Epilogue - Savannah
Leaving Aiden and Penny was the second most difficult thing I have ever done. Aiden didn’t ask me to stay, and I didn’t ask him to leave. We talk nearly every day on video calls, but it isn’t the same as being with him. There are no kisses and hugs, which is something I had come to love.
I have also been keeping in touch with my mom as we try to build a new relationship instead of fixing an old one. I’ve gotten to know Max as well, and he’s an absolute hoot when he gets going. He’s a shy guy until he gets comfortable with someone, so it’s nice to know that he’s comfortable around me. I’ll be heading to Savannah for Christmas this year to give the whole “family thing” a go.
My despondency catches the attention of my team and my two bosses, Ethan and Ben. “What is your malfunction, Savannah?” Ben asks, blunt as always.
“There’s no malfunction, Ben. I just had my oil changed. I’m all lubricated and ready to go!”
Jessie starts cackling like a hyena next to me, while Ben simply stares at me stoically and says, “Care to rephrase?” I don’t understand what he means until I ponder my words. Burying my face in my hands, I simply say, “All I mean is that I’m good to go.”
Ethan tries to hide his smirk and fails epically. “Don’t worry, Savannah. We’ve all said things that inadvertently came out as innuendoes. There was the time Ben said…”
Ben pushes Ethan, “That story will go with you to the grave, my friend. Moving on. Savannah, what’s the wrap-up for the Shaw case?”
I open my folder, even though there is no need to look at my notes. “It’s pretty cut and dry. The FBI arrested the guilty parties but only charged the O’Sullivans since their dealings crossed state lines. I have not yet been updated on the sentencing.”
Roger raises his hand to speak. “Deputy Director Finnegan informed me that both Sean and Conor will be serving life sentences; 20 years for each count of money laundering and fraud. The FBI was unable to prove that they killed their father based on the video we were able to record of Conor’s confession. Either way, they’ll never see the light of day again after the evidence that Aiden’s grandparents kept. There were 1,248 counts of money laundering alone.”
Ethan nods toward Roger and then swivels his chair so that he faces me, “What else?”
“Amy continues to receive help, and she and Aiden communicate via letters. The letters are like two pen pals talking rather than her stalking. She got a job at a marketing firm in California and is doing quite well. Patricia dropped her suit against Aiden and was charged by local law enforcement with conspiracy to commit fraud, but none of the video evidence connected her definitely to any of Conor, Sean, or Swank’s actions. The courts, however, deemed her unfit to parent because of her ketamine habit and direct association with the O’Sullivans. As a result, Patricia can no longer attempt to gain custody of Penny ever again,” I say.
“What about Swanson Kristofferson?” my teammate, Carter, asks.
“Aiden didn’t press charges against his friend. However, Swank was removed from the team roster and banned from the league. The team came under severe scrutiny and had to forfeit their playoff spot, but the last known update is that Swank was the only player to be compromised. The league has also banned him from playing hockey in any form that results in a paycheck, including coaching. Basically, if he wants to play, he has to volunteer his time. It’s an easy sentence if you ask me, but Aiden is generous with his forgiveness,” I state.
Jerry leans forward, placing his elbows on the table and holding up a single finger. “Isn’t that what you said you love about him?”
I lean forward to meet his gaze, “Yes, but I don’t see how that’s relevant here.”
“Don’t you? His ability to look beyond the surface is what makes him special. I’d bet that Aiden saw Swank’s hurt more than his betrayal. He’s doing what he can so that Swank finds redemption through his love for his friend rather than his anger.”
I sigh. “I can’t argue with you.”
“What? You haven’t used your 6,000 words today, Savvy. Surely you can use a few of those to tell me I’m wrong,” Jerry says deadpan.
Patrick sits back in his seat, “Ariella says I need to get out of the house because I’m driving her up a wall. She’s got some bug and is sick all the time. How about we dole out assignments so I can appease my wife and give her what she wants?”
Ethan and Ben both stare at Patrick. “Dude, I know you missed the first round, but I doubt your wife is sick.”
“She’s throwing up all the time! Of course, she’s sick!” Patrick says with conviction.
A part of me hurts, but I couldn’t be happier for my friend. “Patrick, Ariella is most likely pregnant. You got married two months ago. Do the math!”
A slow smile creeps across his face. “Really?”
Ethan grins. “Welcome to the world of 3:00 a.m. grocery runs for pickles and hot Cheetos!”
Patrick looks like he’s about to vomit at the thought. “I don’t know if I can stomach watching my wife eat something so disgusting. Please tell me you have something for us.”
Ethan is sliding folders across the desk, one toward Jerry and one toward Patrick, when there’s a knock on the door.
Amelia, Ethan’s wife, comes in carrying a huge bouquet of Azaleas. “Sorry for the interruption, but I come bearing gifts!”
When she places the large bouquet in front of me, she whispers, “There’s a note.”
I take the card from the clip that holds it in place and open it up.
Did you know that Azaleas are the state flower of Georgia? Did you know that they are associated with love and passion? There are many meanings behind the Azalea, but they are alwaysused as a symbol of love. They’re beautiful and timeless, just like you.
-Aiden and Penny
Jessie snatches the card out of my hand and reads it aloud. When she’s done, she starts singing My Heart Will Go On.
“Are you singing Celine Dion?” I ask.
“I’m attempting to,” she retorts.
“Please, for everyone’s sanity, never do that again!” I tease, grabbing the card back.
“That hurts! I sing great!” she says.
Jerry mumbles, “If your audience is limited to a shower wall.”
“Oh, shut it! My shower walls applaud me every time!”
We all laugh, but what I really want to do right now is call Aiden and thank him and Penny for the lovely flowers.
“Assignments!” Ben shouts, circling us back to what we were previously discussing.
Patrick opens the folder and grins. “It looks like you’re with me, Savannah, and we’re staying local for this one.”
“Who is it?” I ask.
“The new coach for the Trenton Tornados is in need of a new wife,” Patrick says.
“What? I’m not doing the whole fake engagement thing again!”
Patrick looks despondent. “Why not? You’re the best at this sort of thing.”
I sigh. “Because I love Aiden. It was easy when I didn’t love anyone, but now that I do, I can’t pretend to love anyone else.”
“Well, that’s good to hear because I love you, too, Savannah Jones,” says a voice I’ve been longing to hear.
I look under the table and around my chair. “Who said that? It sounds like Aiden, but he’s in Savannah,” I joke.
“Anna! I’m right here!” Penny says as she scurries under the table to find me, meeting my gaze once she does.
“Dad is over there,” she says, pointing toward the door. “We wanted to surprise you! He got a job as a coach for Trenton, and I get to go to that school you told him about!”
I hit my head on the table in my excitement. “Ow!”
“Don’t hurt yourself, Anna. I’d like to marry you in one piece,” Aiden says with a chuckle. I peer over the table at him.
Roger stands up and addresses Aiden. “Mr. Shaw. What are your intentions with Savannah?”
Aiden laughs, “Okay. I see that we’re doing the whole father role-play thing.” Clearing his throat, he says, “Mr. Cavanaugh, I assure you my intentions are pure. My hopes and dreams are pinned on the idea of making Savannah Jones the future Mrs. Shaw. May I have your blessing?”
Roger pretends to make him a knight, “You have our blessing, Sir Shaw!”
Aiden laughs and walks over to me. I’m still on the floor with Penny under the table. He holds his hand out to me so I can get to my feet. “How about it, Anna? Would you like to be dubbed Mrs. Shaw?”
“Oh! My knight in shining armor!”
“Call me anything you want, as long as ‘husband’ is included.
I kiss Aiden thoroughly, the team whooping in laughter.
“I think that’s a firm ‘Yes!’” Jessie shouts.
I pull my lips away from his, “That’s a definite ‘Yes’ from me.”
Jerry opens the folder in front of him and groans when he reads the file.
He points at me, then at the folder. “I blame you for this!”
Baffled by his surliness and outburst—although I shouldn’t be—I ask, “Blame me for what?”
He slides the folder over to me, and I read the assignment out loud for him, Carter, Roger, and Jessie. “Roslynn Peretti, mid-30s, foster mom to six children, one of whom is presumed to be the child of Salvatore Hernandez, leader of the Columbian Cartel.”
“How is this my fault?” I ask.
“You spoke it into existence!” he shouts. “You said that I would fall in love with a woman and have six kids! It’s not going to happen!”
“I’m so lost,” Jessie chimes in.
“You’re not alone,” Ben says.
I double over in laughter, pointing at Jerry, “He’s the next to fall! And boy, is he going to enjoy the ride!”