All’s well that ends well, or so goes the saying. It is definitely true in my case. Whenever I think back of the past years, I feel warm and fuzzy inside. I never thought that this would happen to me, but I’m happily married and my husband still did not swap me for a younger model. Not everyone is so lucky, so I try to remain humble…

Gussie and I celebrated our 15th anniversary yesterday. The party was held at the Watering Hole, where we first met. It was nothing fancy, just beer and pizza, but all our friends were there to celebrate with us.

Although Gracie and Ben had broken up a year ago, and were not on speaking terms, they put aside their differences, if just for this one day and managed to be civilised for the evening. Gracie probably thought I couldn’t see the faces she was making in the background, but I’m just glad for once it’s not my husband she’s targeting with it.

I left the military a few years ago, however this does not stop Li Lo from saluting every time she sees me. She swears I was the best squad leader ever, even though she now took over my position. Alani, who was my very first friend here is now partner in the restaurant she started working as a chef ten years ago. Since she’s became part of the management there are articles about the little place almost every month, and folks from other towns are coming to Appaloosa just to try her amazing Hawaiian inspired dishes.

Li Lo and Alani are still living together, in fact a couple of years ago they realised that their friendship is more special than anything they ever had before and they finally admitted to themselves what was so clear for nearly everyone by then, that they are in love. They are adopting their second fur baby next week. Like me, they never wanted children either.

Ben eventually recovered from the financial hardship inflicted on him by Hailey and started his own architecture firm. Now that his three daughters are nearly adults, he even managed to create some sort of a father-daughter bond with them. His eldest daughter, Karen, is working at his firm. Ben and Gussie became really close friends and go on fishing trips together all the time.

Gracie vowed to remain single for the rest of her life, but her daughter, Alison, already started hinting at a new admirer who seems more and more successful at winning my friend’s heart. She enjoys her job at the school and says the love of the children in her class is enough, I don’t think she should close her heart forever.

Benni left Appaloosa and moved to Brigdeport in hope of becoming a famous artist. However it turned out she has much more talent in selling painting than creating them, and she now has her own art gallery and also started a foundation to support young, talented painters.

Quincy is now retired and lives alone on his ranch. His wife, Jacquie passed away a few months ago. I know I haven’t met her that often, but I knew how much my friend loved her and how much he’s still missing her. “Abbie, enjoy while it lasts”, he said to me so often.

After Gussie’s second book became a #1 besteller, he quit his job at the newspaper to become a full time writer. By now he published 14 horror books, and a non-fiction about writing. He loves what he does and I’m so happy that I pushed him down this way. Even if that six months he spent secretly writing his first novel were so awful for me. Since then he doesn’t keep me in the dark about anything. He’s also teaching creative writing at the nearby university, and the students absolutely adore him.

When I quit my job at the army I didn’t really know what to do, and when Gussie’s agent offered me a job as an editor I almost said no. Me? Editing my husband’s book? That does sound like trouble. But it worked out just fine. I’m also editing other stories, and I love what I do. Gussie also claims he gets many of his ideas from me. I hope he doesn’t mean writing his latest story about a harpy wife based on me…

Although I’m now 48, some people are still bugging me with the question that just doesn’t seem to get old. “Why don’t you have kids? What if you regret it later?” Well, I think I’m now old enough to say, I have no regrets. Gussie and I couldn’t be happier, and we find our passion. It is not kids, but there’s nothing wrong with that. I always said I rather regret not having kids then regret having any, and that my uterus is nobody’s business. Life still goes on, would you believe.

With that I now take my leave. There’s a life still waiting to be lived out there. With my husband, my love.

My best friend.

Take care,

Abbie