After talking to her father, Bruce found Brandy sitting in a beanbag chair in her childhood bedroom, which had the walls decorated with both BroZone memorabilia and signed photos of famous chefs.

"Brandy, you okay?" he asked in concern.

"I brought this on myself," she admitted. "I knew everyone here would hate me for what I did. I should've known I..."

"Brandy, no one's to blame here," Bruce tried to reassure her. "In fact, I spoke to your dad, and he seems to really regret how he treated you."

Brandy looked down at him with a raised eyebrow. "He... He does?"

Bruce nodded. “In fact, he wants to apologize to you, but only when you're ready to hear it."

“Maybe in the morning," Brandy said. “For now, I think I've had enough of seeing the family."

“I understand," Bruce said, climbing in bed to lie down next to her. As they held onto each other, Bruce could barely hear his love singing in a quiet, low voice.

Darling, I will be loving you till we're seventy

And baby, my love could still fall as hard at twenty-three

“That's the song I sang when we first made love," Bruce chuckled.

“Yeah, I wasn't sure what we were doing," Brandy admitted.

“Neither was I," said Bruce. “But it worked, didn't it?"

Brandy laughed. “Yes, babe. It worked."

As the two of them looked out a window adorned with pink lace curtains to watch the sunset, Bruce could not have felt happier than he did in that moment, or every other moment he spent with the woman who stole his heart.

“Marry me, Brandy."

Brandy's eyes widened as she heard those three words.

“Sorry," Bruce apologized. “That wasn't how I planned to do it."

“Oh, really?" Brandy asked with a smirk. “How did you plan to do it?"

“During our date tonight," he explained, pulling away from her so he would sit up. “I was gonna buy a ring this afternoon, but then, we heard about your dad, and I wasn't gonna be selfish. Plus, I thought it would be my only chance to meet your family before I asked to become a part of it."

“That's very sweet, Bruce," Brandy said. “Who knows? Maybe someday, I'll meet your brothers."

“Maybe," Bruce muttered, secretly missing them and wondering how they would react if they saw him now. “Is, uh... Is that a yes?"

“It's a yes," Brandy confirmed, planting her lips onto his. Before the kiss could get any deeper...

“Bruce, Brandy!" Jules interrupted, barging into the room. “I had an idea for your dream restaurant! Hear me out... Indoor swimming pool. I know what you're thinking, people need to wait one hour after eating before swimming. So people will swim before they eat."

“Julie, not now," Brandy said. “We just got engaged."

“Oh, sorry," Jules replied, then stepped out of the room, leaving them alone.

🌊🏝️🌺🍹🦩🍍🌊🏝️🌺🍹🦩🍍

Life is so simple

A little boy, a little girl

Laughing and loving

Trying to figure out the world

It was a lovely wedding. They got married at the top of the highest tower, surrounded by friends and loved ones. Brandy's father was just well enough to walk his daughter down the aisle, and her sisters attended, as well.

It felt like summer, when I kissed you in the rain

And I know your story, but tell me again

It took years of saving, but the now-married couple finally had enough money to buy an old building and, with some hard work, they remodeled it into the family restaurant Brandy dreamed of, and Bruce couldn't help but light up seeing how happy it made her.

Nothing you say wouldn't interest me

All of your words are like poems to me

I would be honored if you would take me as I am

Once everything was ready, all they needed was a name for their new business. After some workshopping, Brandy came up with the name “Bruce & Sons." At first, Bruce wasn't sure what made her came up with that name... until she had him place his hand on her abdominal region.

I want you to look right in my eyes

To tell me you love me

To be by my side

Of course, Bruce was over the moon to find out that he his wife were pregnant. He was beginning to think it wouldn't happen, but he couldn't be happier that it did.

I want you at the end of my life

I wanna see your face, when I fall with grace

At the moment I die

“Honey, you sure you can handle this?" Bruce asked his wife, who sat on the floor as she rubbed her belly with one hand and held a wet rag on her forehead with another. “We can wait until after the babies come to have the grand opening."

Is that alright?

“No, I want to do this today," Brandy assured him. “I can handle it. I'm ready."

Is that alright?

“I'm ready if you're ready," Bruce replied, taking a quick moment to press his ear against her bump, hearing his unborn children move around. “You kids be good to Mommy, okay?"

Brandy laughed as he planted a kiss on her belly, then, carefully got back up.

“Okay," she said. “Let's do this."

Is that.... alright?

Well, that's it. That's all I could do. Hope you guys enjoyed this story, and I hope you enjoy your holiday season (if you're reading this around the same time I published it).

Until next time.