Epilogue
“Hold still so I can finish your hair,” Candy teased as Dakota fidgeted.
“I can’t help it. Aaron promised to meet me at the dance. I don’t want to arrive late,” Dakota explained.
“Remember this far apart,” Archer held out his arms and pretended to dance.
Dakota rolled her eyes and laughed at her temporary foster parent. The social worker rushed the background checks, inspections, and interviews upon Kassie's insistence.
An hour later, they entered the dance. “We’ll pick you up at eleven,” Candy reminded her.
Dakota practically beamed before turning around to meet her friends. Candy sighed, watching her in her blue dress trimmed in flowers and the matching blue cast.
“Come on. She doesn’t want us to stand here gawking at her.” Candy tugged on his arm.
“We have time for one dance. I happen to know you’re good at it,” he said, pulling her close. She looped her arms around his neck and smiled at him.
Swaying to the music, he hoped Jonah watched from above.
He came here broken to ask for forgiveness and gained a whole lot more.
In a few months, Candy and he would return to their hometown for their wedding.
Half of the people on the mountain planned to join them to celebrate the occasion.
His job with Serenity Securities started on Monday, and then they planned to ask Dakota to become part of their family permanently—a family he never dared to dream of.
Candace lay her head on his shoulder and snuggled in.
It took him eight years and a promise to Jonah to get him here, but he finally felt complete.
His visits with Dr. Hill relieved him of some of the guilt and anger, allowing happiness to set in.
The next part depended on him. With Candace in his arms, he damn well planned to give it his best shot.