Epilogue （Ophelia）
“And here’s Mintmaker,” I said proudly, patting the horse’s warm hazelnut-colored flanks. “Former last-place finisher at the Kentucky Derby and now full-time lady of leisure at the Barrington Greener Acres.”
My tour group ooed and aaahhed. After the scandal at the Kentucky Derby last year, Mintmaker was one of the most infamous horses in the world, though that was hardly her fault. I handed her a handful of hay.
“What about your entry in the Derby this year?” one of the visitors asked.
“Barrington Stables is under new management,” I said happily. “And after all these new changes, I have complete confidence going forward. Bloodmate is one of the favorites to win, but even if he doesn’t, he always has a home at Greener Acres.”
Just then, I heard a door shut and Teddy walked down the steps of the little adjacent office where we managed Barrington Stables Greener Acres (and I finished my Master’s thesis), holding the incredibly adorable 3-month-old Wentworth Barrington in his arms.
The tour group erupted in delighted coos at our baby’s round cheeks, chunky legs, and shock of bright blonde hair.
“All clean with a fresh organic diaper,” Teddy said, smiling at me.
I bit my lip at the smug expression on my twin’s face.
Told you I’d change all the diapers.
“There’s such a family resemblance between the two of you,” an older woman gushed. “You can really tell that you’re related! Look at those blue eyes!”
Teddy’s lips twitched with amusement.
As far as anyone knew, Teddy was simply the world’s most supportive brother. And if anyone guessed the truth, the CEO of Barrington Industries was rich enough and powerful enough to make the problem go away.
I held out my arms for our baby, cradling him as we leaned against the fence, loving the milky smell of his sweet head, my other hand patting Mintmaker’s soft warm nose.
“It’s almost Derby Week,” I said as we watched the tour bus leave.
“I enjoyed breeding you at last year’s Derby,” Teddy replied, his voice warm like a hot drink, like a crackling fire, like home. “You looked incredible with that huge round belly. I want to do that again.”
“I recall other less pleasant things about that weekend,” I said, but I felt my belly flip-flop with a heady anticipation at the thought of my brother’s relentless breeding obsession.
“Don’t be mad,” he said as we watched twilight steal over the rolling green fields. “But you know I killed Dad last year, right?”
I laughed and leaned back against his broad chest, moving Wentworth to my shoulder so I could snuggle him closer.
“I kind of guessed when he was killed in the middle of the Kentucky Derby in broad fucking daylight. Only one person I know is absolutely psychotic enough to do that.”
Teddy had a burp rag on his shoulder and some spit-up on his navy blue polo shirt and I had never been more fucking turned on by him.
“You’re not mad?” he asked, putting out a finger to gently stroke my face.
“Dad would have tried to drag you to prison,” I shrugged. “He got what he deserved.”
My brother’s grin was huge, and he pulled a full bottle of my breastmilk from the back pocket of his suit pants. “Let’s go home and put our baby to bed.”
He gave me the baby carrier, and I put Wentworth carefully inside.
Then, hand in hand, we walked across the fields to our home.