Epilogue
It was so good to be home, Rick couldn’t help thinking as they walked into the house, surprising both Grace and Johnny.
“Mommy, mommy,” Johnny cried. “I thought you’d never come home. We sure missed you.”
After Johnny was through hugging Shanna, he turned to Rick, running into his arms. Picking him up, Rick swung him high in the air until he started giggling.
“We sure missed you, John,” Rick said firmly, resting Johnny’s feet on the ground as he rubbed a hand over his short blond hair.
Grace wiped away tears from her eyes as Rick approached and gave her a big hug. “I don’t know what we would have done without you. Will you come along with us tonight to fetch Anya? Shanna has been missing everyone so much.”
“Are you sure I won’t be in the way? I’ll admit, I’d love to see the reunion, not only between Shanna and Anya, but also between Shanna and her sister.”
“Let’s order a bunch of food and have it delivered before we arrive. They won’t know what the heck is going on,” Rick muttered.
“That’s a great idea,” Shanna said, crying in full force as she hugged Grace tightly.
* * *
They sat in the SUV for nearly ten minutes waiting for Shanna to get the courage to head to the front door of the old family cabin.
“Ready?” Rick finally asked, looking quizzical.
Heaving a sigh, she straightened her shoulders, opening the passenger door to step outside.
But before they even had a chance to head to the front door, it was flung open wide as her sister Anya began running towards her.
“Shanna. Oh, Shanna,” Anya bellowed, embracing her tightly within her arms. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
Feeling like they’d come full circle as she thought about all that they’d been through, Shanna cried, the tears falling down her face nonstop. “I love you, Anya.”
“Eric and I are married,” Anya said, crying too.
“So are Rick and I,” Shanna replied, reaching for Rick’s hand. “I need to see our baby.”
Anya blinked, looking at Rick before she started laughing.
“Follow me. I sure do love that little girl,” Anya admitted.
And Shanna and Rick, along with Grace and Johnny, followed Anya into the cabin as everyone’s laughter echoed through the air.