Chapter 99

I open the front door and smile widely. “Let me take that!” I insist. Lily and Pedro come into the house carrying drinks and snacks. “No need to upset the baby!”

“I’m barely pregnant, Esme,” my best friend taunts. “Two months is nothing.”

“As someone who’s had two babies, I can promise you that you should be careful no matter what.”

Pedro rolls his eyes. “Estas loco, señoras. You’re both crazy.”

“You’ve known Esme for over half a decade,” I hear Annie remark as she joins us in the foyer. “Are you just now discovering how crazy she is, Pedro?”

“No, I’ve always known.” He chuckles.

Annie takes the rest of the items from Lily’s arms. “Oh, I can’t wait to meet your baby.”

“Why? So your twins can finally make a friend?”

I open my mouth in a teasing smirk. “Am I chopped liver? Annie’s kids have four to play with in my house!”

“Why don’t we move this lovely conversation towards the party? I’m ready for a drink,” Annie ushers us to the backyard. Her two boys are running around together while giggling. Bea is currently braiding Tris’ hair, and Orchid is in her father’s arms as he spins her around.

“Where’s Ollie?” Lily asks.

“I just put him down for a nap,” I say, pulling out my phone to show her the baby cam in my youngest child’s room. He’s out cold, even snoring his little head.

“Oh, so cute,” Annie gushes.

“During your party?”

“He was cranky.” I shrug. “Don’t need a screaming toddler out here.”

“You’re right. Let’s get some booze to celebrate.”

“I do love booze,” I giggle.

I still haven’t quite gotten it through my head where all the time has gone. Not just my marriage with Derek, but our kids and my career. Annie with twin sons is still strange. Even Lily finally getting married and being pregnant. I never expected her to want a baby.

“There you are!” Derek’s sweet baritone sounds off from behind me. “The lady of the hour.”

He twirls me around to face his tall stature. I will say the past five years have done a lot of good for my husband. Approaching 40, a silver line is starting to creep into his hairline. And now that Bea’s 14, I know his stress is starting to rise. She’s going to high school after this summer. Tris is about to go to 5(th) grade, and Orchid’s going into 1(st) grade.

And then there’s the youngest member of our pack: Ollie, who’s just turned three. I’ve loved watching all of them grow up.

But the reason we’re celebrating isn’t anything to do with our kids. It’s not about our marriage or another baby coming into our lives. It’s about my new career path and where I’m going.

“So, how hard was the bar exam?” Lily asks, taking a drink of water.

“A bitch, honestly,” I say. “But I’m just happy to be done.”

Derek kisses my forehead. “Esme’s worked so hard to finish law school.”

“I couldn’t have done any of this without your help,” I insist. “Helping with all the kids and supporting my new hopes and dreams.”

“Well, I must admit, getting that promotion did help.”

Annie’s eyes widen at that. “Wait, you got promoted? I thought you were already in charge of people?”

I put my arm around Derek’s, looking up into his dark brown eyes. “He’s partner now.”

Lily nearly drops her water on the ground. “What?!”

“Jackson, Pomperio and Anderson Inc.”

“Shut up!” Annie slaps my husband’s arm. “I know we’re here to celebrate your wife, but that’s amazing!”

“Speaking of,” Derek smirks, slipping his arm out of mine. “I have some words to say.”

“What?” I ask, confused. “What do you mean?”

“Esme, let your hot husband talk.” Annie grabs my shoulder and brings me back in next to her.

“He never said he was going to do any type of speech, though.”

Lily shakes her head. “Shush, shush.”

Derek clinks a utensil to his glass of champagne, gathering the attention of everyone who’s come out to celebrate.

My family, my best friends, my old co-workers—it’s so sweet knowing they all made their way to our house.

“I first want to thank all of you for being here to celebrate my beautiful wife, Esme. As everyone here knows, Esme returned to school several years ago for her law degree. After her own treacherous first marriage proved that there are so many men and women in the world who have been through domestic abuse and violence, she wants to make this world a better place for so many.”

Orchid rushes up to me, wanting to be picked up. Her beautiful blue eyes and blonde hair always stand out to me—she’s very clearly my daughter. And my life would be so very different without her in it.

I turn my attention back to Derek. “Esme and I are each other’s second spouse. We’ve gone through the ringer these past six years, but we’ve always made sure to take care of one another. We have four kids together, this lovely house, and a marriage filled with so much love. So that’s why I’m speaking now. I want to commend Esme’s diligent work and efforts to change her life career in her thirties.”

“Here, here!” Annie shouts as she lifts her drink up.

The crowd laughs at my best friend, and Lily nudges her.

“I’m so very proud of my wife. She’s done so much work, and finally, a week ago, my Esme passed the bar!”

Everyone cheers now, and I can’t help but bury my face in my hands. “Oh lord.”

Orchid giggles with her adorable, sweet laugh.

“We’ve made a home together—Bea, Tris, Orchid, Ollie, and our cats Sammy and Barry. I think the best thing about my wife is her incredible drive. Her love for our children. She desires to help anyone she can with their deepest troubles. She helps me be a better man, too. Now, with her bar exam behind her, she’ll be opening her own practice.”

I hear gasps go through the group as they all look over at me, my mother included.

“You heard me. Anderson Law will be this town’s newest law office. So, to celebrate Esme, let’s wish her luck and love in her new endeavor.”

All the glasses go up again.

“Esme Anderson, I love you. I’m proud of you.”

I take a drink from Annie and salute with the group in the yard.

“To Esme!”

Everyone toasts, taking a drink from their glasses as Derek approaches me with a proud smile and whisks Orchid out of my arms.

“I’ll take her,” Annie whispers, holding her arms out.

Derek holds his hand out, and unsure of his intentions, I give him mine. With a flourish, he spins me around. Then, like a romantic comedy, my husband dips me down like it’s our wedding day all over again.

“You’re too much,” I whisper to him while shaking my head.

“I’m yours, baby,” he whispers back. He brings me back up to him, kissing me gently.

I sigh. “And I’m yours, Derek. I love you, too.”

THE END