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After the child hands over a folder full of drawings she made for her grandmother last night, Genevieve rises back to her feet and steps over to Inez. She leans in to embrace my girlfriend.
Despite the weird family dynamic, there’s been zero strangeness between my ex-mother-in-law and Inez. Gen has never been resistant to the idea of me dating anyone new. In fact, when she found out that I was going to New York to win Inez back, she eagerly offered to watch Stella before shoving a wad of gas money in my face.
“That girl is good for you,” she’d said to me. “You’d better not let her slip through your fingers.”
I’d stuffed the cash right back into her purse when she wasn’t looking. “You must be out of your mind if you think I’m taking money from you.”
But I did take her up on her offer to babysit while I was away, sealing the deal with the woman of my dreams.
Now, as the older hippie lady pulls back from the hug, she grips Inez’s hands in hers. “I’m so happy that Nolan and Stella have you. You’re a good woman, and I truly admire you for finding a way to balance your big career dreams with love. And for not using your career as an excuse to shy away from having a family.”
“That means a lot to me, Gen,” Inez croaks back, leaning in to give her one more hug.
After at least two more rounds of hugs, we all watch as Genevieve fires up her camper van, bumps down the driveway, and then slowly rides off to explore and travel and live out all of those dreams on her vision board.
We wave and wave and wave some more, until we can’t see the camper anymore.
The whole mood feels different after she’s gone. It’s quiet. Empty. The three of us stand there looking at each other. Stella points out the fact that we all have tears in our eyes.
“I don’t.” I wipe my face with the back of my hand. “It’s just all the dust Gen’s camper wheels kicked up.”
My girls laugh like I’m the funniest guy around. Scoffing, I puff up my chest, pulling them closer to me. “Fine. I’m crying. Just don’t tell Ronan. He’ll never let me live this down.”
A moment later, Stella runs off to explore the empty spot in the yard. It’s mostly an ugly dirt patch with overgrown weeds and deep ruts left by the weight of the tires.
Inez’s gaze spans over the gaping spot. “So what do you think you’ll do with this big empty lot now that the camper is no longer parked in your yard?”
I give her a devilish grin, reaching down and pinching her butt. “You know what? I’m going to plant some avocado trees since my girlfriend likes to put avocado masks on her pretty face. As if she could get any prettier.”
Inez laughs, shaking her head. But then she leans over and kisses me.“Avocado trees definitely won’t survive out here.”
I shrug. “So what do you think we should put there? Because—for the record—this is your home now, too.”
Smiling, she squeezes me close. “You’re too good to me.”
“Never,” I tell her, planting another kiss on her mouth. “Never.” I squeeze her tighter to me. “But seriously—any requests for what we should put there?”
She threads her arms around my neck. “Maybe a gazebo with pretty flowers?”
“Or a car shelter?” I suggest.
“Or a vegetable garden?” she says.
“Or a tool shed?”
“Eww. No.” She laughs and brings her lips to my ear. “Or how about a little playground, with a swing set and a seesaw and a slide? How about some itty bitty babies running around this yard? Not right this minute because who knows where this season of my TV show will end. But soon?”
Fuck. Babies with Inez? “Hell, yes. As soon as you’re ready, I’m ready.”
My chest flutters and I squeeze her tighter to me, placing a kiss on the knuckle where I plan to put a diamond ring in the near future. “Go ahead. Threaten me with a good time, Stargirl.”
She grins in my face. “Threaten me with happily-ever-after, Boss Man.”
EPILOGUE
INEZ
Two and a half years later…
