Epilogue
A rcher flopped on the couch, dragging Addy down with him. Sometimes he had to remind himself that this was his real life. That he came home to Addy each night, save for when he was on a mission. When his little professor got home from teaching at the local college, they made dinner together and slept in each other’s arms. On the weekends, they typically found one adventure or another with their friends or spent time with his parents on Chesapeake Bay. The past few weeks, though, they’d been helping prepare the new vocational storefront, The Super Slice. Collin’s love of all things pizza had sparked an idea with their teacher, Mr. Bloom, to open a storefront where students with disabilities could have vocational opportunities within their community.
Other school districts had gift shops and candy stores for their special education program, and now Jacob, his girlfriend Cora, Collin, and their other friends would be able to welcome customers to enjoy pizza they had a part in creating. After a month of sanding, painting, and installing fixtures, tables, and equipment, the pizza parlor had opened. One of the specials they put on the menu was “The Quinn” after his sister’s favorite eggplant, mushroom, and ricotta pizza. He’d been incredibly touched.
“The ribbon-cutting was amazing.” The look of pure joy on Addy’s face made his heart swell with love.
“Sure was, sweetheart.” And it was. The pride on the students’ faces as the mayor cut the red satin ribbon to the store at the grand opening was unforgettable. They spent the afternoon celebrating the restaurant with Jacob and Cora welcoming patrons with their communication devices and Collin helping their lead chef to craft pizza. Another student worked the register while others cleaned tables and bussed dishes.
Addy lifted her hand and placed it against his cheek. The overhead light glinted over the square-cut emerald surrounded by a halo of diamonds on her ring finger. None of the traditional engagement rings he’d looked at had seemed quite right until he spotted the dark green stone that reminded him of the forest, a place Addy loved. He’d proposed by the campfire while watching another meteor shower from the clearing she’d once scouted out. They planned to have a relaxed ceremony and reception at his parents’ waterfront home once Brynn and Ransom’s baby was born. His mother was already discussing all the themed cocktails she planned to make. He stroked his palm over Addy’s soft hair.
“I love you, Archer. It’s only been three months since Dr. Marks was arrested, but I feel like we’ve crammed in a lifetime of adventures so far.”
“Just like our sign says.” He lifted his chin toward the mantel. As was tradition among their tight-knit family, a custom sign had been made in honor of their engagement with the words You are my greatest adventure painted over the distressed wood. The sentimental decoration mirrored the ones owned by other couples in their group. Brynn and Ransom’s was etched with the words Always keep fighting . Another hand-crafted wooden sign hung over Joker and Sam’s mantel with the inscription You are my reason . When Collin and Hannah had moved into Branch’s house, they didn’t waste any time hanging the long oak plank that read Bravest together .
He held her against his chest and could feel her heart beating in tandem with his. “I love you, too, Addy. I’m in awe of your strength. How you testified against Dr. Marks and Wyatt.”
“It was easy after Wyatt admitted to throwing rocks through our windows and knowing about Dr. Marks’s plan to kill me if I didn’t comply with his requests.”
“No more adventures of that variety, please.”
“I think we can agree on that.” She closed her lips over his and kissed him soundly.
An adventure indeed.
The End