Epilogue
“Did you order anything?”’ Eli set a box on the dining table.
He’d gone into the nearby town of Jackson earlier to run errands.
They’d been mated several days now, but this was the first time he’d left her alone.
Of course, she wasn’t truly alone. Zach was in the office, and Silas was around somewhere.
Curious, Kinley wiped her hands on a towel, leaving the cookie batter she was mixing, and came over to the table. “No, I didn’t. Maybe Zach ordered more t-shirts.” She was currently sporting the white t-shirt with Thank You emblazoned across the front.
“You need clothes. We should plan an overnight trip to a major city. If you want to start sewing, you’ll need supplies.”
She’d hesitated to spend the money in her account, but that was a reflex action—the need to never again find herself in a situation without resources.
But her home was here now. It was time to fully leave the past behind and settle in.
“You’re right. We need to decide where I can set up a workspace. ”
There was no return address on the box. She caught an end of the packing tape and ripped it off.
“You can have a corner of the office for now. I’ll build you a studio out back.”
The piece of tape fell to the floor. “You’ll what?” He’d mentioned it casually, like it was no big deal when it was huge.
“Build you a studio.” He pointed out the window to an area behind the house. “That part of the yard gets the best natural light, if that matters, but it can go wherever you want.”
His generosity was overwhelming. “Have you discussed this with your brothers? It’s a big change.” And there’d been so many lately.
“Cyrus suggested it before he left.”
“Cyrus suggested it?” If he’d said Zach or Levi, even Noah or Silas, she wouldn’t have batted an eye. “And he suggested it before he left on a job?”
Eli chuckled and gave her a quick kiss. “Yes, big brother wants you to settle in. Plus, it moves your sewing stuff out of the office.”
That made her laugh. “That, I’ll believe.” She wrapped her arms around Eli. “Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure. Now open the box.”
“Right.” Mind cluttered with plans of what she’d need in her new studio, she folded back the flaps. She lifted her hand to her mouth and took a step back.
“What it is it?” Frowning, Eli yanked the box over in front of him. He glanced at her as he removed an unframed picture of a smiling couple. “Kinley?”
“It’s Mama and Daddy.” And the only picture she had of them.
“What else is in there?” She began to pull out more, finding her small box of jewelry, which included her mother’s pieces, several more pictures that had been in her daddy’s room, and other small treasures from childhood.
“It had to have been Rufus.” There was no one else who would have bothered.
“Maybe this will tell you.” Eli held out an envelope that had been mixed in with the rest.
Her hands shook as she took it. Taking a deep breath, she opened it. A key fell out and bounced on the table. She ignored it and began to read the note that came with it.
“Kinley, I’m sorry to say your bedroom was trashed, your clothing shredded, but I packed everything I could salvage. It’s in a storage locker in Tennessee. It’s paid up until the end of next month.”
“That’s about halfway between Alabama and here.” Eli picked up the key.
She continued reading the note.
“I didn’t think you’d want your daddy’s clothes, and most of the household furniture was destroyed.”
She sucked in a shaky breath and met Eli’s concerned gaze. “It was likely Holden having a temper tantrum. Maybe Duke.”
“Probably. What else does the note say?”
“I salvaged anything I thought you might want. It’s the least I could do for the daughter of my oldest friend. I wish I could have saved him, saved you both. Be happy. Rufus.”
She folded the letter and slid it back into the envelope. “I can’t believe he did that.” She picked up the picture of her parents and set it back down. “It used to be framed. It must have gotten broken.”
Eli’s strong arms came around her. “We’ll get another. If you want it, we’ll get your things out of storage. If you’d rather let it go and buy all new, that’s good, too.”
She’d won the lottery when it came to mates. “I’d like to see what’s there. Maybe my sewing machine and supplies survived. It was my mama’s machine.” Practicality aside, it had sentimental value.
“We’ll leave tomorrow morning. We might as well make an overnight trip out of it. You should start making a list of clothing and whatever else you’ll need.”
“Do you think your brothers will let us go on our own?”
“Not a chance,” a voice yelled from down the hallway. “I have to stay here and monitor everyone out on a job. I’ve already texted Noah and told him he’s going. He’s been wanting to hit a bigger grocery store to stock up on supplies, so he’s more than happy to tag along.”
“It’s like hearing the voice of God,” she whispered in Eli’s ear before giggling.
“Don’t let Zach hear you say that. He’s got a big enough ego as it is.”
“I really like your family, Eli.”
“They can be a pain in the ass at times, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“I love you, Eli Sin.”
“I love you, Kinley Sin.” A thrill went through her. She’d decided to change her name, wanting to truly belong to her new pack.
“Get a room,” Zach shouted. “Better yet, use the one you’ve got upstairs. Some of us are trying to work.”
Laughing, Eli scooped her off her feet. “Every now and then he does have a good idea.”
“What about the cookies?” She pointed at the bowl and ingredients on the counter.
“They’ll still be there when you get back. Or Noah will finish them.”
Then he kissed her and she forgot all about the cookies and everything else. Sin had never tasted so sweet.
The End