Epilogue
THEIR HANDS HOLD ON TO EACH OTHER…
LENNON
One year later…
Istare at my reflection as I stand in my wedding dress, ready to walk down the aisle and I can almost see London smiling back at me.
Dash was right, I’ve stopped hiding my scars. And with my bangs grown back out, I look more like London again. My biggest wish is that she could be here with me.
I stopped by her grave and told her how much I love her.
I’ll never stop talking to her like she’s here with me.
In a sense, I know she is. I see her when I look at myself.
I hear her in my voice at times. I make cookies often, especially chocolate chip.
I even have my own dedicated cookie drawer now.
But I still can’t share in her love of root beer.
My mom has already taken her place for our wedding ceremony, and my dad will be back momentarily to walk me down the aisle to my future husband.
But these last moments leading up to it…they belonged to London. She should be here holding my hand and telling me to get over my nerves. This is the man I’ve loved and wanted this life with for as long as I can remember.
She should be standing next to me, holding my bouquet when Dash and I say our “I do’s” to each other. She should be here to see it’s finally happening. And she was right all along.
My finger reaches for the mirror, but just as I’m about to touch it, a knock sounds at the door. I glance at it for a moment before glancing back at the mirror and shaking my head while smiling. I lift my chin and whisper, “London Skye, not cool.”
“Come in,” I answer.
Audrey slips through the door, and her gaze travels the length of my wedding dress.
“Wow, Lennon. You’re simply stunning,” she says as she swipes at her cheek and sniffles.
“Thank you. You look gorgeous as always.”
She blushes a bit before clearing her throat and saying, “Thanks. I hope it’s okay that I’m in here with you.
I know this time would have most likely belonged to you and London.
I know I’m not her, but I am about to be your sister too, and I thought I should give you something borrowed if you didn’t have it yet,” she says.
“Oh, uh. I actually don’t have something borrowed. I have everything else.”
She reaches into the pocket of her dress. “Turn around and face the mirror.”
I do as she says, and she brings something over my head. It’s a necklace, and when she fastens it, I know exactly who it belongs to…London.
I stare at it through my watery lashes and touch the diamond solitaire now hanging from my neck.
“But how?” I ask.
I gave this necklace back to Hendrix after Jackson attacked me at Tyler Motorsports. He gave it to her, so it only seemed fair that he should have it back.
“Let’s just say, a certain doctor wanted London to be with you in whatever way she could. So, he wanted you to wear it,” she says.
“I don’t know what to say. Thank you. And I’ll tell him too,” I say as I grab her hands.
“But thank you. You knew I needed a piece of her with me the way only a sister could.”
She swipes under her eyes again before pulling me in for a hug.
And that’s when my dad knocks to let me know it’s time.
Audrey gives me one last hug and slips back out of the room to let my dad see me.
His eyes water as he notices London’s necklace.
He leans over and kisses my forehead.
“She’ll always be with us, Lennon, but especially you. She’s just watching from a place we can’t see yet,” he says.
I nod. “I know. I love you, Dad.”
He takes my hand, and we start our walk to where the man of my dreams, my forever, stands waiting for me to join him, in heart, in spirit, and in the changing of my last name.
Once the vows are said, the rings are exchanged, and our lips have kissed, we face the world, hand in hand as the preacher says, “It’s my honor to introduce to you for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. Dash Conrad.”
Three years later…
DASH
We’re back in a hospital room, a place I swore I’d never go again unless there was no other option. But here we are.
Except, this time, no one is hurt.
We’ve started a brand-new chapter…one where we’re parents. I glance at Lennon as she holds one tiny bundle in her arms, and I stare down at the other tiny bundle in mine as I join them on the bed.
That’s right…we had twins. Except our twins are boys.
Tyler and Skyler Conrad.
Our family, including Hendrix and his girlfriend, all enjoyed their visits today, and Lincoln, who was moved to tears when he learned our boys’ names, was heard whispering as he held them both close, one in each arm like I’m sure he did when Lennon and London were born…
“Drive fast, heart steady, live free.”
Another generation of heart-driven racers has been born. And when they’re side by side, their tiny hands hold on to each other.
The End