Epilogue Two
MONROE
Eight Years Later.
“That’s it, Julia, keep going!”
I clap in amazement as one of our clients learns to overcome her fears, galloping on top of one of our gentlest horses, confident enough to maintain control.
Julia is fourteen now and has been coming here since she was nine.
She’s a mass shooting survivor, and over the years we’ve watched her heal and blossom into the young woman she is now.
“I’m doing it!” She smiles so big, I imagine her cheeks will hurt later.
“We can’t thank you enough, Monroe.” Her mom, Ashley, grips my hand as we stand side by side at the fence. “This place was the blessing we all needed.”
At first, Julia was the only one partaking of our services, but eventually I convinced the entire family that we were here for all of them, and they’ve been coming once a month ever since.
“Ash, she’s doing the work, not us. You’ve all been amazing, and we’ll be so sad not to see you anymore.
” They’re moving to Europe for Julia’s father's work, but we were lucky enough to find another organization for them like the Marilyn Foundation. “I’m so glad we could master one more thing for her before you guys leave, though.” We share a laugh at Julia’s carefree riding now, and the girl’s own laughter.
“Momma, look!” My youngest, Cheyenne, sits near the painting wall with a few children, all around her age of four, and one of the shyest boys, who has not wanted to participate or speak to anyone, sits next to her while she mixes paints.
“Excuse me,” I say.
Ashley nods, and I hop over the fence to join the kids painting on one of the walls. Hands down, it was our best idea, being one of the most utilized spaces among the younger kids and often where you’ll find our most experienced counselor as well.
“What are we painting today?” I drop to my knees next to Cheyenne as she hands the boy a paintbrush.
“Well, Parker’s mom said he likes dinosaurs, so I thought I’d draw a T-Rex, and he could color it in.” Her beaming smile reminds me so much of her father’s.
“That sounds like a lovely idea, sweetheart. Do either of you need anything?”
Parker hides his face in Cheyenne’s shoulder, and she shakes her head. He’s relatively new here, having been diagnosed with autism about a year earlier, and his parents were struggling to communicate with him while learning about the disability.
Standing up, I watch them for a few minutes before I hear my two boys, Marcus and Cody, over in the pig pen, likely trying to wrangle one of the big boys. Before I take a step, however, my husband wraps his arms around me from behind and drags me into a side office before closing the door.
“Missed you, darlin’.” Shaw doesn’t hesitate to pick me up and pin me against the door. My arms and legs clasp around him without thought or direction.
“Mmm, I’m here now, husband.” He loves when I call him that. “Did everything go okay in California?”
Shaw and my father went to the state I called home for so long to settle my mother’s affairs after her recent passing.
I haven’t spoken to her since that day in court so many years ago, and after a lot of therapy, I’ve been able to forgive her for her part in my torment and abuse; however, having a relationship with her again was not going to happen.
I’m at peace with her death, and when my husband offered to take my place, I was grateful.
“Good. She has a nice plot in Hollywood, just where she’d like.
Marcus chose a simple headstone and has arranged for flowers to be delivered on her birthday and death day each year until you say so.
” Shocked, I can’t believe he would do that.
Shaw reads my mind. “He said in case you ever decide to go, he wants it to look nice for you.”
“I’m so lucky to have him again.” Allison too. They’re the most wonderful parents and grandparents.
Nipping my neck, he kisses up to my jaw and murmurs, “What about me?” His tone is heated, and I know exactly what we both need.
“Mmm…yes, you, too. Most of all, you and the life you gave us.”
I hike up my dress; Shaw unbuckles his jeans, then slides my panties to the side, slowly entering my body and feeding our craving for each other the way he always does.
“Fuck, I missed this.” He was gone for two nights, but his need for me is unmatched, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“You ready for another?” he asks. I freeze because I thought we agreed to no more.
Clearly, I’m wrong. “I miss you all round and ravenous, darlin’.
You’re beautiful anyway you are, but there’s something special about seeing what I can do to you. ”
Laughing, I lean forward, nibble on his jaw, and whisper in his ear, “Get me pregnant again, Shaw. I’d love another little girl.” Our kids are perfect and unique in their own ways, but I’d never say no to having more when it means I get more of him.
“Anything my wife asks for,” he groans in my ear.
This time is quick, hot, and everything he needed after being away, but tonight will likely be a sleepless night, which means the children’ll go to the grandparents. We’re so lucky to have so much love and family close by.
“I love you, Monroe, I hope you know that.” He presses his lips to mine, and before I can respond, we hear Marilyn belting out a song of her own, knowing what’s about to come.
“Looks like it’s her turn.” He laughs, and we rush to fix our clothes before heading outside to find Marilyn wandering to her stable, where she’s about to give birth.
Four years ago, we heard about a bull who had been the sole survivor of a devastating fire that wiped out the farm and animals. The owner decided to sell him and move to Florida to be closer to his kids, and we lucked out getting Clyde, who immediately bonded with Marilyn.
Though she did ignore him for the first year.
Now they’re having their second calf together, and we couldn’t be happier.
“Kane, keep everyone away until she’s given birth,” I tell the man who has been here as long as Shaw. He does as requested so I can help Shaw with our girl.
Clyde watches from a distance but doesn’t take his eyes off Marilyn until he sees the calf slide out with ease. Mari is a natural at this.
“She’s just like you, darlin’, born to be a mother.”
Standing back, we watch as Mari cleans the new baby up before trotting over to me for a few head scratches. She and I are as close as ever, especially since we were pregnant together with Cheyenne and her first baby.
“It’s perfect,” I whisper into her head. “Life here is perfect.”
The End!