A Very Perry Wedding by Marie Landry
EPILOGUE
One month later
Jasper hands me a cup of coffee and sits next to me on the couch. I snuggle against him, smiling to myself as I admire the magazine-worthy Christmas tree in the corner. The floor around our feet is littered with wrapping paper. Or, more accurately, the floor around my feet is littered with wrapping paper; Jasper neatly opened each of his gifts before folding the paper and setting it aside.
“I have one more surprise for you,” Jasper says. His lips curve when I sit up and grin at him eagerly. “It’s something for both of us, actually. I suppose you could consider it…something for the house.”
“Okay,” I say slowly. “I’m intrigued.”
As planned, Jasper moved into his childhood home on December first. We’ve spent the last few weeks unpacking, decorating, and making the place feel like a home. When we got back here last night after Christmas Eve at my mom’s, Jasper asked if I’d like to officially move in with him. Despite initially agreeing to take things slow, we once again went from zero to one hundred after Gwen and Evan’s second wedding reception. We’ve been spending almost all our time together, either here at his place, at my apartment, or with our friends. We agreed I’d give my two months notice at my apartment next week and formally move in at the beginning of March, although we both know this is already as much my home as it is Jasper’s.
Jasper takes my coffee cup and sets it on the table before picking up his phone. After a moment of swiping around, he turns the phone to face me. On the screen is a picture of a basset hound wearing a bright red bow and aiming a doggy-grin at the camera. For a second, I think it’s our road trip pal Maynooth until I realize this guy is younger and not quite as rotund.
“He’s coming to live with us in the new year when we return from Honeywell,” Jasper says, referencing the post-Christmas trip we’re taking with Gwen and Evan to celebrate New Year’s Eve. “I’ve been in touch with the local animal rescue program since I decided to move back to Bellevue. Roscoe’s owner had to go into a nursing home, so he’s been living with a foster family until they could find someone to adopt him. When they told me about him, it seemed like fate.”
“Roscoe?” I ask, taking the phone from Jasper’s hand to get a closer look at the dog. “He’s going to be ours?”
Jasper nods, his eyes softening at the awe-filled note in my voice. “Yes. The whole thing was kismet, really. The rescue was certain they’d have trouble finding someone to take him since most people want puppies, or at least younger dogs. He’s perfect for us, though. Neither of us has much experience with pets, and we don’t have to worry about house training him or him chewing up our belongings. I think the three of us will be a perfect match. Everyone deserves a second chance to be loved and to find a home. We’ll be giving that to Roscoe.”
I shake my head in wonder, handing the phone back to Jasper and swinging myself around to straddle him. “You’re incredible, Jasper Perry.” I cup his face and kiss him deeply. His hands slide down my back until he’s lightly gripping my bottom.
“As much as I enjoy the direction this is going,” he says breathlessly as I shift to kiss his neck, “don’t forget we’re meeting Gwen and Evan at your mother’s in an hour.”
“An hour is more than enough time for what I have in mind,” I tell him. “And besides, if we’re a few minutes late, we did just see Mom and Emilio last night, and we’ll be spending tomorrow with Gwen and Evan on the drive to Toronto to see your other siblings.”
“You have a point.” Jasper’s tone is thoughtful, but his wandering hands tell me I’ve convinced him. “This is our first Christmas together, after all.”
“First of many,” I say, pulling back to meet his eyes.
His wide smile nearly takes my breath away. I hope it always does. “Yes, my love. First of many.”
As I return my smiling lips to Jasper’s, I can’t help the feeling that by this time next year, I’ll be an official part of the Perry clan.
~*~