EPILOGUE
Cope
Two days later…
Cope was in the kitchen stirring the contents of the crockpot. By request, he was making his famous pot roast for dinner the night before the kids went back to school and Jude went back to work full time.
The last thirty-six hours had been jam packed with making sure his hard-headed husband and son didn’t do anything to injure themselves further. Thankfully, Jude had pulled out a LEGO kit and sat with Wolf and Lizzie around the coffee table and built together.
He heard the doorbell ring and knew it was Ten’s family. Thank goodness, Cope could use some adult conversation.
“Hey, Uncle Cope!” Everly ran to him and gave him a hug. “I brought someone who wants to talk to you.”
“Hello, Cope,” Amity said, appearing by Everly’s side.
“Amity, this is a surprise.” Cope hadn’t expected to see the spirit again. He’d been so busy with Wolf and Jude at the theater that he’d lost track of her when the paramedics arrived.
“I’ll leave you two alone. Remember, Amity, you can come see me anytime you like, although I think you’re gonna be busy for the next little while.” She offered a mysterious grin and ran out of the room.
“What a lovely child,” Amity said. “She’s brilliantly gifted, eager to learn, and strong. Just the kind of young woman I always imagined my Verity would be someday.”
“You have never reunited with your daughter?” Cope couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Amity shook her head. “After I was hanged, I stayed with Verity. I wanted to watch her grow up, but instead had a front row seat to my worst enemy marrying my husband. Rebekah made sure my little girl didn’t know I existed.
Charles went along with her. I was so heartsick over this that I left Salem and never came back.
Not until Alistair reached out to me through a psychic medium. ”
“He did?” Cope had never heard this part of the story before.
“Imagine people being able to use their gifts out in the open and to make an honest living speaking to the dead?” Amity sighed. “Alistair told me he wanted to meet me and learn our family magick. I was thrilled that after all these years someone had come looking for me.”
“Alistair is your six times great-grandson. He’s a direct descendant of Verity. I was able to meet one of my mother’s ancestors several years ago and enjoyed learning everything I could about our Devereaux magick. It was a dream come true.” Cope wished he’d had more time to spend with Camden.
“But unlike Alistair, you didn’t use that magick against anyone.” Amity wore a sad frown.
“I almost did the other night, Amity.” Cope didn’t want to think about how close he’d come to using magick against her.
“Ah, the death spell. Your ancestor taught you the counter spell?”
“He did. That night at the theater was the only time I’ve ever come close to using either spell.”
“I’m so sorry I used it to hurt Alistair.
” Amity dashed tears away from her eyes.
“I’ve spent my entire eternity alone and was so happy to have found a connection.
I let my loneliness blind me, not only to what Alistair was using my wisdom for, but also for what he’d done to his wives. It’s my fault those women died.”
Cope shook his head. “It’s not your fault.
Alistair didn’t use your spells or charms to hurt those women.
He was the monster, not you. I don’t know if you’re aware, but Alistair was arrested for hurting Jude and Wolf, and is now being investigated for Endora Bartley’s murder.
I have a feeling there will be a lot more investigations to come.
” As he spoke, Cope caught movement out of the corner of his eye.
The white light had appeared near the kitchen table.
A young woman dressed in a colonial dress stood just inside.
“I believe someone’s here to see you.” Cope pointed.
Amity’s eyes followed Cope’s direction. “Oh, my. Is that for me?”
“It is and there’s someone very special waiting to meet you.” Cope knew exactly who the young woman was.
“Mother?” she asked, when Amity approached.
“Verity? Is that you?” Amity stepped closer to the light.
“It is! I have waited so long to meet you.” Verity held her arms open to her mother.
“Please thank Everly and tell her I’ll visit soon.” Amity’s eyes never left her daughter.
“Be well, Amity. Enjoy your time together.” Cope felt his emotions rise as mother and daughter embraced. The light slowly faded behind them. Seeing the white light never got old.
Cope took a minute to get himself together. “Dinner’s ready!” He called, reveling in the mad dash of his family running into the kitchen.
Cope knew he’d made a complete mess of the situation with Alistair. He’d let his pride get in the way of common sense and put his family at risk. He’d spent the last few days feeling guilty, but now, he was filled with hope for the future.
His ghost hunt for Amity resulted in seeing her spirit reunite with Verity after three centuries, and with Alistair in jail, Cope realized that him speaking up had put a killer behind bars and kept a lot of women safe. He could live with that.
Learning from your mistakes was the best lesson of all.
THE END