Epilogue
Barrett
Ididn’t need this piece of paper to know Sage is mine, but it’s an extra layer of protection, if you will. Maybe it’s slightly authoritarian to need her to have my last name. Well, the last name that I use to live. The one I was born with is long gone.
Slipping the piece of paper back in my desk, I straighten my shoulders as my wife enters the room after having changed from the simple, cream dress she wore in front of the judge this morning.
Sage told me she didn’t want a wedding. The ceremony wasn’t important to me. A ceremony meant family and Sage had yet to talk to her sister. It’s been three months.
Christmas is two weeks away and Sage’s family is having the second of their annual family reunions, a time when not only immediate family gathered, but cousins, aunts, uncles, honourary cousins and siblings—anyone deemed worthy of the title family.
“My parents haven’t even met you. It’s been months. We do this twice a year. Did you know that?”
“Do you think I can’t handle family?”
“It’s the gala all over again.” Sage groans and smashes her forehead against my chest.
“Everything will be fine, pet.”
“Really? Everything will be fine? I’ve been able to put off any information about you, but they know I’m dating someone and now we’re going to show up married? Is your name Barrett or Ben? What’s your occupation? Yeah. Sure. It will be fine.”
We’re silent for a moment then she lifts her head.
“Is there anything new on Nova?” While they stopped watching her twenty-four seven after the first couple weeks, Rafe still kept tabs on her now and then.
For security, but mostly because I asked him to.
It was the only insight Sage could get on her sister.
“She has a job. Rafe said she looks stronger every time he checks in on her.”
“Does she know he’s watching her?”
“No, pet.” I tuck a curl behind her ear. “She doesn’t know.”
“We’re going to see her today.”
I stay silent, pulling her against me. She’s changed into a soft, burgundy sweater that falls off the shoulder and jeans. She’s kept the same hair, makeup, and jewelry she wore to the courthouse.
Sage pushes away from me, pulling her ring off her finger and slipping it on her right hand. “It isn’t just about Nova. The whole family will be upset not having even met you, let alone not being invited to a wedding.”
“I won’t hide and I won’t lie.” My fingers flex against her hips.
“No. I’m not asking you to. But can we wait until the end of the night to tell anyone? Please, Daddy?”
Reluctantly, I nod. Spending the entire evening with an upset family and hurt feelings won’t do anyone any good. Lifting her right hand, I kiss her palm and thumb the rings on her finger.
I can hear the Christmas carols coming from inside Sage’s parents’ house the moment I open the car door. Sage waits in the passenger seat, but doesn’t move when I open her door.
“Everything will be fine, pet. Trust me.”
She looks up at me, filling her chest with a full breath before letting it out slowly.
Placing her hand in mine, she allows me to pull her up and escort her to her childhood home.
The door swings open before we reach it and a middle-aged couple that both clearly resemble Sage in some way beam on the other side.
“Merry Christmas!” Her mother enfolds her in a hug while her father extends his hand toward me.
“Merry Christmas.” Sage lets go and steps over to her father.
“It is so nice to finally meet you, Barrett. You must be important for Sage to bring you here for the Christmas party.” Her mother pulls me down for a hug.
“How do you know his name already?” Sage had kept as much information from them as possible.
“Nova told us.” Her mother shrugs and they both step back to let us into the house.
I set my hand on Sage’s lower back, keeping the contact as we make the rounds through all of her cousins, aunts, uncles, and more. Her sister is at the opposite end of the living room. Her glance toward us is brief and after a few more steps, she disappears as if she never saw us.
Sage stiffens under my hand, but she quickly masks her disappointment in front of the cousin we’re speaking with. I slip my hand beneath her sweater to stroke her bare skin. The distance between her and her sister isn’t a demon I can slay. To see how much this still hurts her is painful.
We’ve been happy over the past three months. She has yet to find a new job, but that doesn’t keep her any less busy. And I’m far from retirement. Our life together is just beginning and it’s bound to be full.
But every so often, Sage falls into depression and worry for Nova. The two of them need some sort of closure. And maybe there never will be. Time to heal individually may be all they get.
Conversation is easy and the more people drink, the easier it becomes. All discussions are irrelevant. Food sits on tables for people to grab when they want, and there’s a steady stream. Laughter fills the home.
And we have yet to cross paths with Nova. She’s doing an excellent job avoiding us. I haven’t left Sage’s side all night, but she hasn’t been completely comfortable. I’m not sure if that’s the way she usually is with her family. If it isn’t, no one seems to notice.
We stay later than most as we have our news to impart and we don’t need all of the extended family to witness the fallout.
“Barrett.” Her father steps up beside us. “Join us outside?” He wags a cigar in front of his chest as if he thinks it’s a secret.
I glance down at Sage.
“It’s okay. Go.”
I kiss her temple before following her father out to the patio. The cold air of the winter only helps as the house has been overheated all evening with the crowd.
“You’ve been my daughter’s best kept secret.” He holds out a cigar for me to take, but I shake my head.
“Seems that way.”
“How did you meet? She’s never said.”
“I own Bitter Cross, a club downtown. She came in one night and singled me out.”
“That must be an intense business.”
“It can be, but it’s been successful enough that I can hire an excellent staff. I don’t have to do much anymore.”
Shop talk ensues with a few lewd jokes thrown in from the drunk uncles and cousins.
I’m thankful not to receive the third degree from her father—or from her mother—at any point in the night.
Not that I couldn’t handle such, but her family seems fairly laid back, and after knowing how much they didn’t do for Nova, I’d say too laid back.
A chill makes its way through my clothes. “Excuse me.” I nod to her father and return inside to check on Sage. I wasn’t the one carrying anxiety for the night.
I don’t see her among the crowds, so I head in the direction of the kitchen, but pause when I hear her voice.
“Nova.” There’s surprise, as if she didn’t search her out.
“Sage.” Her sister holds the same tone. The fridge door shuts and heels click against the tile for two steps. Sage didn’t wear heels.
“Wait. How are you?”
Nova sighs. “I’m fine. I’m better.” She pauses before continuing in a more hushed tone.
“I wasn’t safe with Adam. But you didn’t have the right to kill him.
No matter what my life was with him, I did love him and you took that away from me.
Miss Cold-and-Independent had to break someone else’s love to find her own.
” The bitter sneer in her voice is harsh.
“You can count on my silence because I’m not petty enough to break yours in return.
” The click of her heels continues, but stops short when she sees me on the other side of the wall.
There’s no fear as she glares at me, knowing I was the one who killed her husband.
And even knowing how she feels about it, I’d do it again.
“You’re alive, and so is the next woman he would have gone after once he finally killed you.
” I couldn’t stop the words. I had to say something to defend Sage.
Nova’s glare flattens and she visibly swallows before walking away.
I expect tears in Sage’s eyes when I enter the kitchen, but she only stares after Nova with sadness.
“I want to go home now.”
I fold her in a hug for a moment, giving her some of my strength, because there’s one thing we need to do first.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Her mother starts to back out of the room.
“Please stay. In fact, we’d like to speak with you and your husband a moment before we head home for the night.”
“Oh. Okay. I’ll go get him.”
Her mother leaves and Sage looks up at me.
“We need to. You’re sad, but no matter what, this was our wedding day.
This day will always be our anniversary.
And I can’t have my pet looking forlorn.
We’re going to tell your parents, then I’m going to take you home and fuck you in every way imaginable.
For the next few days, you’ll be nothing but Daddy’s little fox.
Or would you rather be something else?” The question is rhetorical and only meant to incite her desire.
I claim her lips until a deep, clearing throat breaks us apart.
We face her parents, and by the looks on their faces, they already know that some sort of big news is coming.
“I’m sorry I haven’t introduced Barrett before now. But you should know he means a lot to me. I love him.”
“Yes, sweetheart. We see that.” Her father wraps his arm around her mother’s shoulders.
Sage circles the ring on her finger before sliding it off to put it in its rightful place on her left hand. Her mother gasps, but there’s still some joy there.
“You’re engaged?” Her joy slips when we don’t immediately answer.
I take the burden off of Sage and answer. “Actually, Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, we’re already married.”
“You eloped?” Her mother is holding back her emotions.
“Not exactly.” Is it an elopement if you didn’t want a wedding to begin with?
“We didn’t want the big wedding or celebration.” Sage glances up at me, and she has calm in her eyes. Despite the way we came to be or the events with her sister, I know her next words are true. “We just want to be together.”