him. Friends that would show up for him.” He looks down at me. “A woman who loves him.”
He inhales, holding his breath. “Today is the first day of my entire life that I’m sure that I’m nothing like him. Because I lied a little to Jack.” Nick reaches down, takes my hands, holds them tightly, warmly. “They aren’t my only weakness, Evie Davis. From the second I saw you on that train, I knew you were beautiful. But from the moment you strode into my office, I knew you were different. And I fought against it with every bit of my self-preservation. I didn’t want to change. I was so afraid. But I didn’t realize then that the life I’ve been living all these years is what I should have been afraid of. It took you to show me that. And that’s one of a hundred, a thousand, reasons I’ve fallen in love with you, Evie. You changed me. You saved me.”
I look up at this wonderful, strong, steadfast man, and emotion swells my heart to bursting. He’s been through so much. It’s so hard to change, but Nick Madison isn’t a man who shies away from difficult things. He rushes into them headfirst. And that’s one of the hundred, thousand, reasons I’m in love with him.
“Nick,” I say softly. “I never knew life could feel like this. I had absolutely no idea.”
“Me neither,” he says.
And then he’s kissing me. Gently at first but then deeper, stronger, entwining himself with me. A first step of what feels like could be a long life together. How was I able to get this lucky? It beats me, but I’m not going to question it. I’m just going to enjoy it and love this man with every ounce of love I have to give.
And I know that he’ll love me the same way.
When we finally break apart, he presses his forehead to mine and we stare into each other’s eyes for a long minute. Then he pulls back, apparently suddenly realizing he still has that mysterious backpack.
“I almost forgot,” he says with a smile. Then, from its depths, he pulls something that I recognize in a second.
“Cornelius!” I exclaim, grabbing the stuffed arcade octopus from his hands and squeezing it to my chest. “You went back for him!”
“Last night,” Nick says. “And I did it the proper way. No credit cards. I’ll have you know that my Skee-Ball skills have improved greatly.” He offers me his arm and I hook mine in it.
“We’ll have to see about that,” I say as we join the evening crowds flowing along the sidewalks of the Village. “And now that the Seafarer is a success, my future Skee-Ball career is no longer on the line. A little competition later?”
“Oh no, I need more training first. Then I will crush you.”
“I’m sure. By the way, I meant to ask, is Remnick a family name?”
“Oh god. No, that’s a long story. You see…”
EPILOGUE
NICK
One Year and Two Months Later
What a year. I stand on the upper deck of the Seafarer and stare across her decks, a flute of champagne in my hand.
It’s only 6 o’clock but the lower decks are abuzz with activity. Catering sets up a feast on long tables while tech crews run last-minute checks of the audio quality. Dashing between them all are the legion of decorators that Evie hired for the event.
It’s funny how life can plod on for years, more or less the same, and then, in the span of fourteen months do a complete one-eighty. In a move that once would have been unthinkable, I’ve downsized my company and was happy to do so.
I wish I could say it was entirely my decision. Kara’s arrest for the pop-up concert left her with a slew of legal trouble. Unfortunately, the judge had tried to make an example out of her, and the ensuing battle in the courts dragged on way longer than we’d anticipated. She ultimately was only sentenced to a large fine (that I paid) and community service hours.
