The Stars in the Sky

Epilogue: Tattoos

Two years later

Will lay back in the saran wrap-covered chair, his Wrangler jeans unbuttoned and pulled down to an indecent level. The gloved tattoo artist had his head bent, working on the design on Will's hipbone, a tattoo machine in his hand, permanently inking the purple pattern.

Stars to match mine.

One was already done; we had returned for his second, matching star.

My lover. My soul mate.

My husband.

I sat in a chair to the side, my legs tucked under me, my arms resting on my swelling belly, my fingers playing with my ring, twirling it around. In about five months, there would be a new Thrash child. We had decided not to find out if it was a boy or a girl, but to be surprised.

Since I met Will, I had finished up my degree at U.C.S.B., and opened up a small therapy office, on the ranch, in a downstairs room of the ranch house. I had patients come from miles away for counseling, mostly children, and I think that the relaxed air of Headlands Ranch aided in their recovery.

The avocados came in really well last year, with the lucky coincidence of prices going sky high, and Will was able to make a sizable down payment on the neighbor's property. We were in escrow to close, and the acreage would ensure that the area would remain rural, without the development. These days, since he wasn't getting development pressure, he was a lot more relaxed.

Will had proposed to me a year ago, while we were out riding Thor on the ranch. I still giggled about that name. Thor.

It was a warm summer's day and the first time that I had ridden bareback; he was teaching me how. Once you get the feel for it, bareback riding wasn't that hard. But it was fun to go riding together, me in the front and Will behind, holding my waist.

We ambled through the orchards and took a ride through the vineyards, back around, and then went out to Will's favorite bluff overlooking the beach. There, looking out at the ocean, the sun shining, and the air sultry, he pulled an antique filigree diamond ring out of his pocket and slipped it on my hand, while we had stopped to look at the view.

Startled, I looked down at my hand, and then turned around on the horse to look at him.

"I want to be with you forever," he told me, sincerely. "I have loved you since I met you and always will. This was my grandmother's ring. I want you to wear it. Marry me, Marie."

Overcome, unable to form words, I simply nodded, and burst into tears, and he wrapped me in an enthusiastic hug and then kissed me thoroughly.

"Tonight. I don't want to wait anymore."

"Tonight?" I answered, startled. He smiled.

"Do you want a big wedding?"

No. I didn't. "No."

"Then tonight, baby. Pack a suitcase. Tell the Fieldings to meet us in Vegas."

I burst out loud laughing, and he pulled out a printout of the plane tickets from his pocket.

"You are serious?" I said, astonished.

"Yep." His brown eyes were amused, but completely serious.

"What if I had said no?" I asked him, unable to stop challenging him.

"You haven't said yes, yet," he retorted.

Giddy with excitement, I burst out, "Yes, you crazy cowboy, Okay, yes, today." I paused. And it hit me. "Omigod, we're getting married today." And I totally squealed like a girl.