Epilogue - December 26, 2020

Visiting my parents for Christmas had been enjoyable, and it was always nice seeing the small town I grew up in. My parents absolutely adored my wife Julie, and they couldn't get enough of spoiling their two very beautiful granddaughters.

On the way out of town, I stopped by the Diner to get a coffee for the road. I never downplayed the importance of caffeine on this four hour trip back to Seattle.  Given I was traveling during the evening hours, I wouldn't have to deal with a lot of traffic.

As I waited for my coffee, I glanced around the Diner to see if I recognized anybody... or they, me.  My timing must have been off because the faces in a small town usually grew older, not changed completely. Had a decade really changed things this much? I turned around when I heard a jingling sound from the door opening behind me.

My eyes lit up.

"Hey Chief," the cashier called out from behind me.

Not only had Chief Swan stepped into the Diner, but a stunningly beautiful young woman did as well, and when our eyes met, I realized I was staring at the Chief's granddaughter, Renesmee Cullen.

"How are you Chief Swan?" I greeted him respectfully.  "I'm not sure you remember me, but I'm--"

"Raymond Kulp, of course he does," Renesmee answered for him.  I knew damn well that a little girl of twelve should not have been able to remember me.

"Yes, of course, Ray Kulp.  Forks best chance at producing a Major League baseball player."

"Sorry to let the town down, Chief.  A shoulder injury kind of put a damper on all those dreams," I replied with a smile.

"But you're not upset about that, are you?" Renesmee asked with keen perception.

"No, I'm not, actually.  I have a wonderful wife and two beautiful daughters... and this life never would have happened if I had run off to play baseball," I replied with a smile.

"I see you know my granddaughter," the Chief commented with a raised eyebrow. He looked at Renesmee like she was guarding a secret.

"Yes, Grandpa.  Daddy and Mom introduced me to Raymond about a decade ago," Renesmee replied with a wink.  The Chief looked even more mystified.

"Well, I'd love to talk more, but my family is waiting for me out in the car.  It was so nice seeing you both," I added, and then I turned to Renesmee. "Renesmee, please extend my best wishes to your parents for me.  Tell them that every time I think of them, I do so with a smile."

"I sure will, Raymond," Renesmee replied with a grin, and just then the door opened behind them again and in walked Jacob Back looking exactly the same again.    

"Jacob, have you met Raymond Kulp?" Chief Swan asked.

"Not formally, but our paths have crossed," Jacob replied with a grin.  We smiled knowingly at each other as we shook each other's hand. 

The Chief rolled his eyes and then headed off to one of the booths.

Then I watched as Jacob pulled Renesmee into his arms defining their relationship, and the way they touched each other reminded me so very much of Bella and Edward.

 "Take care of yourselves," I responded, and then left the Diner.

*** *** ***

As I was making my way east on the one oh one, Julie must have noted the perpetual smile on my face.

"What happened back there?" she asked, inquisitively.

"Huh?"

"You saw them... didn't you?" she accused me with a grin.

"Is my face giving me away?" I asked with surprise.

"It always does," Julie responded with a giggle.

"I ran into Chief Swan and his lovely granddaughter."

"Ah... the mysterious miracle child all grown up.  So, how is Renesmee Cullen?"

"She appears extremely happy and is as every bit as breathtakingly beautiful as her mother," I replied.

"And speaking of Renesmee's mother...?"

"Unfortunately, I didn't get to see her, nor Edward.  Renesmee must have been visiting her grandfather for the holidays."

"Well, do you still believe the Cullens are as magical as you once did?"

"Most definitely.  And you can add Jacob Black to the mix."

"Their Native American friend?"

"Yes, and he looks exactly the same as he did the last time I saw him," I replied.

Julie paused to digest these words.  Then she looked back at our children.  A quick glance in the mirror showed me that they were sleeping.  Jessica was five and Jennifer two, and they were both spitting images of their beautiful mother.

"Bella and Edward had a tremendous influence on your life, didn't they?" Julie stated.

"Yes, they have... and might I add in the best possible way," I replied.

"Did you know it used to bother me a little when you talked about Bella?"

"Yes, but I also remember how it stopped bothering you."

"I know it's silly to be jealous, but..."

"But now you're bothered a bit when I talk about Bella's daughter."

"I'm only human," Julie remarked with a sigh.

"Do you remember when I told you the dynamics of Jacob Black's relationship with the Cullens?"

"Close friend to Bella and Edward and an uncle type relationship towards Renesmee."

"Well, the dynamics of their relationship has changed."

"Oh...?"

"They're an intimate couple now and their relationship reminds me of Bella and Edward's."

"Wow, now that I didn't expect."

"There are a lot of secrets back in that small town and I have a feeling that they are meant to remain secrets. I don't know what they are... but I do know they are special.  I've always felt fortunate that they trust me enough to know how special they are, and the best way I can repay them is to honor their trust in me."

Julie paused to give my words some thought before smiling.

"So, when you say Bella and Edward influenced me, you're right... but not because they're supernatural.  But because of something they allowed me to witness from afar."

"Being...?" Julie asked.

"True love... and as a result, it allowed me to wait til you came along."

Julie smiled as she raised her eyebrow at me, much like Chief Swan had done to his granddaughter earlier.

"You see.  I understand what it means when Edward only has eyes for Bella... and when Jacob only has eyes for Renesmee."

"You do...?" she asked, hesitantly.

"Yes... because I only have eyes for you, my precious wife," I replied, shooting her a smile.

Julie leaned over and kissed me on the cheek.  Then leaned back and sighed.

"Do you think you'll ever see them again?"

"No.  I don't think so.  At least not by accident."

"I wonder how much the Chief knows."

"Probably just enough where he can have a relationship with Bella and Renesmee.  Knowing what they went through to get where they are, I'm pretty sure Edward does everything in his power to make sure Bella is happy."

"How do you think they'll react when Renesmee tells them she ran into you?"

"I suspect they'll do pretty much what I'm doing."

"Smiling?" Julie asked with a grin.

"Yeah, they've always been able to make me smile," I replied with a chuckle.

"I love you Raymond Kulp," Julie declared.

"As I love you," I replied.


The end.