Epilogue - Hudson
“ It’s so peaceful here,” Lacy says from beside me as our feet crunch in the snow. We are in Rovaniemi, Finland, staying in an igloo under the stars, making one of her dreams come true. Harvey was crushed he couldn’t come, but we promised him next year and his grandma is making his favorite cake to make up for it. That and the fact that Lacy has been video calling and sending him photos almost every minute of the trip has her smiling and him laughing. The way she has stepped into a parenting role with Harvey is heartwarming. He loves her and she loves him.
“Apart from the drunk Santa at the end.” I scoff, laughing. He was an old guy who clearly had a few too many whiskeys to warm up in this weather. Lacy giggles, and I bask in the sound. It has been six months since things exploded. At the time, it was stressful, but I hired good people, good lawyers, therapists, and home help for everyone, because while Lacy and her mom were the most affected, the extended family, Harvey, my parents, and the distillery all needed some guidance too.
It was money well spent as I now hold her close as we walk back to our igloo after dinner at the main hotel.
“He was very entertaining,” she says, smiling. Lacy has come a long way in her healing, and I couldn’t be prouder.
My former father-in-law was convicted this week in the court of law for the crimes of grooming underage victims, assault, and harassment. He has been dropped from ever working in education again and will serve some time behind bars. Although not enough, in my opinion.
Melody lost her license. Lost her career. She was also tried in a court of law, admitted guilt, and was let off with a hefty fine and a record. Her mother had a fall from grace, the socialite with all the money now no more. I have no idea where they are. They’re not allowed to contact us and certainly not allowed anywhere near Whispers, me, my son, my girlfriend, or my other properties. I heard they may have fled to stay with other family in Europe, but I don’t know for sure.
“I’m happy to see you smiling,” I tell her honestly. There have been a lot of tears, a lot of sleepless nights, but we have come through the other end stronger. Together.
“I feel okay now. I think the worst is behind us,” she says, and I hold her tighter.
Once Lacy came forward with the allegations and proof against Gordon, there was a huge media onslaught. While I kept her safe and protected at home, she did make a public statement, and as soon as she did, many other girls came forward. Twenty in total. Their tales were all similar to Lacy’s. Some girls fled like Lacy did, but others weren’t so lucky.
“I just really want to move forward now, you know. Connor and Victoria have been working hard and I think I might jump back into it. Working a little more will be good.”
Tanner, Victoria, and Connor have been amazing through all this. Lacy has had time away from work to deal with everything and they never hesitated to support her.
“Have you spoken to your mom tonight?” I ask her, knowing she already did.
“Yes. She and Jennifer were in Williamstown today. Apparently, they have some new women coming into the group.”
When her mother floated the idea of opening a knitting group in Williamstown for other cancer patients, Lacy was a little hesitant, but both Veronica and Jennifer have started somewhat of a movement around the Whispers region. They are often driving here, there, and everywhere, talking to other women who are sick, giving support, and Lacy’s mom is thriving.
As we continue to walk, I can see our igloo up ahead. It’s cold, and smoke puffs from our hot breaths, but the sky is clear, just as the weather predicted, and full of stars. It’s almost impossible not to look up.
“Oh, what’s that?” she asks, spotting the large telescope at the door of our igloo that I had brought in for us tonight and we come to a stop in front of it .
“This is for you,” I say to her, and she looks at me with a cute pinch between her eyebrows. Grinning, I lean over and take her lips in mine. I will never tire of this, of her. After all that we have been through, it’s nice to have everything now falling into place. I feel nervous, because now is the time for my question. I’ve been toying with it for weeks, wondering what she will say, and I’ve talked at length with Tanner about every possible scenario. Pulling back, I look into her beautiful eyes.
“So, ahhh, I got you something,” I tell her as I pull an envelope from my jacket pocket and pass it over to her.
“What is it?” she asks curiously, eyes widening.
“Just a little gift.” I press another quick kiss to her lips, relishing her smile.
“You don’t have to buy me gifts, Hudson,” she grumbles playfully as she opens the envelope, and I wait as she pulls out the piece of paper.
Her eyebrows furrow before they rise.
“What!” she gasps, her smile now taking over her face.
“I named a star after you.” Holding her a bit tighter, she hops in my arms, full of excitement.
“Seriously? You can do that?”
“I called it the Lacy Baby, and its location is just above us here. I brought in the telescope so we can try to spot it,” I explain, and her eyes well up.
“Hudson. This is too much.” She shakes her head as a tear falls down her cheek, and I lean over, rubbing it away with my thumb.
“Nothing will ever be enough for you,” I whisper, and I see her swallow before I continue .
“Hudson, I—” she starts, and I cut her off.
“Lacy, did you know that for most butterflies, finding a mate to share their short lives with is their most important mission. To meet the one among a swathe of unsuitable or unwilling partners, butterflies must adopt clever tactics. So…” I trail off before I drop to a knee in this freezing cold snow.
“Oh my God …” she whispers, her eyes now wide and watery.
“Lacy. When I first laid eyes on you, there was no doubt in my mind that you were made for me. Your smile lights up a room, your humor makes me smile, your intelligence makes me think, and your body makes me crave you incessantly. You are the most beautiful person, both inside and out, and you’re the perfect mom to Harvey, stepping into the role of a mother figure for him and he adores you just as much as I do. I want to spend every second of my day with you. Every day of the year with you and all the years of my life with you. I want you in my life for eternity. You and Harvey are, without a doubt, my most important mission in life. We both know exactly how short life can be, but I hope on the ranch, we can live a long and beautiful life, under the stars, together.” I’m leaving my heart wide-open for her. “So Lacy, will you make me the happiest man in the entire universe, and will you marry me?” I ask, my heart beating in my ears, my breath nonexistent as I wait.
She sniffs as she takes in everything I’ve just said. It’s been a big week for her, and I really wanted to cap it off with something good, with a new start. I let her take it at her own pace, watching as she takes a steadying breath .
“Yes, Hudson. Yes, I will marry you,” she says through happy tears, her mouth curving upward, and I smile. Jumping up before my knee gets frost bite, I grab her around the waist and lift her completely off her feet to kiss her. I kiss her and kiss her and kiss her before I put her back down when we’re both breathless, and I take her to the telescope, where we look for the Lacy Baby together.