Epilogue - Charlotte
I stretch down and touch my toes, exhaling long and deep.
“That’s it. Release the muscles before you come back up and we get onto our mats for five minutes of meditation.” Daisy’s tranquil voice carries across the room as we all get settled, lying face up on the mats as she turns down the lights.
I’m now a regular at the yoga community nights, and I do a few other paid classes as well. It’s been nice to spend time doing the activities I love, and it’s a great way to get rid of any stress.
“Breathe in two, three, four, and out, two, three, four…” Her voice gets softer and softer until we’re all lying in the darkened room, no sounds but a soft, soothing melody of wind pipes playing in the background.
My eyes are closed, and I breathe deep, but I can’t quiet my mind. I wonder briefly if Connor will start snoring again, like he did last week, and I roll my lips at the memory.
If I knew my life would work out like it has, then I would’ve made my way to Whispers with Preston much sooner.
I’m now working full time at the distillery as their Sustainability Officer, and I love it.
Tanner and Connor are great bosses, and they’ve given me a big budget to work with, their commitment toward a sustainable business one I admire.
I’m flying to LA to speak at a sustainability conference next week, and I can’t wait. My career is thriving.
I had to give up the diner. It was something that I didn’t want to do, but Rochelle and I remain close. All of us are always there in our booth at the back of the diner, grabbing dinner or a cupcake after school when we can.
I see Dad often. He stepped down as the CEO of Titan Energy but remains on the board.
He put forward a motion to expand on the very small environmental department Titan has and often asks my view on things.
While we still have a way to go to get back to the happy family we once were, he’s purchased a place here in Whispers to be closer to Preston and me, and we get to spend time with him almost every other week.
He’s committed to being a present father, and stepping away from the family business is a big part of that.
Preston is going from strength to strength.
He’s put his name down to play baseball next season, and his grades continue to impress me.
After scoring an A-plus on his Benjamin Franklin project, Sutton now sits with him every night after school to do homework.
Sometimes, it’s hard to see who’s teaching who, but it’s cute, and I know they both love it.
“Let the breath carry your thoughts…” Daisy’s voice cuts in, her melody starting to bring people back around.
My thoughts continue to wander, thinking about the vast array of wildflowers that now bloom around the cottage.
I spend a lot of time there, tinkering with my projects while Sutton hikes around the forest and checks on his bees.
We still haven’t found any dead bodies, but we know the soil is good because the flowers are spreading amazingly well and my apple tree is looking like it’s going to provide a great harvest.
“And as we come back to ourselves, think of the one thing that makes you smile…” Daisy sits up, and after just a few more minutes of meditation, people move around, the class now over.
But before I move, I do what I always do and think of Sutton.
The man who’s by my side every day and in my bed every night.
The man I never expected, but the one who continues to show up for me anyway.
When I grin and open my eyes, looking at the door, there he is, standing there, watching. Waiting for me like he does after every class. Still in his baseball hat and white t-shirt, he holds up another book he has purchased on bees, and I laugh as I gather my things to meet him.
“What are you doing?” I walk straight into his arms, and he holds me tight. To outsiders, we look like we haven’t seen each other in weeks, not merely an hour since he dropped me off.
“I saw this at the homeware shop. Evelyn told me she got it in just for me.” He grins proudly, and I laugh, then snort, thinking about all the ladies who almost run over themselves to cater to the celebrity who now lives in their town.
“Oh, heads-up,” he says quickly as we push through the doors to walk out to the truck. I hear it then. The familiar click of cameras that now follow our every move.
When Sutton and I first came out, it was a whirlwind. We ignored it all, mostly because I was still cementing my relationship with my father, and we were all focused on ensuring Preston was looked after and had everything he needed. After a while, attention died down, almost completely.
Then when he proposed, the media swirled back into town and haven’t really left.
“Sutton, give us a smile.”
“Sutton, when are you coming back to LA?”
“Charlotte, Titan Energy share price has skyrocketed. Do you have any comment?” Sutton moves us through the few waiting media quickly and gets us into his truck.
“Vultures.” He starts to drive. We’re both used to it, but neither of us love it.
“Where are we going?” I look out at the beautiful town we now call home, knowing we are going in the wrong direction.
“I want to check on the wedding prep.”
I grin, loving how he’s organizing the entire thing. I’ve been so busy in my new role with Whiteman’s that when we both decided we wanted a quick engagement, he put his hand up to plan.
“I can’t believe it’s only a week away!” I look at the diamond on my finger, seeing it sparkle.
“Mmmm. Can’t wait.” He grabs my hand, bringing it to his lips as he turns down the now familiar road. “It’s going to look amazing,” he assures me as we turn up the gravel driveway and already see trucks and cars parked everywhere.
“Security’s already here?” I ask as we jump out and start to walk hand in hand.
“I have them positioned around the perimeter.”
I look at the cottage that we’ve refurbished and smile when I see the second apple tree growing well.
“Rochelle and Tanner are going to set up the food and bar here. Valet will grab the cars and take them up to Billionaire Boulevard, out of the way,” he starts explaining, and butterflies flutter through my chest.
“I have to say, I never thought I would ever get married in a place we call serial killer forest.”
Sutton’s grin is wicked when I chuckle.
“Yeah, your father wasn’t pleased. But this is us, Tinker…” He stops walking and stands in front of me, pressing a soft kiss to my lips.
“It is, isn’t it?” I beam up at him, excitement at becoming Mrs. Sutton Silvers building even more.
“He also wasn’t pleased with the honeymoon destination…” Sutton murmurs, and I laugh.
“I can’t imagine why,” I say sarcastically, already dreaming about lying in that pool at Dragonfly in the South of France.
“Actually, while we’re on the topic of parents… is there anything going on with your dad and my mom?” Sutton’s frown is enough to tell me he wouldn’t be happy if there was.
I roll my lips. They get along well, and truth be told, I have no idea if anything is going on, but they’re friends, and it’s nice to see. They’re lonely, and I’m happy they have some company.
“I don’t know… but look…” I point to his arm, where a large bumblebee sits. “They follow you everywhere.”
He huffs a laugh. “I’m a real-life pied piper.” We watch it carefully before it flies off.
“So, you really ready to get hitched this weekend?” He steps closer, our hands dropping so he can encase my waist, and I grip on to his shoulders.
“I can’t wait.”
“Neither can I, Tinker… Neither can I…” His lips hit mine, and as we stand in serial killer forest, I know that my life turned out pretty good. All thanks to my mom and her love of bees. And even my dad, because without him, I never would’ve known Whispers existed.