A number of readers of remarked to me that they wish Weekend Agreement had an epilogue. They wanted a glimpse of Daniel and Charlotte in the future. Originally, there was one, but for a variety of reasons, we made the editorial decision to exclude it. By Popular Request, I'm posting it here. Enjoy!
Ten months later Daniel pried
open his eyes to find Charlotte sitting on top of him. Her hair was tied in a lazy top knot and she
wore his discarded tuxedo shirt. Minus
the studs of course. They’d been lost
hours ago.
“We made Laurie Esposito’s
column,” she announced.
Spying the newspaper section in
her hand, he frowned. “We’re keeping
track of society page mentions now?”
“Only mentions like this one.” She cleared her throat and read, “Also
present, Daniel Moretti and his wife, Charlotte, recently back from their
honeymoon in Southern France where the pair traced the journey of Daniel’s
aviatrix ancestor.”
She arched her brow. “You told them about Aunt Esther?”
“It’s only fitting, don’t you
think? After all, she did bring us
together. ”
“That she did. By the way, have I told you lately how much I
love that word?”
“Which one? Together?”
“Wife.”
“Mmmm,” he replied, arching his back
in a languid stretch that ended in an upward thrust of his hips. It was one of his favorite words too. “You’re okay without having a fancy ceremony?”
“If I’d wanted one, I’d have said
so. As it is, I thought our wedding was
absolutely perfect.” She gave him a
saucy smile. “The honeymoon was pretty
good too.”
“Who says it’s over?” Tucking his hand around the nape of her neck,
he pulled her forward for a kiss – one she returned with ardor. When finished, he wrapped her in his arms and
held her tight. His heart was so full he
was surprised it could race as fast as it did.
Who knew a person could feel this much happiness in one lifetime.
They married on the beach, a
small intimate ceremony to which no one named Ferncliff was invited. Charlotte’s brother flew in from California
to give her away while Judy stood as Maid of Honor. Took awhile, but Daniel had finally won the
English professor’s favor, thanks in large part to the smile permanently
planted on his face.
“You look like a perpetually
lovesick puppy,” she’d told him one evening.
“I have the overwhelming urge to paper train you.”
Daniel had replied by asking how
many animal metaphors she actually had for him.
After all, in only a few months he’d gone from a shark to puppy. “Worry when I get to gnat,” she told him. That’s when he knew she would become his
friend as well as Charlotte’s.
The woman in his arms
sighed. “I’m so glad you listened to
Esther.”
Esther, his heart. He was grateful for whatever knocked common
sense in his head. Far as he was
concerned, his life began the day Charlotte Doherty walked into his life. “I love you,” he whispered in return. Words he never dreamed he’d say to anyone.
“I love you too. Which reminds me….”
Charlotte sat up and for the
first time, he realized along with the newspaper, she’d brought along a second
paper and pen. She smoothed out the
single sheet, which had become crumpled in the sheets. “While you were lazing in bed, I drew up a
contract. To lay down a few terms for
our marriage.”
“Like a prenuptial
agreement? Aren’t you a little late?” He’d gladly give her anything and everything.
Playfully she stuck out her
tongue at him. “More like a postnuptial agreement. Do you want to hear my terms?”
“Depends. Do any of them involve me removing that shirt
you’re wearing?”
“Later.” She squared her shoulders and started
reading. “Term number one. No more fake ancestors. I think you’ve purchased every antique
portrait in Boston
“Four. I’ve bought four. Esther needed company. Besides, since when do you have a problem
with having a legacy?”
“Because if fill the house with
paintings, there won’t be room for baby pictures.” Her eyes brimmed with love. “And our children are the only legacy I care
about anymore.”
Our
children. The notion unleashed a whole new type of
emotion. He pictured Charlotte
Eager to start their family right
now, he started to slip the shirt from her shoulders.
“No more portraits. What else?”
“Well, there’s really only one
other item.”
Good, because he was going tired
of talking. Not when he could be holding
her. “My darling Professor, by now you
should know there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you or give you. What is it you desire? The Hope Diamond?” This time when he moved to tug her shirt off,
she didn’t protest. “The moon?”
She smiled and nestled into his
waiting embrace. “Eternity.”
“Eternity?”
“Eternity,” she repeated. “You sign this contract and you agree to be
mine and only mine. Forever.”
“I see. And what do I get in return for giving you
forever?”
“You get loved beyond your
wildest imagination.”
He answered her by rolling her on
to her back. “You drive a hard bargain,
Professor, but I think I can meet those terms.”
And kissing her deeply, he began
showing her just how easy forever would be to give.
