Epilogue. Didn’t See You Coming
EPILOGUE
Shelby
Didn’t See You Coming
“What do you mean the book is done?” her editor’s voice squeaked over the line. “You had two more weeks!”
“I know but it’s done. I feel really great about it, but you should know if the publisher doesn’t love it, I’m going to self-publish it anyway.”
“Shelby Shepherd, you are the most talented author I’ve ever worked with and if they don’t love it, then I hope you’ll hire me as a freelancer to help you edit the entire series.”
Shelby grinned. “It’s really good—you’re going to cry.”
“I can’t wait. Send it on over.”
“Done.”
“Hey, is that your grandfather’s library I see in the background?”
“Yep, and I’m staying in Sandy Point permanently now.”
“Fantastic for you, and your books. I’ll be in touch soon.”
Once she was done with the call, she walked back out to the living room but was surprised to find Declan Shaw sitting there with Wes.
It was a Saturday and Wes had the day off.
Things had finally started to quiet down two weeks after her brother’s arrest and Wes announcing his formal bid for sheriff.
“Hi, Declan, did I miss some new lawsuit from my family over Pops’s estate?” she asked, sitting next to Wes. But then she noticed Wes was holding an envelope.
“Hi, Shelby, sorry to intrude. I just had something to drop off for Wes.”
“Everything okay?” she asked, looking from Declan back to Wes who just seemed stunned.
“I’ll leave you to try and enjoy your Saturday. Wes, when you’re ready, you let me know how you want to handle this,” Declan said, then let himself out.
“Wes, what happened? I mean if you don’t want to talk about it that’s okay too.”
He handed her the envelope and she pulled out a few sheets of paper with what looked like old medical test results. At the top it read DNA test.
“This says Renn Ripley Walker, is a one hundred percent match with Michael Ripley Hart. Wait, isn’t that your dad’s name?”
“Yes.” His voice was gravelly, like he was unsure what he was agreeing to.
“Your dad had a fourth son? But not with your mom?”
Wes stood and faced the large windows that looked out at the water, which was calm and in complete contrast to how he must be feeling.
“Does anyone else know?”
“I don’t think so, but this Renn wants to meet us.”
She walked over to stand next to him and held his hand. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to have to call a family meeting and tell everyone before he just shows up to Gran’s house and announces his existence. But I have no idea how she’s going to take this.”
“I’ll go with you. What about your brothers?”
“I have to tell them too, but I think I need to meet this man first. See for myself.”
“Okay, but what did Declan say? How do you even know if these test results are legit?”
“He said they’re from a legitimate service he’s used for years in custody battle cases. He believes they’re authentic but has requested a copy from the company. And this kid, this man is staying at the inn, waiting to meet us.”
Shelby couldn’t imagine how Wes must be feeling, to find out he might have a half-brother he never met and that his father may have betrayed his mom was a shock, to say the least.
“I wonder why he’s showing up now, after all this time I mean. Maybe he didn’t know who his father was until now?”
“There’s only one way for me to find out.”
She’d never seen Wes look so shook or worried. Just when everything seemed to be calming down. But she knew one thing, she’d stand by him through anything.
The End
Read the bonus Epilogue here.