Epilogue
One Week Later
Glancing down at the paper in his hand, Felipe tried to suppress the rush of anticipation lancing through his chest. The archivists had found Santiago’s address. There was no guarantee his older cousin would want to speak to him after almost twenty-five years, but he was alive, which meant there was still a chance to get to know him. More than anything, he hoped leaving the family had been a blessing and that he had lived as he wanted. As Felipe stuffed the paper into his pocket and turned down the hall, he found Gwen shutting their apartment door. A knowing grin spread across her lips when she spotted him.
“You have very good timing, Felipe Galvan. Oliver just finished setting up your surprise.”
“What surprise?”
“I guess you’ll have to go in and find out.”
A swell of warmth bloomed in Felipe’s chest as he laughed. That would explain the pops of anxiety and excitement he had felt on and off across the tether all afternoon. “Well, I had better not keep him waiting.”
Gwen patted his arm and made for the stairs with a spring in her step. Third time’s the charm, then. Standing outside the apartment door, Felipe collected himself. He knew this moment was coming, yet the thought of Oliver asking still sent his pulse racing. After everything, he never thought he would have this. Drawing in a final calming breath, Felipe stepped inside. The first thing he saw was Oliver squatting before the hearth as he arranged eclairs and half a dozen fussy pastries on a plate. A smile crossed his lips as he traced the curve of Oliver’s backside in his new green trousers before moving up to his rolled up sleeves and the wave of black hair falling across his eyes. The armchairs had been pushed aside to make room for a patchwork quilt laden with food. When Felipe shut the door, Oliver’s head snapped up, and a rush of excitement flashed through his breast.
“What’s all this?”
“We are finally having the picnic I promised you, and this time no one is going to ruin it,” Oliver declared as he steered Felipe toward the blanket. “I have coffee, pastries, cheese, sandwiches from the cafeteria, apples, and some peanut butter. I know it’s not really a picnic since it’s indoors, but I thought we could— maybe—”
Felipe cut Oliver off with a kiss. A moan escaped his lover’s lips as Oliver folded into Felipe’s arms. He pressed against him, and for a fleeting moment, Felipe considered pulling him into the bedroom and relieving him of his new clothes, but he couldn’t be the one to ruin the surprise this time. When Oliver pulled back for air, Felipe kissed him gently with a smile.
“It’s perfect, Oliver. Let’s eat before the coffee gets cold.”
Sprawled in front of the fireplace, Felipe warmed his toes by the grate and traded plates with Oliver. He never thought a turkey sandwich or coffee from the cafeteria could taste so good. His eyes trailed to the photograph of Oliver’s parents sitting beside his nana’s and the one of his family. The trip already felt so long ago, yet it had only been a few days since they got back. As they ate in contented silence, Felipe could feel Oliver watching him. A few times he thought he might speak, but every time he stuffed the crackles of excitement back down. As Oliver filled their cups again, Felipe fished out the paper from his pocket.
“I found it,” he said.
“Santiago? Are you sure?”
“I think so; the age matches. He’s been living in Texas for years it seems.” Felipe ran a hand down his cheeks. “I can’t help but wonder how many times I was in the same city as him and had no idea. Do you think it would be strange if I wrote to him?”
“No, why?”
“Because I haven’t seen him since I was a child. I don’t know if he would want anything to do with me. I couldn’t blame him if he didn’t.”
“You weren’t the one who threw him out. If he is still upset, the worst that happens is he doesn’t write back, but at least you tried. Speaking of which, have you decided what you’re going to do about your parents?”
Felipe sighed and stared at the half-eaten eclair in his hand. “No, I think I’m going to let it be for a while. If they want to write to me again, they can, but I need time to think.”
“I think that’s sensible,” Oliver replied, giving Felipe’s leg a loving squeeze. “So I should not add them to our Christmas card list?”
“No, definitely not.” Felipe brought the pastry to his lips but let his hand drop with a smile. “You have a Christmas card list?”
“Of course I do, though now, it’s our list since I assume I’ll be sending the cards out for the both of us. It originally consisted of Gwen’s family, Bennett, Mr. Turpin, and a few others, but it’s grown to include your family, Mr. Allen, Willard Jarngren, Lucien Stills—begrudgingly—and my mother, though that one will go by way of Lucien or Will. The list is getting quite extensive. I’ll have to buy another box of cards.”
Oliver’s smile faltered as he looked into the fire. “Do you think they’re okay? I feel bad that we left while things were still so unsettled.”
“The New Jersey and New York Paranormal Society are both there. I’m sure they have more help than they know what to do with. ”
With the Lady’s demise, the town would never be the same. When they emerged from the Dysterwood, they found the sky filled with smoke and the town rallying to put out a fire at the Jarngrens’ manor. They couldn’t say for sure it was the Lady’s doing, but Felipe knew Oliver still felt bad that his bargain had probably caused that. Still, it felt like a fitting way for the town to start anew. Within hours of sending a telegram to the Paranormal Society asking for help with the aftereffects of the Lady’s demise, their members had descended upon Aldorhaven like locusts. They would need a small army of people to undo years of unsustainable industry and eschewing their magic, but that’s what the Paranormal Society was for.
Lucien still looked nearly catatonic with grief when they arrived, but answering questions and playing mayor in his father’s stead seemed to perk him up. Sometimes, giving someone a task and a purpose was the best medicine. Mr. Allen, on the other hand, had been more than willing to lead the charge in fixing things. The Eklands, Hogarths, and Jarngrens were lucky he had never had political ambitions because he would have put a stop to their nonsense in a heartbeat. By the time they left, a plan had started to take shape, but he understood why Oliver would be concerned.
“If you want, we could always go back to visit before winter sets in.”
“I thought you didn’t want to visit murder towns anymore.”
“For you, I would go anywhere.”
The tether pulled taut between them as Oliver turned to Felipe. His grey eyes softened as they searched Felipe’s face, and warmth pooled beneath his heart. As Oliver cupped his cheek, Felipe leaned into his touch and pressed a kiss to his palm.
“I love you so much it scares me sometimes,” Oliver whispered. “I’ve spent so much of my life alone, but now, I can’t imagine life without you. Every beautiful or interesting thing makes me think of you, and that I want you to experience it with me.” Oliver bit his lip as tears threatened. “I’ve tried to do this twice already, but nothing feels like enough. You love me so completely, and all I can think is how I wish I could give you everything. I would give you the sun if I could.”
Felipe swallowed hard. “You give me life, Oliver. That’s plenty.”
“I still wish I could give you more.” Pulling a gold ring from his pocket, Oliver held it out to Felipe with a shaking hand. The amber glowed warmly in the firelight as he said, “Felipe, you are my light in the darkness. You are my sun. And I would give anything to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you have me?”
“Yes.”
The words had scarcely left his lips when they collided. Felipe wrapped his arms around Oliver as his partner kissed him hard enough to draw a moan from him. His hands were on his back, in his hair, running across his backside, yet it still didn’t feel close enough. Soon. When Felipe pulled back and sank onto Oliver’s lap, Oliver slipped the ring onto his finger and stared at his hand as if he still couldn’t quite believe it.
Oliver bit down the smile on his lips. “I was thinking, what if we get our portrait taken? I want to add our picture to the mantle beside the others. I want everyone to know we’re family.”
Heat burned the backs of Felipe’s eyes. He wanted that too.