Epilogue
Wrenly
One Year Later
I handed him the book then sat down next to him on our sofa.
He smiled when he looked over at me. “I hope you’re happy with them.”
I gave him a nod and he looked back down at it.
“Damn you’re gorgeous.” He was smiling as he studied the photo of me in my wedding dress looking out the double doors towards the castle grounds in Ireland we were married at three months ago. We finally received the printed version of our photos.
The fire in the fireplace crackled and popped and it was a cozy evening at home together. He turned the page and smiled fondly at the photo of Heather fixing my veil. The next photo was of Addie in her little flower girl dress. “She actually looks like an angel.”
Yeah, a fallen angel. I thought to myself.
He turned the page, and I saw his eyes soften at the photo of his mom fixing his bow tie. “My mom really is a pretty lady, isn’t she?”
“Very much so.” I was thankful for Paula, which a year ago would have been a shock.
“Still hotter than Morgan fucking Rossi.” He joked as he flipped from the photo of her as one of my bridesmaids.
He turned the pages a few more times and laughed. “As Addie would say, Uncle Clint is a pussy.” My dad was crying when he walked me down the aisle.
“Dare you to turn the page.” I prompted him and he did. “Then what do you call that guy?”
He lost his smile. “We’re not going to talk about that.”
I laughed. “Your brother tried so hard to console you.” Brock was his best man.
He flipped to the next page, obviously still embarrassed that he cried so hard at our wedding. Then he got to the part where we were introduced as husband and wife, and he kissed me. “Best moment of my life.” He leaned over and pecked my lips.
He turned the page and stared at it for a minute. “What?” He leaned in closer as if the photo wasn’t clear enough.
He studied the photo of Pugsly, the name Addie gave our dog, and tilted his head. Hanging from Pugsly’s mouth was a pair of knitted baby booties.
“Pugsly!” I called for him and he came in with the little crocheted bag and stood in front of Travis. He took it and looked inside. His eyes grew as he pulled out the positive pregnancy test. Suddenly his head moved really fast, and he looked at me with wide eyes.
“Are you serious?”
I nodded. “I saw Zoey today.”
He grabbed me and kissed me before he put his face in the crook of my neck. He was crying, and saying thank you over and over again.
It was the day Morgan had her twins that convinced me I needed to try. We held off until our wedding to start trying and I only had one cycle after we were married.
Paula was a broken woman, but we have her to thank for our second chance at life. Asking one favor of the FBI put Travis and I back on the same path. A path that gave quite a few of us the peace we’ve so desperately needed for all these years.
My family moved to Creed’s Lake at the beginning of Summer. Dad and Heather took the jobs they were offered on one condition. Jacob got to finish his school year out at his old school.
Brock and Emma settled in to their apartments, but unfortunately she lost her battle three months later. Her final wishes were to be cremated and for her family to never know her true cause of death. Both of her wishes were granted.
Brock became the talk of most of the young ladies in Sinclair County and beyond. Spending the last year with his big brother was good for Brock. Travis trained Brock in the weight room and over the last year he started filling out his jeans and t-shirt. Three months after coming to Indiana, he rented an old farmhouse with a big garage. He bought his first project car, which was a GTO for Magnus, and within two months Morgan helped him land his first contract for a car that will be in Jake’s next big movie. Four months ago, construction began on Creed’s Classic Restoration. Brock had to hire help before the building was even finished. Travis didn’t invest, but he fronted the money for Brock to invest along with Magnus, they were business partners. They named it after Creed for the clout his name would provide. For a young man that lived such a sad existence for eighteen years, he was now one of the happiest people I ever knew. Travis and Brock became like two peas in a pod. They’re best buddies and see each other every single day. Brock was saving to buy his first bike so he can join Creed’s Lake MC. To say he was underwhelmed when Travis finally told him the truth about Creed’s Lake was an understatement. Travis was expecting shock, but like most people say, Creed’s Lake is as suspicious as hell. He already knew, just like most people in Cold Springs.
The next surprise came when Charlie applied for a job at Creed’s Lake Investigations. He quit the Dark Knight’s MC and moved their family to Cold Springs. My poor husband now realizes what it’s like to be smothered by family. If it’s not Paula doting on him, it’s Heather. My dad couldn’t believe his eyes when he first came to Creed’s Lake. Travis got to see what a proud father looks like, my dad was so proud of him. Then he has Charlie who finally manipulated his way into getting access to Creed’s Lake and he always wants to take Travis and Brock fishing. Evie was thriving in her new school. She and Travis have a strange relationship. She was happy when they met, but now he’s just an old guy that’s lame. Yep, she’s a full blown teenager that is really good at come backs. She’s always ten steps ahead of Travis.
Once upon a time we were two very tiny lost hearts that found each other after crisis. Now our hearts beat as one in the body of the tiny baby we created together in the deepest love imaginable.