Where Have You Been

Epilogue

Zoë's POV

“Alex, Cecile!” I called, and two blonde-haired, green-eyed kids tumbled into the room, sporting huge grins.  Niall sauntered into the room, clad in a blue button down and jeans.

“I’m home!” He called eagerly, and our two kids rushed eagerly into his arms. I smiled up at his blue eyes, and hugged him as Alex and Cecile escaped his grip. He buried his nose in my red hair.

“I missed you” he whispered, and stared into my eyes.

“I missed you too. Now when’s uncle Liam coming to visit?” I joked, referring to Cecile and Alex’s “Uncle.”

“Tomorrow, I think. Just in time for the Anniversary party.” It was the five-year anniversary of my marriage to Niall, and I had loved every minute of it. We moved into a quaint-but-modern cottage in the outskirts of Connecticut, but we had a summer home in Ireland for Niall to visit his family. Cecile and Alex were turning 5 soon, and did everything together. They had tried singing, like their dad, but they spent most of their days playing soccer, a sport I had also taken to at their age.

Niall doesn’t sing professionally anymore, but it is still his hobby. He’s working on his second book, a cheesy story commemorating our life together, and how we met. Typical boy band…. His first one sold over a million copies, though, so I can’t say it’s a bad book. He isn’t a phenomenal writer, but he’s Niall Horan. Who wouldn’t buy his book? I have been working as a journalist, widely known only because of my last name. At least, that’s what I think. Niall says it’s due to my “fabulous appeal, and amazing writing”, but I beg to differ. He is my husband; he’s basically hired to say that.

I sat down on the leather couch, watching Niall play “Thomas the Tank Engine” with Alex and Cecile on the plush white carpet. I picked up the magazine on the coffee table, “Modern Home”, and skimmed the glossy pages for party decoration ideas. It was nearing Christmas, so our Anniversary party was holiday themed. Cecile came and curled up next to me on the couch, reading the magazine over my shoulder.

“Mommy can we get these?” She asked, repeatedly poking a picture of large glass vases filled with peppermint candy. I laughed and circled them for her enjoyment. Who knows, maybe we would get them. Niall had a fierce sweet tooth, after all.

“Yeah, those ones!” Niall laughed, as if reading my mind. I looked up to see him peering over my shoulder a well.

“Ok, ok” I giggled, and opened my laptop to place an order. The rest of the afternoon was spent picking out decorations online; all of us snuggled in a wool blanket on the couch. Our grand total came to 500 dollars. I gasped dramatically at the price, and my kids giggled. I wasn’t one to brag, but we could certainly afford it. I wasn’t quite used to this life of luxury yet, even after five years, but it was certainly nice. I tried to spend money sparingly, and only on useful things, but I allowed myself a splurge during Christmas time.

“Click it!” Alex screeched, giggling. He reached out a tiny hand and clicked the “confirm order” button for me.

“Yay!” Niall, Cecile and Alex chorused, collapsing into a pile of giggles. “Hey, guess what time it is!” Alex shouted suddenly. I looked at my watch: 4:30. 

“Christmas tree time!” I answered and we all jumped up. “Go get your boots and coats, hurry!” I told the Kids, and they tumbled over each other eagerly, excited for the adventure ahead. I had a free moment with Niall, if only for a second.

“Remember that day?” Niall asked me, grinning.

“Which one?” There were many memorable days in our relationship.

“I like you” Niall whispered, and I remembered the day on the bench, where I sat crying. So much had happened. Life had changed—I had changed. But I could still see that little girl, her arms wrapped around Niall, imagining spending the rest of her life with him. And it had happened. Her dreams had come true.

“I like you too. No—I love you”.

The End

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