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Epilogue - DeanI had forgotten how beautiful the sun could be The second we heard the lockdoas lifted, we all went for a walk in the park Jessica observed the behaviors of the local ducks as Becky and I cuddled on a nearby bench It had been a few months since our first encounter when I hadn't been really careful about where I was co to show I could al if I put my hand on her belly

Jess was almost as excited about her new little cousin as ere We already kneas going to be a girl and had a name picked out Simone

“Hey guys,” Joe said, co up over the crest of the hill

“And he arrives,” Becky said

“See you at ho her a quick kiss

“Bye, Uncle Dean,” Jessica said, hugging oodbye

“Bye, honey You sure you're okay to get her home?”

“I think we'll e”

“Shall alk?” Joe asked

“Let's”

There was a coffee shop a few blocks ae both liked At least we had the last tiland In a way, I was surprised that it was still there after all those years — the forces of gentrification doing a real nuo all the way out to Lincoln Heights to find soood, proper seediness anymore

“I could hardly believe it when it actually showed up All those zeros!”

“Have you ever know me to be a liar?” I asked

“Well, no, not really A rare thing these days, but still, can you really blame me? It really isn't, you know, characteristic of you, Dean You usually don't spend a diht the power”

“I've reassessedend of the counter

We took our drinks to one of the refinished old tables by the here we could watch the world go by Everyone looked like they were in evento catch up on life after such a lengthy lockdown

“Well, blie,” Joe said, doing his best approximation of a Dickensian urchin

“First, Scrooge was ahiain”

“Awe come on, you do”

“Yes, but you see the difference, dear boy, is that I have put inlike someone with a title in front of their name

“Wow”

“I know, right?” I said, taking another sip

“Did you get it?”