Epilogue
LAUREN
Two weeks later…
The bonfire crackles, sending an orange glow over the men and women gathered around it. The smell of roasting meat hangs in the air, and there’s the soft sound of conversation.
It’s the first bonfire night that Dean’s taken me to at Jake’s Retreat. I sit on a camping chair sipping wine out of a metal camping cup.
Kieren stands with a group of men on the other side of the bonfire. Dean is with him, and so are men I’m starting to get to know. Aiden, whose fiancée Lexi is in the chair next to mine, distributing wine to the women from the cooler box by her chair.
Jace, I recognize from the rescue a few weeks ago. I understand he’s a resident here, and from what Dean says, a terrible patient. He twisted his ankle on the mission, but he won’t rest like he’s supposed to.
Sam is on the other side of Aiden. He’s got a permanent grin on his face, and he leans in to hear something Kieren says.
Kieren is nearly as tall as the men, and he speaks animatedly. I don’t know what they’re saying, but they include Kieren as one of them.
I’m not sure if it’s the wine, or the fire, or the company, but a warm feeling spreads over me as I watch Kieren speak with the men.
A few weeks ago, he was being raised by a single mom, and the only male role models in his life were those he found online.
Now he’s got an entire town of them. Not just Dean, but every man here was a veteran.
Every man here has values and honor, and while I’m sure they have their flaws, they’re good men at heart.
I’m no longer worried about who he might find on the internet or the influence his father has on him. With these men in his life, Kieren is going to turn out okay. And that’s all that a mother wants for her son, for him to grow up into a good man.
I sip my wine and sigh contentedly. I’m only having small sips because Dean and I haven’t used protection for the past two weeks.
The thought of having another baby makes me nervous and excited.
This time I’ll have Dean by my side, and Kieren will be the best big brother ever.
When he was little, he used to ask me when he was getting a little brother and it would break my heart, until he got old enough to realize it wasn’t happening and stopped asking.
I can’t wait to be pregnant and expand our family.
“You want to get some food?” Lexi asks.
I set my wine down, and we head to the trestle table next to the barbecue. It’s covered in plates of meat, smoked ribs, pulled pork, and sausages for the kids.
Dean breaks away from the group of men to slide an arm around me.
“I’m hungry.” He nuzzles my neck, and my skin heats, knowing he’s not talking about food.
“Me too.” I lean into his touch and my body zings to attention, knowing that later when we get back to his place, we’ll satisfy that hunger.
As I’m piling my plate with food, two women arrive. One of them I recognize as Savanna. She works as a physiotherapist at Jake’s Retreat. But I don’t recognize the other woman, which is nothing new. I’m meeting a lot of new people as Dean introduces me to his world.
“This is Kayla.” Savanna introduces the other woman. “She’s the new yoga instructor at Jake’s Retreat.”
One of the men scoffs, but I don’t see who. I’ve known they’ve been building a yoga studio at the retreat. It can be an important part of recovery, not just the physical stretching but the meditative side of it. But try telling that to a bunch of battle-worn, ex-special operatives.
“Hi,” the woman says. “Nice to meet you all.” She smiles warmly.
Savanna slides a potato salad onto the table next to the plate of meat.
“Am I the only one who brought salad?”
“I didn’t have time to make anything,” says Kayla. “Half my kitchen is still in boxes.”
“Then you’re in the right place.” Jace hands her a plate. “There’s plenty of meat to go around.”
Kayla shakes her head. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’m a vegan.”
Jace snorts. “Then you’re in the wrong place, sweetheart.” He snags a rib from the pile and tears the flesh off with his teeth. All the while his gaze stays on Kayla. She looks away, and Jace smirks.
“Damn these are good.”
“Come on, ladies.” Lexi puts one arm around my shoulder and the other around Kayla. “Let’s leave these Neanderthals to their meat. I have wine.”
“Now that, I can get behind,” Kayla says tightly.
I head back to the other side of the bonfire with the women. Dean watches me go, and I see Aiden’s eyes on Lexi. Jace’s gaze follows Kayla, but she doesn’t look back.
Axel, one of the older veterans, gives up his seat for Kayla, and Savanna snags a plastic chair. We turn our seats to face each other to form a semi-circle. Lexi produces plastic cups and pours out the wine.
I refuse any more, and I sip mine slowly.
A few weeks ago, it was me and Kieren against the world. Now I’ve found Dean, this community of veterans, and the women who go with them. I’ve found a wider family, and a place where we belong.
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