For A Reason

Epilogue

June 2021

"Don't forget your drink, Audrey," I say to my two-year-old, as she shuffles after me in the small coffee shop. She insists on walking everywhere we go now, just because she can. The problem, however, is that she's sometimes too slow to take out in public. I see the frustrated glares and furrowed brows of the other patrons, and urge my daughter with a beckoning hand to come along quickly.

Audrey turns around and grabs the pink drink she left on the shelf behind her; the two small hands wrapping around it just barely large enough to grip the cup. She takes a small sip, and then beams up at me.

"Yumm," she hums as we head for the door. Our normal morning routine consists of getting drinks — coffee for me, and usually a strawberry frappe for Audrey — at my favorite coffee shop before we hop back in the car, and head to Busy Bee Daycare.

It's an in-home daycare, and Audrey's been going to it for the past year-ish. Ever since I quit Blue Sky and started work at FirstSkin, it's been a lifesaver having Katrina around. Katrina owns Busy Bee and is an absolute God-send. She's an older woman, around the age of fifty-five, but she's as 'healthy as a horse' as she so southernly calls it. She believes in cardio everyday and healthy eating. She also used to teach at Peach Tree Elementary, a top eight school in the nation, so I'm certainly confident enough to leave my daughter with her during the days that Jeremiah doesn't have her.

Jeremiah and I have kept our relationship perfectly appropriate for two adults who're attempting to co-parent successfully. I'd say we're doing pretty well, but I still can't stand to be around his girlfriend, Angel. Although she's the woman that Jeremiah cheated on me with, she frustratingly has above average motherly instincts and is admittedly a really good addition to Audrey's new life.

Halle and Aaron have become quite serious; they even settled down together and bought a house in the suburbs. I was just as shocked as everyone else when I heard she 'shacked up'; maybe even more so, but I'm most likely the happiest for her. I was always hopeful she'd find the yin to her yang, and she finally has.

The one person I haven't spoken to, or heard anything from recently, is Chris.

The most understanding and kind-hearted being I ever had the pleasure of coming in contact with; the most beautiful, hazel-eyed, strong, protective, comforting man that I so quickly dumped...

Halle told me he resigned from Blue Sky a few weeks after I left. Something about 'clearing his head' and 'taking a breather from the corporate world'.

She did the air quotes, not me.

Halle and Chris have sort of become really close friends since she started dating Aaron. They're all in the same circle with a few other people that I don't know, but the mention of Chris, or anything related to him, is always left out of the conversation when I'm around. I didn't ask them to omit him, but I believe they knew I was healing, and Halle has always been protective of my feelings.

It's been over a year since Chris and I last spoke, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss him. Admittedly, I've actually been pretty lonely, but the past year has been the best with my daughter. I really like not being caught up in the drama of a romantic relationship for once in my life.

"C'mon, hun," I say to Audrey now as we make our way out of the shop. I glance back at her to make sure she's following, my hand on the door as I prepare to exit the building. As I turn around, I collide with someone as I'm taking a step out of the shop.

It all happens so quickly: my drink tumbles out of my hand, and falls to the ground, making a splattering mess and spilling on me in the process.

"Shit," I mutter under my breath as I stoop down while taking a glimpse at Audrey. She smiles and places a tiny hand over her mouth to let me know that she heard what I said. I smile sheepishly at her, and in an attempt to clean up the mess, I grab a handful of napkins from off the counter beside me.

Two large hands are there as well, helping me pat the napkins to the floor in order for them to absorb the spilled coffee. As I stand back up and look into the eyes of the Good Samaritan who lended a helping hand, the breath is completely stolen from my lungs when I realize exactly whose they are. I'll never forget these hazel-green eyes; they're forever imprinted on my mind.

I try to scramble for the right thing to say, and end up completely failing. The only thing that escapes from my lips is a small, audible gasp.

He's still just as handsome as ever, his chestnut brown hair the same it's always been, pushed back and tousled slightly. Since it's summer, his tan, muscular arms are exposed in a beige t-shirt, revealing the impressive art on his left arm.

His all too familiar chuckle resonates within me before he smiles warmly at me. "Vanessa," he says in a low, tenor.

My heart rate must be through the roof by now; it's insane the things he still does to me even after a year of not being in contact with him.

My gaze glides over to Audrey, who's still giggling with her hand over her mouth.

"Chris! Chris! Chris!" She squeals while jumping up and down, her long curls bouncing around her teeny face. She launches herself at him, and he catches her as she hugs her little arms around his neck. I'm actually a little shocked that she remembers him.

Chris' bright, hazel eyes never leave mine as he embraces my daughter, and just like that, he's somehow inserted back into my life again by chance. It was chance that we met by an almost collision the first time, and it's fate working its magic again now, as we've quite literally bumped into each other at some random, unknown coffee house.

All I can think to myself as I watch my daughter's joyous face, is how both my mother and Chris were absolutely right.

Everything does happen for a reason.

The End

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I love all of you so much for taking the time out of your busy lives to read my story! Let me know if you enjoyed it by VOTING ⭐️

Who knows. Maybe we'll get a sequel to Vanessa and Chris' story! Or maybe a few standalone novels. Who would you like to read a story on next? Let me know in the comments, and thank you again, for all your support!

In addition, if you'd like to see what music I thought would vibe really well with the storyline, I've created a #FAR playlist! Check out the next section for every song!