Epilogue
Cortney
One year later…
A gentle breeze blows my hair across my face. I lean against the stained wooden gate and watch the summer sun begin to dip below the tall pines. The light orange sky gives way to lavender the farther I look to the east.
“Are you okay?”
The scent of pine and something mechanical reaches me at the same time as Spencer’s voice.
I straighten my chin and suppress a sigh, meeting his eyes. “I think so.”
“You’ve done well, Cortney. He’s going to be fine.”
I glance across the grassy meadow at the Sanctuary to the boys playing catch with their uncles. “It feels so far. It’s been the two of us for so long. I’m just not sure what a life looks like with Ollie not at home.”
“We can go visit him whenever you want. Minneapolis isn’t that far.”
“I know.”
“And there will be plenty of home games.”
Both Lincoln and Ollie beat the odds and were accepted to play D1 baseball at the state university. Move-in day is tomorrow, and I’m a wreck.
I thought his high school graduation was hard. I cried through most of the ceremony. It started when the baby pictures scrolled across the flat screen above the stage. Seeing the graduating class in the form of their younger selves sent me into Spencer’s strong arms only five minutes in. That emotional surge has nothing on this.
“I’m so glad they’ll have each other. This would be ten times harder if I were sending him off alone.”
“I know.” Spencer sifts his fingers through my hair. I love that he doesn’t try to fill the silence while I fight to get my bearings.
“But I’m so damn proud.” My side collides with his, and he wraps his arm around my shoulders.
“You should be. You’ve raised a hell of a kid.”
“Thank you, honey.”
Spencer turns me into his chest and kisses my forehead. His palms rub soothingly up and down my arms.
“Want to get back to the party, or do you need more time?”
I release a weighty breath. “I think I could use the distraction. Tomorrow is going to come whether I’m ready or not.”
Spencer takes my hand tightly in his, giving me a grounding squeeze. “You’re not alone in this. I’m going to be here every step of the way. On the good days and the sad ones.”
“Love you, Spence.”
With a finger crooked beneath my chin, he tilts my head back to deliver a soft kiss. “Love you too, Kitten.”
Together, we rejoin my family beneath the canvas tent. The little ones wander about, kicking soccer balls and chasing bugs, and I’m struck again with nostalgia for the years long gone. It went too fast. One minute, he was learning how to pitch in Little League, and the next, he’s off to college to chase the next adventure.
Mom steps up beside me and pulls me into a hug.
“Hi, Momma.”
“How are you holding up?”
“Is it that noticeable?”
She holds me at arm’s length, her expression crooked. “You’ve looked better, sweetheart.”
The sound I make is a cross between a laugh and a groan. “I thought I was hiding it well.”
“It’s not something you should hide. He might not say it, but he’s going to miss you too.”
“You were lucky. None of us went far from home.” I lean over and tuck my head into her shoulder. The familiar scent of sugar and apples reminds me of warm hugs and the sense of belonging I craved for most of my childhood.
“I have Lee to thank for that. If he hadn’t come up with the idea for the Sanctuary, the rest of you might not have had a reason to stick around.”
“Is he hiring? Maybe it’s not too late for him to offer Ollie a job.”
She laughs and gives my head a motherly pat. “If he could he would, but I’m not sure that’s what Oliver wants.”
“You’re right.” I watch my son jog closer. Spencer strolls a step behind him. “I know he wouldn’t because he thought long and hard about this decision.”
We spent many nights discussing his future in his junior and senior years of high school. The choices weighed on him. It got to the point that he and Spencer would sit on our porch at night and just talk. The two of them grew close over the past couple of months in a way I never imagined would be possible.
“Mom! We have to open the cards. Lincoln and I have to go soon.”
“Where are those boys off to?” Mom asks, scrutinizing her grandson.
“I think they have some girls they need to say goodbye to before we leave tomorrow.”
She catches my eye, and we laugh.
“I wouldn’t know anything about that.” She nudges me with her elbow and winks.
Nancy Powell knows everything, especially if it has to do with one of her brood.
When word got around to her about what Jim Perry did to Spencer, she was irate. Not only did she tell me she was furious, but she went down to the police station the very next day and demanded his immediate resignation. I wasn’t in the room, so I’m not sure what exactly she said when she got there, but the rumor is that he packed up his stuff and moved out to North Dakota with his uncle that same week. Whether or not that was a response to Sutton’s threat or Mom’s remains a mystery.
I couldn’t care less as long as he left town.
Ollie and Lincoln sit atop the tables and tear through a large stack of envelopes wishing them well on their new adventure. The growing stack of cash only reminds me how loved they all are—we all are. I glance around the group at all the people I love, and I know I’ll be okay no matter what tomorrow brings. This family will make sure of it, even if it takes some time for me to get there.
When their excitement slows and the envelopes are reduced to shredded paper, I approach my son. This is the last time we’ll all be together as a big bunch until I can convince him to come home for a weekend. I wring my hands together. The silver bracelets on my arm tinkle, drawing his eyes upward.
“Hey, Mom.” His arms open, and I step forward for a hug.
“I’m so proud of you.” I squeeze extra tight before letting go. There will be plenty of time tomorrow for goodbye. No need to prolong it starting now.
“Thanks.” He returns my squeeze.
Stepping back, I dab the corners of my eyes. “Going out?”
His smile widens, showcasing straight teeth thanks to the fortune I spent on braces his sophomore year.
“We have a couple of people we’d like to see.”
“Have fun but don’t stay out too late. We have to hit the road by seven o’clock.”
His eye roll contains half the heat as usual. “I know.”
“We’ll load up the truck. Everything all packed?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“Give me a break. This is the last time I get to boss you around.”
That playful smile grows. “I know.”
“All right, well, be safe.” I cross my arms, physically trying to hold myself together.
“Actually, there’s one more thing.” He reaches behind him and draws out another white envelope. Hopping off the table, he stops in front of me. I look at Lincoln, surprised to find he isn’t holding one too. He just shrugs and slinks off to join the others.
“What’s this?”
“Before I give this to you, I need to make it clear that this was partially my idea. We don’t need anyone going viral on social media calling this bad etiquette.”
A few people behind me laugh.
“Let’s not go viral on social media at all. How about that?” I say, feeling like the butt of some joke. Is this a prank? I glance around for someone waiting to attack with a Nerf gun or lob a paint-filled water balloon.
“It’s fine.” Ollie touches my shoulder, then holds out the envelope. “This is for you.”
As I take the heavy paper, he continues talking. Suspicions prickle to life at his calm, almost rehearsed tone.
“I’m going to miss you, Mom. I know this is probably way harder on you than it is for me. It’s always just been the two of us, and I think the most important thing for me is that you don’t feel alone. I know we have a big family, but I remember when you explained to me the difference between having a family who loves you and someone special.”
While he talks, I fit a trembling finger beneath the seal. With a tug, I separate the flap, and something heavy falls out into my palm.
“I’m really happy you have someone special.”
I stare at the ring in my palm. The sterling silver band and square-cut diamond surrounded by smaller stones. I flit my gaze back to my son’s face.
He sets his hands on my shoulders and gives me a nudge. “Turn around.”
I close my eyes. Tears suddenly collect along my lash line. I close my fingers around the ring, afraid my shaking hands will send it tumbling to the grass. Ollie gives me a slow twirl. He hugs me from around my back and kisses the side of my head. Then he steps back.
“Open your eyes, Kitten,” Spencer says.
Through wet, fluttering lashes, I find Spencer on one knee. My entire family and his is spread out around him in a semicircle.
Spencer turns his chin to his shoulder. “Just to reiterate, I did get permission for this.”
Chuckles ripple through the small crowd.
Spencer takes my left hand in his warm, strong fingers. His thumb brushes softly over my fourth knuckle, and he plucks the ring from my palm.
“I know you recognize this ring. When you gave it back to me on the plane, I held on to it in the hopes we’d someday find ourselves right here. We have a lot of history together. Most of it good, some of it bad. But it’s long and complicated and something only the two of us will understand. This last year has been incredible. I knew at eighteen, just as I know today, that you are the love of my life. And I’ve been waiting more than twenty years to get down on one knee in front of you and ask you a very important question.”
I can’t help the tears that leak down my cheeks as I stifle a sob.
“Cortney Elizabeth Powell, will you marry me?”
I’m nodding before I can get any words out. “Yes!”
Spencer slips the ring on my finger and surges to his feet. I kiss him hard as my family claps in the background. “I love you, Cortney.”
“I love you too.”
He swipes at the tears streaming down my cheeks. “I’ll buy you a new ring. This one is more of a symbolic thing.”
“I don’t want a new one.” I hold my hand out, admiring the shimmering stone. “I want to go back to the beginning. With you, this ring, and a real honeymoon.”
Then, turn the page to start reading Lee and Juniper’s story, ABANDONED , Book One of the Powell Sanctuary Series.