Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 24266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
“Okay.” He smiled. “Can you please say, ‘yes’ and stop making things difficult?”
“I mean, I’m going to say ‘yes’ eventually, but I’m just wondering, where exactly we’re picking up…” I suddenly felt like I was a teenager again. “Is it the day when I should’ve told you things? The day when I went to a clinic and froze my eggs in hopes that maybe you’d come back? Or two weeks ago when—”
“I’m referring to now.” He kissed my lips. “I don’t want to go another day without you. Do you feel the same?”
“Yes.” I kissed him back, melting into his arms, feeling like no time had passed.
He slid a hand under my overall straps as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Um, hello?” Aunt Gertrude’s voice made us tear apart. “Last time I checked, the plants can’t get watered by you nearly fucking out here. Come inside and get to work…”
We laughed and followed her inside, starting page one of our next chapter.
I
EPILOGUE
You are cordially invited to the wedding of
Dahlia Foster
&
Everett Anderson
Sunday, August 17, 2025
at four in the afternoon
Blooms & Letters
510 Garden Avenue,
Eads River, TN
Please RSVP by June 15, & kindly select your favorite flower from the options listed below.
II
EPILOGUE
Blooms & Letters is proud to expand its “Forever Writing You” store and staff.
Please welcome my husband aboard, so that we may take international orders and expand our garden by an additional twenty-eight acres.
Forever Blooming,
Dahlia
III
EPILOGUE
From: The Office of Dr. Janet Smith
Subject: Open Me.
Dear Mr. And Mrs. Anderson,
I am deeply sorry.
This round of in-vitro fertilization was unsuccessful with your surrogate.
I know this was your seventh attempt, but please don’t lose hope.
Per our conversation in the office, I will only contact you for follow up appointments if the pregnancy is viable.
Sincerely,
Janet Smith
IV
EPILOGUE
From: The Porter Graham Adoption Agency
Subject: A Short Hello
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Anderson,
Thank you for contacting us.
We would be honored to discuss our process with you, and I am including a brief overview via an attachment.
Looking forward to speaking with you in person.
Best,
Trevor Wilson
V
EPILOGUE
From: The Office of Dr. Janet Smith
Subject: Open Me.
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Anderson,
Congratulations!
This round of in vitro was successful.
Please call my office so we can discuss the next stage of surrogacy.
VI
EPILOGUE
Dahlia
Four years. Multiple in vitro appointments. Endless tears.
Our child was safely growing inside our surrogate, but we knew better than to tell anyone just yet. Our hopes were far too delicate and subject to breakage at any moment, so we only told our closest family members.
And we begged the doctor not to tell us the gender…
Our surrogate made it to the second trimester.
Then the third.
When our son was born, we named him Arbor, short for Arborvitae, a type of evergreen tree that’s hardy and viable through all seasons.
It’s one of the few trees that is capable of living forever.
The End