Epilogue
Another journey has ended and before we say goodbye to Santiago and Hannah I would like to say something. I write because I love it, because I am talented, because this is my gift. As I was writing this book I let you readers influence what I put down on text and I didn't like that very much. The most controversial thing was Hannah's friend group especially Jada. I got so many requests to write her off but here's the thing she was my character, I wrote her, imperfections and all to show that friend groups can be flawed. Friends who love us and want what's best for us sometimes don't know that's not what we want at the time but with love and a little patience they learn.
I'm not into defending my characters to my readers but Jada didn't deserve the hate that she got from you guys when all she was trying to do was be a good friend to her grieving best friend. She came around eventually to loving Hannah right and I just wish you guys would have given me and her the chance to prove you guys wrong before you judged and threw stones.
Okay I'm done ranting... To my nice commenters, I'm sorry I just had to get that out. I had a hard time writing the final chapters because the hate comments just kept coming. Please be nice, I don't get paid enough, actually I don't get paid at all to put up with all this....
Through all that I appreciate your love and support as we say goodbye to this book. We are at 98K reads which is the most reads a book I've just completed has ever had. Thank you for showing me and MAMI all your love and support. I thank you for the reads, votes, comments and messages requesting updates that kept me going. I appreciate you all so much more than you will ever know.
I knew that if I put this Authors note at the bottom not many will read it but those who have have been rewarded by a final update. Goodbye for now, I'll see you guys in the next book but for now enjoy this last chapter of MAMI.
Huge announcement at the end!!! Don't miss it!!
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THIRD PERSON POV
Santiago sits at the edge of the bed and watches Hannah sleep knowing he needs to leave soon but he can't bring myself to move. There is a bag packed at his feet and he is fully dressed and yet he sticks around. Waking up and getting ready without waking Hannah up was easy since she's a heavy sleeper, the leaving is the hard part but a necessary one.
He checks the time on the alarm clock and it's ten minutes to midnight.
"Time to go." He whispers to himself pocketing his phone.
Santiago lays a lingering kiss on Hannah's forehead and covers her so her arms aren't a cold. They haven't slept apart since the night a kidnapping but he knows its a necessary sacrifice.
Hannah stirs but she doesn't wake up. She blindly reaches for him making him smile at how cute she is. Even in her sleep she seeks him out. He gives her his pillow which she buries her face in, takes in a deep satisfied breath and keeps on sleeping undisturbed.
"See you tomorrow mami." Santiago whispers kissing her once more.
He picks up his bag and leaves the room closing the door gently behind him.
"She still asleep?" Jada who's scrolling through her iPad in the living room asks him when he walks in.
"Yeah, why aren't you asleep?" Santiago asks her.
"Had to make sure you leave on time. Speaking of, get out. I say that with utmost love." Jada replies with a smirk.
Santiago rolls his eyes at Jada having gotten used to her quirks over the months that they have known each other.
"See you tomorrow, make sure she's there on time." He requests.
"I will, I promise." Jada answers.
Santiago leaves the house after checking on Diego to make sure that he is sleeping soundly in his bed. Sofia is curled underneath him and the fact that they are going strong a year later makes Santiago very happy. The first year of college is always the hardest for high shool sweethearts but they made it through. Their love will surely survive the test of time.
His new 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 Pro is parked out front next to the food truck since it can't fit in the garage. Santiago slides behind the wheel and tosses his bag in the passenger seat starting the car immediately. He lets it warm up for a minute before he drives off.
It doesn't take long to get to his destination since there's no traffic as it's the middle of the night.
"Thought you got cold feet." Tom teases as he opens the door of his house for him.
"Not a chance." Santiago replies kicking off his shoes at the door.
He's been to Tom and Jada's home before so he's already familiar with the place.
"The guest room is ready for you though I also have a couple of beers in the fridge if you're up for a couple of drinks with me." Tom asks Santiago.
"Yes please but only a couple, need to be sober for later." Santiago replies seeing as it's already past midnight.
"Of course, it's your big day. You nervous?" Tom asks.
Santiago shakes his head. "No, I think I'm more anxious. I can't wait for it to be dawn already." He answers visibly excited.
"I remember when I got married to Jada, I was so nervous but as soon as I saw her walking down the aisle I was a goner and I knew for a fact that she's the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with." Tom grins getting lost in thought for a moment as if reliving that memory.
"I already know. Hannah is my whole world and now I'm waiting to make it official." Santiago says with a smile.
"To your future then." Tom says handing him a beer.
Santiago twists off the cap, clinks it against Tom's and takes a long swig.
He can't believe that it's been a full year since he met Hannah and now in a few short hours he gets to marry her and officially make her his. He still remembers the day they talked about getting married as if it was yesterday.
"So I got your letter today. As always I loved it. You wanna get married at the courthouse huh?" I tease leaning against the wall of the call room.
"Yeah." Hannah replies and I can tell she is blushing.
I don't think she intended to reveal such a thing in her letter.
"Good because I hate tuxes. Will jeans and a nice button up do?" I ask.
"Are you asking me to marry you Delgado?" Hannah demands softly.
"What if I am?" I chide back.
It's a long shot and even though I haven't known Hannah long I know she is the one for me.
"Then I say let's pick a date." Hannah declares.
"A year from today." I decide.
"I'll see you at the courthouse." She replies making me smile.
"I can't wait." I affirms.
She has no idea how happy her agreeing to marry me is making me. I know it's a joke seeing as we both burst out laughing but it's the fact that she's playing along that does it for me.
"You won't be laughing when you say 'I do' will you?" I ask her.
"No I won't." She assures me.
It's exactly one year ago today and Santiago finally gets to make that dream come true. He wants to give Hannah her dream wedding and is looking forward to saying 'I do' and sealing the deal in front of their family and friends.
Santiago and Tom drink for an hour before they both retire to bed in dire need of the rest since there's a big day ahead of them.
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Hannah stirs awake and instinctively reaches for Santiago but all she's met with is his pillow. She lifts her head from his addictive scent and her eyes flutter open to see his side of the bed is empty. It's also cold meaning he has been out of bed for a while. She frowns at this because even though Santiago is always up before her something feels different this morning. She decides to go through her morning routine before she goes looking for him.
It's a bit cold so she changes into leggings and one of his hoodies after she's done in the bathroom. She spreads their bed and puts away all the laundry littering their room before leaving in search of her man.
He is always in the kitchen making her breakfast and she is looking forward to his mouth watering breakfast but there's nothing cooking when she walks into the kitchen and Santiago isn't there either.
She's about to retrieve her phone to call him when her best friend walks into the kitchen.
"Jada what are you doing here?" Hannah asks her.
"Good you're awake, I was about to come wake you up. I'm here to pick you up. Renee needs us." Jada answers without missing a beat.
"For what and where's Santiago?" Hannah asks even more confused.
What's happening?
"Ben called him, like I said emergency." Jada insists looking visibly panicked.
"What happened to them?" Hannah asks getting worried.
They all hang out two days ago and everything seemed fine between them so what might have gone wrong in forty eight hours.
"Is it Taylor?" Hannah asks fear gripping her heart.
"I don't know, we'll find out when we get there." Jada insists.
"Okay let me go get dressed." Hannah requests turning to leave the kitchen but Jada stops her.
"There's no time. We need to go now." Jada demands.
Hannah looks at her outfit and deems that it's appropriate to leave the house.
"Okay." She nods.
They walk past Diego's room and neither he nor Sofia are in their which is strange. The two like sleeping in which is what they have been doing since summer started a few weeks ago.
The whole morning is a bit strange but she's more worried about her friend so she will call Diego after she verifies that everything is okay with Renee. She texts Santiago on the drive over to Renee's house but he doesn't reply which is another strange occurrence. No matter the situation Santiago always responds to her messages within five minutes.
By the time they get to Renee's house Hannah is a bundle of nerves. She's not had breakfast and none of the men she lives with are answering their phones or responding to her messages.
Jada parks in front of Ben and Renee's two storey house and they walk up to the front door. Jada doesn't knock which she never does when it comes to her friends houses and walks in first. Hannah is right behind her and nearly stumbles forward when Sofia, Renee and even Jada all yell surprise at the same time.
"What is this?" Hannah asks as she looks around Renee's living room in wonder.
It looks like a bridal shop just threw up in here. She can see Taylor giggling away in her play pen and indicator of perfect health and the smile on Renee's face doesn't look like that of a woman in a feud with her husband.
None of them answer, instead Sofia steps forward and gives Hannah an envelope. It looks like one of the ones Santiago used to send her from prison but it's new so they didn't take one from the shoe box the others are safely stored away in. She opens in to reveal Santiago's perfect handwriting
Dear Hannah,
By the time you are reading this you'll have already woken up alone in bed and are in Renee's home so you might have an idea on what's going on. First things first, breath mami, take a deep breath and relax. I'll take care of the rest.
A year ago today I asked you to marry me. We laughed it off as a joke but you promised to meet me at the courthouse so that's where I will be waiting for you.
All you need to do is pick out a dress you love, show up and say I do. I'll be the one in jeans and button up, we said no tux right?
I can't wait to marry you amor.
All my love.
Santiago Cesar Delgado.
Tear drops fall on the letter and Hannah looks up at her friends with tears falling from her eyes. She hugs the letter to her chest unable to believe that this is happening.
"Someone please tell me I'm not dreaming?" She requests in a whisper.
"You aren't, it's your wedding day." Renee declares walking up to her and giving her a hug.
"I was so worried something bad happened to you and Ben, or Taylor." Hannah whimpers.
"We are all okay and I'm sorry we made you worry but we had to find a way to get you here without ruining the surprise." Renee reassures her.
Hannah wipes her tears and puts the letter back in the envelope. She walks around the room looking at the different dress choices trying to wrap her head around what's going on.
"We called Meredith and told her about your tastes so she brought over a couple of choices for you." Jada explains.
Hannah remembers Meredith and her bridal shop. It's where they bought Jada's wedding gown from.
Her eyes land on one particular dress and the rest blur away. She didn't want a traditional wedding gown, she didn't want a wedding gown at all when she imagined her big day but this dress is perfect for her. It's a lantern sleeve rustic lace dress that barely seeps the floor as it doesn't have a train.
"It's perfect." Hannah whispers caressing the material with her finger tips.
"And now we get you ready." Jada declares approaching her.
Hannah still can't believe that she is getting married. When she woke up she thought was going to be just another day off for her but now she just picked out a dress to get married in.
After she got engaged to Santiago on Thanksgiving they both agreed to focus on their careers first before they started planning a wedding. Little did she know that Santiago had other plans in mind.
"Let's get me hitched." She declares taking a seat on the vanity table with more beauty products than she has ever seen in her life.
Her friends cheer on excitement because the last of their trio is getting married in a couple of hours.
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"How are you so calm?" Diego asks his big brother as they wait outside the courthouse for Hannah and her friends to arrive.
Santiago smiles and pats his shoulder, "Because today is the happiest day of my life, a close second to the day you were born." Santiago answers confidently.
All he is feeling is excitement and anticipation for Hannah'd arrival. Nervousness means being doubtful and he has never been sure about anything more in his life. He knows that he wants to marry Hannah and make her his wife. Now all she has to do is show up. Jada already texted him to let him know that they are on their way and he can't wait to see her and the dress she picked.
"Congratulations big bro, you and Hannah deserve all the happiness in the world." Diego expresses.
"Thank you hermano." Santiago smiles hugging his baby brother.
"Look who's here." Julius declares walking with Finn towards them.
Santiago smiles and pushes himself off his truck to meet them but Diego stays back.
"I didn't think you'd actually show up." He smiles sharing a bro hug with Finn.
"I did ask to be invited and I wanted to be witness to this momentous occasion. I was there during the birth of this relationship, might as well be there for the consummation." Finn replies.
"Thank you for coming. I gotta say, you actually look like a human being out of your CO uniform." Santiago comments with a grin.
"Thanks I guess." Finn laughs.
It's a causal wedding so nobody is in a tux. Hannah dreamed of a simple wedding that people didn't have to spend a lot of money for and that's exactly what Santiago intends to give her. The most expensive thing will be her wedding dress because after the ceremony they are having the reception back home in their backyard and they will be cooking everything themselves.
"Now imagine if you'd invited Callahan as well." Julius laughs.
"Over my dead body." Santiago swears.
"Or his dead body." Finn comments.
"What?" Santiago and Julius ask.
"You guys don't know." Finn asks.
Santiago and Julius turn to each other looking confused.
"Know what?" Santiago asks.
"Callahan was killed on the day he landed at FCI." Finn replies.
Santiago doesn't even blink at this piece of information but Julius is visibly shocked.
"What?" Julius exclaims.
"Yeah, he should not have been incarcerated there but there's overpopulation in other prisons so he was brought to FCI. Didn't last twenty four hours. We found him gutted in the yard with his balls and dick stuffed into his mouth." Finn explains.
"Fuck. So sad I missed it. It must have been glorious." Julius cackles.
"He got what was coming to him." Santiago comments.
The other two agree with him because they know how much of a pain Callahan was.
"Good riddance, the world is a safer place without an asshole like him." Julius summates.
Jada's car and Ben's truck pull up next to them and Santiago smiles because his bride is here. He walks up to the passenger side door of Jada's car and opens it, holding his hand out for his woman. She takes it and smiles exiting the car with a single sunflower stem in hand. She looks gorgeous with a flower crown around her braids, make up done to perfection and her dress simply divine. She looks like a fairly princess and he should have known she would go simple and old school.
"You look gorgeous mami." He compliments kissing her hand.
"And you look dashing." She grins at me.
"Ready to get married?" Santiago asks her.
"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't. I still can't believe you remembered and put all this together." Hannah whispers.
"I meant it when I said that I want to spend the rest of my life with you and this is the first step." Santiago replies.
"Let's get married then." Hannah grins kissing his cheek.
Santiago links his hand with hers and together with all their friends, they walk into the court house hand in hand ready to make their relationship official.
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"By the power vested in me by the laws of the state of Arizona, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." The judge proclaims.
Santiago doesn't waste a second pulling his wife into his arms and kissing her. All their friends and family present to witness their union cheer out loud and a party popper goes off making the judge frown but he lets it slide.
"Husband." Hannah grins loving the sound of that.
"Wife." Santiago answers the wife sliding off his tongue like butter.
Hannah smiles widely because she is officially Santiago's wife.
"I love you." She confesses.
"Te amo mami." Santiago answers.
The two kiss again as they are officially Mr and Mrs. Delgado even though Hannah is keeping her last name. It's her only link to her brother and she wants to keep it forever.
After they sign the marriage certificate, they all exit the courthouse and head home to celebrate one of the best love stories ever written.
THE END.
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I am saddened to announce that MAMI is my last book on Wattpad. At least for the foreseeable future. Those who have been with me from the beginning know I'm always jumping from one book to the next but not this time. I will still be writing but I will not be posting my books on Wattpad or any other platform. I don't know how long this break will be but I know I deserve it and I have earned it.
I've been on Wattpad since 2017 with a total of 18 books. It would have been more but I deleted others along the way but the ones that are here have passed the test of you readers.
The only books that I might continue with are "Whispers At Dusk" but only because it doesn't have a schedule and its short stories only and "Bound By A Bullet" because it's already written and all I need is to type it.
Anyway I hope you all understand and will be here to support me when I come back. The books that are already uploaded will stay on here so you can always come back to read them if you miss them.
For now, Adios, till the stars align our paths again. I love you all ❤❤❤.
As Cesar would say, Te amo mami.
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