Chapter 80: Epilogue - Million Reason
"Fly me to the moon
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like on
Jupiter and Mars
In other words, hold my hand
In other words, baby, kiss me
Fill my heart with song
And let me sing for ever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words, please be true
In other words, I love you"
Frank Sinatra - Fly Me To The Moon
Epilogue - Million Reason
Southampton
A year later...
The summer breeze makes the beach a special and very pleasurable place. She messes up my hair as I try to balance the cloud of white tulle on one arm and the girl with bright blue eyes and flowing black hair on the other. She just smiles as we walk through the sand awkwardly, I had fled to the beach as soon as they took my eyes off her, like the only adult around, I had to run after with a sea of tulle around me, I must kill Debbie later for choosing such a dress for a beach wedding.
"I found you! I found them, guys! " Shouts Tessa appearing on the porch. " Miranda was crazy behind Made and Debbie crazy behind you.
" Made fled to the sea, I had to run after her so we wouldn't lose her. " I speak smiling, placing the girl on the floor as I crumple the lady's dress.
Today Debbie and Leonard are getting married after almost two years together, my friends have finally made a commitment more serious than just a child.
In one year, a lot has changed in the lives of all of us. Debbie and Leonard were parents to a beautiful boy, Timothy, the boy is a copy of his father, taking away the personality he inherited from his mother. In addition, Debbie has opened a clothing brand aimed at all body types, the store is a partnership between Tessa and her, both are a real success in the fashion world.
Speaking of my friend, for the last year, she's been living with Clint and Arthur, a very strange love triangle, but one that proved functional at times. Tessa swore to me last week that she had broken up with both of them, which I didn't believe much due to her history of relapse.
Lizzie was another with a tendency to relapse, but hers were from shopping with her niece. Nora is in the middle of sexual transition, with that came a boom of compulsive consumerism, her luck is that Patrick has a Platinum card.
Another one that is at a thousand per hour is Miranda. After so long on the road, Rick's band, Whites Fall's Hearts, had reached the top of the charts with a song that Rick wrote for his beloved, the song Minnie is a real hit. The two are working tirelessly on producing a sister for the spoiled, indecisive Madeleine.
Well, you must be wondering what John and I are doing with our lives, aren't you?
Come on, after the kidnapping, Doug was arrested and within a month was murdered in jail, I know John and Clint are involved, but I have no proof. Morgan, my guardian angel from Iowa, has confirmed herself to be a sublime person, I have sent a grant to help with the farm, as well as sending a recurring signature to her sister.
In a year, John and I have been thinking a lot about marriage, but nothing that would be confirmed. The highlight of this year was our magazine, it remains at the top, whether in digital or physical sales, Empire Kross is a global sales phenomenon. We're thinking about going beyond our social media channels and opening a channel on cable, but that's still just a distant dream.
"Debbie is freaking out in there." John speaks appearing on the porch. " Made went to sea again? " I confirm looking at the handsome man in front of me, John looks fantastic in a light blue shirt with a pastel vest, looks like a mix of sexual predator with a simple beach boy.
" She was yes, I had to run to stop the little fish from drowning. " I speak climbing onto the porch with my dress tidied up again.
" Miranda and Rick are two irresponsible, this girl lives in danger next to them. " John speaks watching the girl run into the house.
"Don't come at me with that one, cousin, you wouldn't be a good father all the time either." Miranda says, showing up in her lady's dress fully crumpled, she was no doubt catching up with Rick in some corner.
" In fact, none of you are good enough to be parents all the time. " Tessa speaks before turning her back and entering the house. "I've caught you like rabbits several times, imagine a child?
" Said the woman who has two boyfriends and that yesterday was Clint inside the cleaning closet. " Miranda says laughing, entering the house as well, I hold my lover's hands and, smiling, follow my friends.
Debbie is more than nervous when we get to the main door, she looks gorgeous in a simple white tulle dress. John kisses me before heading to the godmother's side at the top of the stairs while the others and I settle in line behind Timmy and Made.
"Guys, thank you so much, you guys are awesome." Debbie screams excitedly from the top of the stairs, making the kids jump in front of the door, Made is holding a basket with flower petals while Timmy takes the rings.
We're all ready when the music starts playing, I'm standing next to Arthur, at the last place in line, while Tessa accompanies Clint right in front of us. Miranda and Rick are ahead of Tessa, then Lizzie and Patrick, at the front of the line are Emma and Rajh, who knew Emma would hook one of the Indian bigwigs? yes, the woman was engaged to one of the partners in the firm and it hadn't even crossed her mind, as Emma was still Debbie's assistant.
" Ready? " Debbie's ceremonialist asks, everyone nodds. "All ready, prepare the flowers and the music, I'm releasing in 3... 2... 1.
With gentleness and grace, Made and Timmy pull the procession, soon we're all walking towards the altar set up on the lawn of the mansion.
Leonard is gorgeous wearing a white shirt with a pastel vest, it stands out over his black skin, it's majestic. His family is present, even his mother, Antoinette, looks stunning in her water-green dress. I could swear the Hamptons were working miracles.
***
The ceremony went well, in fact everything went well, Debbie and Leonard's party is beautiful, their face, friendly and simple. Debbie has already thrown the bouquet, and this time, who took it were Lizzie and Tessa, the bouquet split in two in full air, each was left with a part, of course Pfe gave everything to Lizzie, she does not want to marry even anytime soon.
The party was going on when I decided it was time, I walked away from my friends and kidnapped John, who just smiled, following me around the house.
" I believe I experienced this scene a few years ago. " He speaks as soon as we step out onto the balcony and see a white and orange Kombi, the same one we used at Miranda's wedding. "Last time, the night was good, but I woke up going straight to prison.
" This time, hopefully, we'll go as far as the moon at most. " I speak smiling walking over to the Kombi. "Come on, papy, we have a bonfire waiting for us.
The sky is totally starry and the moon lights up the whole beach, John and I are covered only by the sheet I had brought in the Kombi, my beloved strokes my back as we look up at the sky, the fire crackles a few times, throwing sparks through the air. The wind brings the sea air and makes me snuggle even more in my love.
"Are you cold, honey?" John asks, already pulling more of the sheet over us.
"No, I just want to be closer to you.
"Love, I've been inside you for a few minutes." John says smiling. "Do you want me again?
"Papy, if I could, I'd take you inside me at all times." I say staring at the man in my life.
"Maybe a piece of me isn't inside you?
" Maybe someday? " I speak smiling, before his lips are placed on mine in an intense kiss.
"I love you, Marilyn, I love you in a way I never dreamed of loving anyone.
"I love you too, even though you don't do much of my kind." I say smoothing his pectoral.
"You don't do mine either, but this beach messes with me in a way that just seeing a blonde girl named Marilyn, my cock already goes up and I have to abandon my standards." John says, slapping my ass.
"We're totally out of the norm, aren't we?
" Completely out of any pattern.
Really, John and I are like that old spinster aunt who insists on wearing pink suede shoes to go to Mass in the morning, forms a combination without a set pattern, but like love, no one cares about that pattern. Because love is like that, totally, completely, literally out of the norm.
End of Book