TWELVE DAYS OF REIGN

EPILOGUE

3 Years Later

Pete and the rest of the staff stood outside of the Café with me as the old sign came down and the new sign went up. It read: Reign's Café and Bake Shop. Pete and the others began to cheer, giving a round of applause and whistle blows. Pete's heavy arm came around my shoulders and hugged me.
"I'm mighty proud of you, Reign! Mighty proud," he pushed me back and smiled. "You're going to do good. I just know it. You're going to make this place bigger and better than it was before. And when I get back into town in a few years or so after I've spoiled my grandkids, I'll be your best paying customer."
"You promise?" I asked, pressing hopeful hands together.
"On my life, kiddo."
He hugged me again, even shed a tear. I waved as he left, driving away towards his retirement. The day had been a good one. By the time night came and I shut off the lights and went over to my new car, I felt it. Something was missing. At first, I could not pinpoint what it was. I had a great relationship with the Lord. It was Him who gave me the restaurant. No one else could. I had the restaurant and the support of the staff, a new apartment that was three times the size of my other one, and money in the bank.
Still, as I got into the car I knew I was missing something. Something I could no longer live without. I started the car and drove. I drove past my corner that had been taken over by new girls. I passed my old apartment and went past the hospital where the preacher had died and pulled up into the ritzy neighborhood I had visited once before. I got out and looked up at the massive house, just as I did the first time I laid eyes on it. A bolt of nervousness stung my insides as I walked up to the front door and rang the doorbell.
The door opened.
"Reign?"
"Hi Joseph!" I smiled.
"Hi," he smiled back, beaming those big beautiful pearly white teeth at me. "You look great! Come on in."
"Thanks," I stepped into the house. To my relief nothing had changed in the décor. I supposed it did not need to change. It was still lovely to look at. My heart raced, unsure if he were involved with someone already. It had been three years, after all. But I did not see a ring on his finger, so I tried to calm down.
"So, what brings you by?"
"—You."
"What about me?"
A shuddered breath left my lips and my eyes grew watery.
"I—I know who I am now," I pensively confessed. "I like the person that I am. For the first time in my life, I've enjoyed being me. But I know I'm not complete without you, Joseph."
Joseph grew still a moment. His smile died away.
"I see," he took a few steps forward. My watery gaze followed his every movement.​"Are you sure about this, Reign?" he asked.
"Sure about what?"
"Loving me?" he thumbed away a tear.
"Yes, Joseph," I nodded emphatically. "More than anything. But is your offer still on the table? Can you—will you love me? Even though I'm a woman with a past? Even though I'm tainted?"
Joseph pulled me in his arms and brushed his lips against mine.
"Silly woman," he kissed, "I already do."

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Therefore, if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(2Corinthians 5:17 KJV)