Page 33 of Valentine's Day Daddy

Extended Epilogue

Five years later…

“Okay, are you sure you’ve got this?” I ask.

“Baby girl, I’ve got this.”

I pace back and forth in the room, fidgeting with my suitcase, unable to calm down. I add something to it then take it out again, unable to settle on what I need to bring and what I can leave behind. Honestly though, what I'm struggling with is whether I should even be going on this trip or not. Granted, it's for less than a week but I'm not crazy about the idea of leaving Ezra alone with our three children. Not only do I have visions of something terrible happening floating through my head, I’ll miss them horribly.

“Maybe I shouldn’t go,” I say.

“Ashton, don’t be ridiculous. This is the biggest opportunity you’ve had to date,” I say. “You nail this one—and I know you will—your agency is going to be golden.”

“I know but… maybe I should send Madison. She’s fully capable of—”

“She’s not you though. You’re a closer,” I tell her. “You’ve got this.”

“Yeah, but—”

I take hold of her hands and give them a squeeze. “Baby girl, this is your agency. You’ve built this from the ground up. Brick by brick. And knowing you like I do, I know you’re not going to feel right if you put your agency’s future in somebody else’s hands. Now, you’re going to get on that plane, fly to Toronto, and lock this down.”

My heart pounding in my chest, I pace back and forth in our bedroom again, thoughts warring with emotions inside of me. Despite starting my own advertising agency, I’ve never been away from our kids. I’ve been an active part of their lives from the day they were born and the thought of leaving them is sending me into palpitations. Taylor is four—our oldest. She was followed by Maya, who was followed by our son, Chase. They are the light of my life. They’re my everything. And the thought of being separated from them is sending me into fits.

On the other hand, though, Ezra isn’t wrong. I’ve built my agency brick by brick. I’m proud of where we are but excited by where we might go. This client in Toronto is massive and if I nail the pitch and am able to bring them on board, my agency’s future will be solid. The sky will be the limit and take us to a completely different level. It's something I've been working on for the last six months and all I have to do is nail this one presentation.

“Baby girl, the kids and I are going to be fine. Plus, Anya isn’t going anywhere,” he says, referring to our live-in nanny. “The kids love her, she’s great at her job, and she can help pick up any slack. Not that there will be any because I’m a competent parent.”

I screw up my face. “Are you though?”

Ezra laughs. “You’re such an asshole.”

"You've rubbed off on me."

“In all the best ways.”

“Yeah, you keep telling yourself that,” I tell him.

Life is truly amazing. It’s better than I ever expected it to be on that night at the speed dating event where we met in what feels like another lifetime. I never knew life could be this good. I never anticipated having a man as incredible as Ezra by my side, never dreamed that I’d have three amazing kids, and never knew this level of happiness even existed. Knowing that it does and that I've achieved it—and that my life seems to be getting even better by the day—is mind-blowing to me. I’m still that sometimes insecure girl who has to pinch herself just to make sure this life I’m living is real and not part of some fever dream.

“Honestly, things will be fine here and I think deep down, you know it,” Ezra says. “I think this is just your fear taking control of you. This is a big presentation—the biggest of your life. And I think those terrible little voices in the back of your mind are freaking you out about it.”

I scrub my face with my hands and let his words sink in. On an intellectual level, it makes sense. On an emotional level though, it’s not quite that easy.

“Yeah. Maybe,” I say.

“Of course, I’m right. I’m always right.”

Laughter bursts from my mouth before I can stop it. “You are delusional, my love.”

Ezra steps over to me and hands me a long, black velvet case. He’s always giving me little gifts, some more expensive and elaborate than others, just to make sure I know he’s thinking of me. Just to make sure I know he appreciates and loves me. Not that I need a gift to know that. I wake up every morning knowing just how loved, respected, and appreciated I am. And it’s an amazing feeling that sends me off for the day with a genuine smile on my face.

“This is something I want you to wear while you’re away,” he says. “I want you to wear it so that you think of me while you’re in Toronto. And then when you come home, I want you to keep wearing it.”

I open the case and look down smiling when I see the black lace choker inside. It’s half an inch wide and is bound at the throat by the black titanium curio embedded with three gems on the front—the birthstones of each of our kids. On the back, etched into the metal are two words, “Baby Girl.” I slide my fingertips along the lace and smooth titanium curio and smile.

“It’s beautiful, Ezra. It’s absolutely gorgeous,” I say.

“Not nearly as gorgeous as you,” he replies. “But it’s nice.”

---