34. Epilogue One
THIRTY-FOUR
EPILOGUE ONE
MARISSA
A Few Months Later
"I can't believe we're here. Not after last night," Cain's voice is pitched low as we sit in the church, waiting.
"Are they going to have the service for Ward here? While everyone's in town for what should've been the wedding?" My heart aches as I think back to Katie coming into the shop earlier this year, telling me about her arranged marriage.
Where we are - should be her wedding, but Ward was killed last night in an accident that no one anticipated. I have no idea what's going to happen, but the service makes sense. They already had this space, along with family and friends gathered.
"I don't know. Neither do my parents." He nods toward where they're sitting up more toward the front, near Ward’s immediate family.
I can't imagine we'd be doing anything else. "How are you?" I whisper, running my hand along his thigh. "That was your cousin."
"I know, but I'm making it, just like the rest of us. We haven't been close in years, and I hate to say it, but being a cop, I'm desensitized."
I get it. I watch a lot of true crime, and I read dark romance. Some things that shock others don't affect me at all. Slipping my hand into his, we sit there with everyone milling around. It seems as if no one knows what in the hell is happening. I cross my legs and glance around. What is everyone else thinking? That's when the preacher appears at the front of the church, and a group of men walk in to stand beside him.
"What the hell?" Cain mouths after glancing over at me.
One of those men is Trace, Ward's brother. He's standing where a groom would, if he were about to get married. "Is this what I think it is?" I ask, murmurs going up all around us.
"I think he's going to marry Katie. Holy shit."
Before I can say anything, the wedding march plays, and in comes Katie at the back of the church. Her eyes meet mine, and she looks terrified, but with her chin firm, she continues the steps up the aisle.
When she gets there, the preacher turns to us.
"We are gathered here today to join this man and this woman..."