“We do.” Wes put his arm around me.
“I just want you to be happy, Wes. And I want to be part of your life. And part of Abby’s life. When I think of having to live without you—” She broke down, weeping into her handkerchief.
“I forgive you, Lenore.” I reached out and touched her arm. “You don’t have to live without anybody.”
“Thank you, dear.” She sniffed.
“I forgive you, too,” said Wes. “Let’s move forward, okay?”
“Okay.” She took a deep breath as she looked at us. “Will you both come to dinner tomorrow night, please?”
Wes and I exchanged a glance, and he raised his eyebrows, leaving it up to me.
“Of course,” I said. “We’d be happy to.”
“Oh, good.” Lenore looked relieved. “I was worried you wouldn’t.”
“Family is important to us,” said Wes. “You’re important to us, Mom.”
She smiled. “Thank you. I guess I raised you right, after all.”
“You certainly did,” I said, watching as Wes gave his mom a hug.
She turned to me, and I embraced her as well, telling myself this would be a fresh start for everyone.
“We’ll see you tomorrow night,” Wes said. “We’ve got a lot to celebrate.”
“Want to stay over?” I asked him. We were lying naked in my bed, my head on his chest, my body tucked alongside his.
“Of course I do. But what about Abby?”
“I think she’ll be happy to find you here in the morning. You were going to come early, anyway. She might not even realize where you slept.”
“Who says I’m going to sleep?”
I laughed and snuggled in closer, and he kissed the top of my head.
“This is everything I’ve ever wanted, Hannah. Better than any birthday gift I could have asked for.”
“Good. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I drifted off to sleep wrapped in his arms, surrounded by his love, swept away by my hopes and dreams.
Eternity was real, and it belonged to us.
Epilogue
HANNAH
Abby and I stood next to each other, looking in the mirror.
Margot beamed as she came into the room. “You both look gorgeous.”
“Thank you,” I said. There were a few times I’d actually felt gorgeous in my life. This was one of them.
“I think you made the perfect choice with the dress.”