I wasin the cab just leaving River Valley to head to the gallery, trying my best not to think about Jake and everything that had happened. It had been a full week since I’d sent him that text message. While I’d never returned his call, I was secretly hoping he’d just show up to my house or the museum to profess his love for me.
As I went to reply to an email from a new artist, my cell phone buzzed in my hand, and I saw it was Annie.
“Hey,” I said.
“I need you to come quick,” she said. “It’s an emergency.”
“Oh my God! Where are you?” I tapped the cab driver on the shoulder
“The park. Can you come now?”
“I’m on my way.”
I hung up the phone and looked at the driver. "Can you turn around and go to the city park, there's a family emergency?"
He nodded. "Of course."
My heart was racing as we drove to the park. I had continually tried to call Annie back for more information, but she didn’t answer. Something was wrong with Caley. Bad thoughts raced through my mind as I wondered what it could be. Why didn’t she tell me what it was? Why didn’t she answer her phone?
The cab pulled into the park and I got out, frantically searching for my sister and daughter.
Instead, I saw Annie, Caley, and Richard all dressed to the nines standing beside a tree.
“What’s going on?” I yelled, racing toward them very confused.
Annie was in her vintage Chanel suit, Caley was in one of the dresses that Jake had bought her, and Richard was wearing a Gucci suit and a bowtie.
I slowed my pace, furrowing my brow. “What is this, some kind of a prank?”
None of them said a word, and that’s when I saw Jake step out from behind the tree. He was also wearing a suit. The closer he got, the harder my heart pounded in my chest.
“Julianna,” he said. “I love you more than I think you’ll ever know. The thought of spending the rest of my life without you tears my heart to pieces, and I never want to have those thoughts again.”
“Jake,” I whispered.
“I bought the old Myer’s mansion,” he said. “And I want to live there with you and Caley.”
He handed me keys.
“Are you serious?” I looked him in the eyes for reassurance, as if that grand gesture wasn’t enough.
“Yes,” he said. “I can’t do anything in my life without you. I’m moving back to River Valley permanently. It’s a done deal for me, please say it is for you, too.”
I wrapped my arms around him, and he picked me up, swinging me around. Annie and Caley giggled and clapped as Richard let out a whistle.
And me, well, all I could do was sob happy tears and squeezed Jake as tightly as I could.
“Yes, yes… yes,” I whispered into his ear.
Epilogue
One Year Later
Julianna
Istill couldn’t believe my life. Every day I woke up in the beautiful mansion that Jake had bought for us, had breakfast with Caley and the man I loved. I had never felt so happy. If you had asked me a year ago if I saw that happening, I’d have laughed and walked away.
Yet, I really did get my fairytale ending.
