Epilogue
Founder’s Day was gorgeous, in terms of the perfect June temperature and not a cloud in the baby blue sky to be spotted.
The annual celebration didn’t miss a beat as the locals and visitors alike gathered in Reston Hills Park, following a big parade down Hepmore Avenue, where floats, dignitaries, marching bands, riders, walkers, students and onlookers came together to make it the best parade ever in town.
Stefanie and Campbell were joined by Mason and Sally as they moved about by the river, where many of the carnival rides had been set up for children and adults to enjoy, while viewing the boats out in the water that were taking advantage of ideal conditions.
“I can’t believe it’s been a year since I found Mia’s body,” Stefanie said, sharing a bag of walnuts and pistachios with Campbell.
She hated to be on a momentary down note, but was sure that the anniversary of the tragedy—as well as one from twenty-one years earlier—did not go unnoticed by him. Or Mason, for that matter.
“Yeah, I know,” Campbell muttered, a slice of remorse in his voice. “It was definitely a day to forget for most of us in town—as if anyone ever could,” he said truthfully.
Mason looked at him and said earnestly, “We all had to endure a rough patch, son—spanning more than two decades—but we’ve dealt with it and come out stronger, each and every one of us.”
Campbell nodded. “True. It’s brought us closer together, Dad, and for that, I’m forever grateful.”
Mason grinned, tapping his shoulder. “I feel the same.”
“Me too.” Sally smiled, holding Mason’s hand. “Absolutely, I know that we’re stronger because of it,” she told him, “and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
“Neither would I,” he voiced affectionately.
Campbell turned to Stefanie and said candidly, “For me, even with all that went down—including seeing Bella and Juan held accountable for their crimes—the silver lining was meeting you, Stefanie. One thing might never have happened without the other. Can’t imagine you not being in my life now.”
“Me neither.” She blushed, pushing past the misfortune that befell Mia O’Dell and Jasmine Roxburgh, in favor of a perhaps once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get to know him on a deep level that grew deeper over time. “The good thing is, you don’t have to imagine that. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Actually, there is somewhere I’d like you to go—with me,” Campbell said, gazing down at her intently.
“Oh?” She met his blue eyes curiously. “Where would you like to go?” Perhaps back to his place for some afternoon delight? Or hers for the same?
“The Ferris wheel,” he told her bluntly.
She raised a brow in surprise. “The Ferris wheel?”
“Yeah. Haven’t been on one of those since I was a kid.” Campbell flashed her a grin askew. “Guess you bring out the kid in me. So what do you say?”
“Go on,” Mason prodded her lightheartedly. “Live dangerously—just a little.”
Sally chuckled. “I say go for it, Stefanie. We’ll go, too, if it makes you feel more comfortable.”
Stefanie laughed. “That won’t be necessary.” She knew she would be more than comfortable being on the Ferris wheel with Campbell by her side. “Let’s do it,” she told him enthusiastically.
“Okay.” He grinned, taking her hand. “Come with me.”
* * *
CAMPBELL WAS ON pins and needles as he led Stefanie onto the Ferris wheel.
Sitting next to her, he went through the usual chitchat as the carnival ride began to go up, stopping slowly but surely, for everyone to experience life at the top.
It offered a great view of the Founder’s Day festivities and the activities taking place on the Beeks River.
He thought briefly about the last year that seemed to whiz by in some ways.
Not so much others. It had seen a cold case and present time case merge together just enough to put both to rest and imprison the perpetrators that were still alive.
A disgraced Stuart Reston escaped justice.
But he had managed to taint the Reston name, as had Bella—which would never be the same again.
Fortunately, Arthur Reston—the town’s founder—was not being held accountable for the sins of his descendants.
Meaning Reston Hills would live on for future generations who only wanted to make a good life for themselves like those in other small towns across the country.
Campbell turned his thoughts to the gorgeous woman beside him and how she had managed to overcome her brush with death as a survivor, who showed him the love he’d never experience before and wanted to hang onto for the rest of his life.
With that in mind, knowing how strongly he felt for her, Campbell waited for the Ferris wheel to come to a stop at the very top.
He turned to Stefanie and said tenderly, “I love you, Stefanie Nguyen, which I’ve probably told you more times than you care to hear for nearly a year now…
But the only way I can do the actions-speak-louder-than words thing is to give you this—” He pulled a small box out of his plaid sport coat and opened it to reveal an oval-cut diamond engagement ring in 14k yellow gold.
Having already given his father a heads-up on his intentions, Campbell hoped she was ready to give marriage a second chance at happiness.
He asked her smoothly, “Will you marry me, Stefanie—and make the happiest man in the world—which has far greater reach than Reston Hills alone?”
“Yes, and a thousand more yesses!” Stefanie cried out joyously and kissed him solidly on the mouth. “I will marry you, Campbell Sawyer—which will make me by far the happiest woman in the world today, Reston Hills notwithstanding!”
“Marvelous!” His voice rose a couple of octaves with emotion. “Music to my ears.”
She eagerly held out her ring finger for him to place the engagement ring on, and he did so, for a perfect fit.
“I love it,” Stefanie said exuberantly. “Almost as much as I love you, my darling!”
“That deep love works both ways,” Campbell told her affectionately. “And so much more!”
“Always nice to hear those words,” she expressed.
“Then I’ll keep them coming and coming,” he promised, cupped her cheeks and kissed Stefanie passionately, hardly aware that the Ferris wheel had started to move again.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from Targeting the Sheriff by B.J. Daniels.