Together and Forever

The Epilogue

"Mom, where's my pro fish rod?" the boy's voice ringing through the house. "I cannot find it!"
Chip ran down the stairs to the living room and stopped in the middle of it.
"In the closet, of course," Mary looked up from her magazine. "And we agreed that you will not take it out without permission".
"But you already said that you'll let me take it tomorrow for go fishing! Mom!"
"I said I'll give it to Charlie when you'll go. You're just seven; you're too young for such things".
"But it's my gift! Aunt Augusta sent it me for my birthday!"
"Yeah, just a little bit premature. At least a few years," Mary sighed, put the magazine down and draw her eldest son to her. "I do not say no, right? Tomorrow you'll go fishing with your gift, but in the care of Charlie".
"Yes, but..."
"No buts, young man..." Mary did not have time to finish her sentence because the phone rang and Chip rush to pick up, yelling "It's Uncle Charlie!"
Mary shook her head. Oh, boys and their fish rods.
At this point the front door swung open and pouty Samantha with pouty Mickey in tow sailed in.
"Mom, I want to go fishing!" he stated immediately.
"Me too!" Sammy jumped up. "Why Chip was allowed to but I was not? I'm younger then him just for a month!"
"Sam, you just said that you feel sorry for a fish caught and it's boring stuff after all. Is something changed now?"
The girl shook her head negatively and landed on the couch.
"He's crazy about his fish rods! And Aunt Augusta actually is my aunt, not his! Why life is so unfair?!"
"It's Aunt Augusta who gave you among other gifts the huge dollhouse which took half of your room, was she? And you're the one who first actually wanted to live into it? Sammy, you just do not want to Chip would go away somewhere without you".
"We're almost twins," Sammy pouted petulantly. "Why would he want to do that stupid fishing?"
"The excitement of the hunter," Mason's voice came from the door. "In a way he and Charlie found each other".
"And I got left behind," Samantha sighed. "I and Mike," she called her youngest brother for an ally.
"Yeah, I got left," Mickey nodded seriously. "Daddy, why Uncle Charlie have a mustache?"
Mason barely managed to save a serious expression on his face, and Mary's not even able to. She cannot help but giggled.
"To not get dirty his lips," Samantha explained to her little brother and stared in amazement as the parents sniggered. "What?"
"N-nothing," Mary barely uttered. "Who told you that?"
"Uncle Brandon. He has a mustache too. He cuts it".
"Shaves," Mason corrected, barely holding the laughter back. "Like all men. And your father too".
"I know!" Samantha protested. "And all of them doing it to not get dirty their lips!"
Smiling Mary shook her head and turned to Mason
"You are so early today. Something is wrong?"
"No, everything is okay. Could not be better actually," he walked over and hugged her.
"It's good. The year of our living in Los Angeles was good but there was nothing like home".
"Oh yeah!" Samantha grinned.
"Really? But you did not want to leave it".
"Naturally, I did not. But it's good to be back. To see Grandpa CC, Grandma Sophia, Great Grandpa David and Grandma Theda. And Uncle Charlie. And Aunt Eden and Uncle Cruz, and Aunt Kelly with her new Uncle... Too pity, Uncle Ted is away in... that..."
"Singapore," Mary prompted.
"Yes, in Singapore. But there is still Aunt Christy and Uncle Jim. Mom, Mike had not played with Alice for a long time. Can we go and see her tomorrow?"
"A long time is past week. Well, alright," Mary sighed. "I'll call Aunt Christy. If she does not mind, I'll take you over there".
"Yay!" Samantha started to jump on the spot. "I can play with Davy along the way".
"I thought so," Mary cannot help but smiled. Sammy's affection to the youngest son of Christy was well known. "Now you all run to change," she gave the children a little push toward the stairs. "We will have dinner in half an hour".
Sammy and Mickey ran upstairs, and Mason looked at smiling Mary.
"So it's alright?"
"Yes," he reached out and kissed her on lips. "This Los Angeles's job gave benefits to my career. Thank you".
"For what?" Mary surprised.
"For you're there for me. For you left Santa Barbara for whole year without hesitation for me. For you".
"Thank you for you too. I would have none of this without you," Mary gestured around and typically stopped her sight on Mason's portrait on the wall.
"Saved from the fire," Mason chuckled. "Yes, thank you for it too. You helped me find myself".
"It was mutual," Mary smiled and stroked his arm. "Get changed. We will have dinner soon".
Another quick kiss and Mary looked after her husband who started to run upstairs. They were happy.
Together and forever.