Epilogue
EPILOGUE
M y two girls.
I look over at Savi and Gigi— my Gigi. The part of my soul that’ll live long after my physical body ceases to exist even though, at one time, I thought it would be in the best interest of humanity that my bloodline end with me.
Not when I look at her.
She’s perfect.
“It’s going to be a gorgeous night.” I look over at the woman by my side. The sky behind her is ablaze with swatches of orange, pink, and purple, promising a beautiful sunset. She holds my hand as we walk to the barn, admiring the flowers.
“I see you planted bleeding hearts. They’re one of my favorites but I’m not sure they’ll make it out here. It’s too hot.”
“They will. I’ll find a way.”
She bumps against my side and looks at me, wrinkling her nose, as I pull her close and Gigi runs to the corral. I let the rescue horse roam while the three of us had supper. She’s getting used to the place. Just like Savi and Gigi.
Gigi goes to the fence to feed the horse an apple.
“When are you going to give your horse a name?” I ask.
“I did aw’ready but it’s a secret.” She props a hand on her hip. I’m happy to see she’s getting back that sassy little way she’s got about her.
“Well, you never told me.”
“It’s a secret.”
“A secret, huh? You didn’t name her one of those bad words I say sometimes, did you?”
“No, silly. A boo-tiful angel who loves you gived it to me—and angels don’t use bad words.” She turns to the horse and pets her with a now slobber-covered hand. “He’s so silly.”
“An angel loves me, huh?” I look to Savannah. “You know anything about angels? Other than what I told you about my momma?”
She returns the question in my eyes with a blank stare, shrugs, and puts up her hands. “Don’t look at me. I don’t know anything about it.”
We enjoy a few silent moments, breathing in the approaching night air as the sky transforms, shifting and blending like a slow-moving kaleidoscope.
A whoosh of wind sends a high-pitched whistle through the trees, swirling dirt that dances in the air.
“Feels like a storm’s coming,” I call out to Gigi. “C’mon kiddo. It’s time to go inside for the night. I’ll come back out and put your no-name horse in the barn.”
“Okay.”
“Listen to that singsong, sweet voice she uses with you. It’s like she loves you or something,” Savannah says.
“ Or something , most likely,” I tease.
We turn toward the house as Gigi slaps her hands together to knock off a mixture of slobber, horse hair, and dirt. No doubt Savannah will have her in the bath as soon as we go inside.
“I just love her!” Gigi gushes as she runs to join us, and she slips her grubby hand in mine. She nearly trips over her feet as she walks and turns to steal one more glance at her horse.
“Good night, Peaches! I love you.”