CHAPTER NINETEEN
Mel burrowed deep into Gage’s arms. They sat curled together on the couch, the soft rhythm of his breathing grounding her. After the fear and chaos of the day, the quiet wrapped around her like a blanket, slowly uncoiling the tightness in her chest.
They’d picked up Addy from Olivia’s that evening, offering Ashley and Nick a brief rundown of the day’s events. Addy, oblivious to the danger they’d survived, had been excited about the brown eggs she’d gathered from the chicken coop and got to take home.
Someday she’d know the full story, but not yet. Certainly not tonight.
After returning home, Melanie snuggled on the couch with Addy to watch a video while Gage made spaghetti. Not fancy, but it was warm and familiar. Comfort food. After dinner, Addy took her bath, then Gage read her bedtime books. Pancake snored on the soft bed Addy’d made for her, guarding her girl.
Melanie closed her eyes, letting her weight sink into Gage’s. They were safe. Together. And for the first time in a long, long while, she could begin to imagine what forever might look like.
“You good?” Gage’s arms tightened around her.
“I don’t know. It’s going to take time before those images fade.”
“For me too. I heard that gunshot and I thought I’d lost you.” He brought her hand to his mouth and rubbed warm lips over her knuckles. “But you’re safe. That’s what matters.”
Chase had been arrested. After all these years, he would finally face justice. Satisfaction was overshadowed by the shock of Rhonda’s death, her role in the cover-up a twist Melanie hadn’t seen coming.
“I still can’t believe Neil Grafton confessed,” she muttered. “That he admitted he was Chase’s father and tampered with the DNA results.”
“The man’s dying,” Gage said quietly. “The warden told Sawyer he’s only got weeks. Grafton wanted to clear his conscience before the end. Your email pushed him to do that.”
She shook her head. “Maybe. I’ll never understand how he could justify doing what he did.”
Gage exhaled. “He knew what he’d done was wrong.
But in his own twisted way, he was principled.
” He laced his fingers with hers and rested them on his chest. “Sawyer says Franklin and Boner admitted Bradford hired them. Their job was harassment. To scare you into leaving. Good thing you don’t scare easy. ”
Melanie thought she’d been plenty scared. “We figured they were working for someone. Did Chase make the child abuse complaint?”
“He’s not admitting anything, but the DA is digging in. I think they’ll find the proof.” Gage kissed her temple. “Bradford will be in prison a long time. For what he did to you, and for any federal banking charges the FBI might bring.”
She shifted to look up at him. “I wonder what will happen with Dylan.”
Gage shook his head. “Josh Lockwood came into the station after you left. He’s gutted by Rhonda’s death. Said he always suspected Dylan wasn’t biologically his.”
“The signs were there, but it must’ve hurt.”
“Yeah. But he said he didn’t care. He loved Rhonda and says Dylan is his son, no matter what. It’ll be rough, but they’ll get through it.” He paused. “It’s over, Mel.”
She was quiet for a beat. Then, “Yeah, it’s really over.”
Melanie turned to face him fully, emotion rising in her chest. “Coming back to Sisters…was about hope. I wanted Addy to have a real home. I wanted peace. But I never let go of what happened. Not really. Now that the truth’s out it’s like I can finally breathe.”
Gage brushed her hair from her face, his eyes steady on hers.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For fighting for the truth. For standing with me. For not giving up on me.”
“I’d do it all over again,” he said, voice rough. “Because you and Addy? You’re everything.”
Gage’s tone changed. Brows drawn together, he stared intently at their entwined fingers. If he wasn’t usually so sure of himself, she’d think he was nervous.
“So… Which house do you prefer? Yours or mine?”
She blinked. “What do you mean?”
“If you had to pick one to live in, which would it be?”
Her heart thudded. “Are you suggesting we move in together?”
“I was thinking of something more permanent?”
Permanent? Her eyes widened. “Um, yours is nicer.”
He smiled faintly. “We could live here if you and Addy want, but I agree. My place has more room. For dogs. And kids.”
Kids? As in plural kids?
She’d held on to her independence with dogged determination, feeling like she’d give up an important part of herself if she let anyone in.
But with Gage, she didn’t feel like she was giving up anything. He was protective but not overbearing. They were better together. Stronger.
A smile tugged at her lips. “Mine has a barn with a chicken coop. And a fenced garden.”
He chuckled. “True, but those are solvable problems. I’ve got room across the creek for anything you want to build. If you and Addy wanted to live there. With me.”
She met his look, breath stalling. “Gage Landry, did you just ask me to marry you?”
His gaze held hers, deep as the forest at twilight. The air between them pulsed. “I love you, Melanie Brennan. I love Addy. I want to marry you. I want the life we can build together. Think you can love me back?”
There was a flicker of hesitation in his expression betraying his vulnerability.
“I already do.” Her voice was soft but sure. “I love you, Gage.”
He leaned in, his lips catching hers in a kiss that felt like a promise. She saw it in her mind’s eye: quiet Sunday mornings with sleepy toddlers, shouted laughter around a campfire, birthdays and school projects. Growing old together.
“Addy wants us to get married,” he murmured, brushing his lips along her jaw. “She brought it up when I tucked her in. Said she and Pancake want us to be a family.”
“She loves you.”
“The feeling’s mutual.” He rested his forehead on hers, his voice rough. “I love you so damn much. I want the life we can have together.”
Melanie marveled at how much had changed in a few short weeks.
“I love you, Gage. And I’m all in.”
***
Gage woke early, the sky outside the windows lightening to gray. He tightened his hold on the woman curled into his side. They’d needed each other during the night, needed the physical release of their love after the nightmare of the day.
Melanie stirred, rubbing her cheek against his chest. “Good morning.” She pressed warm lips to the ridge of his pectorals, then his neck.
He let his fingers roam over her bare back as desire stirred. “How early does Addy wake up?”
“Not this early. Why do you ask?” she purred, even as her hand drifted along his ribs, then lower. “How about that? Someone is happy to see me this morning.”
“I’m always happy to see you.”
He rolled her under him, pushing up her top to take her nipple in his mouth. Her hands threaded through his hair. He gave the same attention to the other breast before he lifted his head and smiled.
“Hello, beautiful.”
“Hello, handsome.” She stretched languorously beneath his touch.
They made loved slowly, quietly, desire building until both were breathless. He explored with his lips—her chin, the hollow of her throat, the soft skin below her ear, groaning when she wrapped her hand around him, stroking lightly, then with more urgency.
When he slipped inside her, she was wet and ready for him.
Her eyes grew heavy as she took him into her body, then they were moving together, slow at first, then more forcefully as control strained against its limits.
She broke first, coming with a long, languid moan.
He followed, his orgasm making him feel he’d been shot from a bow in a heady rush, arcing free through the air.
He rolled again, this time bringing her on top of him. She laid her head on his chest and Gage held her close to his heart. Over the past weeks, the restlessness and loneliness that had dogged him had evaporated, a contentment like he’d never felt taking their place.
***
With Pancake on a leash, Gage wandered the school carnival.
Kids darted by in costume, chasing prizes and sugar highs.
Melanie had her eye on a Kalua chocolate cake and dragged Esme to the cake walk.
Kids and adults walked away from Antonia’s face painting booth with flowers and peace symbols on their cheeks.
When Esme arrived that morning, Melanie had grabbed his arm and said, “This is Gage, my fiancé.” Esme whooped, tackled Gage in a hug, then pulled back to wag a finger at him. “Mel’s the best person I know. Break her heart and you answer to me.”
In the crowd, he heard snippets of conversation about “something big” happening out at the Lockwood mill and news of Rhonda’s death and Chase’s arrest being passed around.
The events of the day before would be big news anywhere, but in a little town like Sisters it reverberated through the community.
Rhonda’s deceit was over. Chase wouldn’t be hurting anyone else.
Gage’s relief was bone-deep. Donna had come out of it with a torn meniscus but a good prognosis. Melanie, somehow, was smiling again. And Addy? That little girl was sunshine wrapped in sparkles and grit.
That morning, they’d stopped by Donna and Paul’s house to give their engagement news in person. His future mother-in-law had been thrilled, while Paul’s reaction was more measured. Gage figured, like Esme, Paul would take him out if he hurt Melanie.
Addy and Isla ran to him, hands clasped. They both shone with princess costumes and glittery cheeks.
“Gage, can we play the ping-pong ball game over there?”
“Sure.” They looked at him expectantly. Catching on, he asked, “Do you have tickets?”
“No, but you can get us more.” Addy gave him her dimpled smile and Isla clasped her hands under her chin and batted her eyelashes. Gage blinked. Where did girls learn to do that?
“You’re dangerous,” he muttered, handing them a ten-dollar bill. He was so screwed but in the best way possible.
The girls shouted their thanks and raced off.
“Rookie mistake.” Melanie joined him, grinning, her dimples flashing.
“They’re con artists,” Gage growled. “Tiny, sparkly grifters.”
Esme laughed. “Welcome to parenthood.”
He glanced between the two women. “Where’s the cake?”
“We can pick it up when we leave,” Melanie said.
The girls ran back, triumphant, each cradling a plastic bag filled with sloshing water and darting goldfish.
“We got goldfish.” Addy beamed. “They’re alive and everything. The man felt sorry for us because we’re bad throwers and kept missing. He gave us extra.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Esme groaned. “A fish requires a tank and food and upkeep. How can they give kids fish at a carnival?”
“The man said we had to ask an adult first and Gage said we could,” Addy said helpfully.
“What? I didn’t—” Gage sputtered, and Melanie patted his arm.
“You’ve got a lot to learn,” she said, amused. “Always read the fine print.”
A woman approached, one hand resting firmly on a boy’s shoulder.
“That’s Liam,” Addy whispered. She gripped Pancake’s collar.
The kid looked normal, not like a miniature serial killer.
“Hi, I’m Kerry, Liam’s mom. I’m sorry for the upset my son has caused your family.” She nudged her boy forward. “Liam has something to say.”
Liam scuffed the toe of his sneaker in the grass, then looked up at Addy, cheeks red. “I’m sorry for being mean. I won’t do it anymore.”
Addy studied him. “Why were you mean?”
“I dunno.”
Addy nodded. “Okay. Do you want to pet Pancake? Being mean makes your heart sick. Pancake makes it better.”
Gage’s chest tightened. That kid didn’t know it, but Addy had given him a lifeline.
He dropped to his knees, and Pancake leaned into him.
A moment later, Liam’s face was buried in her soft fur.
Pancake rolled to her back, and Isla and Addy joined in, rubbing the dog’s belly while his dog soaked up every ounce of attention.
Kerry turned to Melanie. “We’re getting him into counseling. I just… I’m sorry.”
Melanie’s voice was soft. “It means a lot that you brought him. That couldn’t have been easy.”
She glanced at Esme, who nodded. “Would Liam like to go trick-or-treating with us tonight? We’re going around with the neighbor kids and you’re both welcome.”
Kerry blinked, surprised. “I’ll ask Liam if he wants to. Thank you.”
They exchanged numbers, gave hugs, and Liam and his mom walked away. How did women forgive and forget so easily? Gage guessed that’s where Addy’s big heart came from.
“Time to go, girls.”
There were groans of protest. Gage tugged on the leash, but Pancake didn’t budge. “C’mon, Pancake. Let’s go.”
Pancake ignored him and seemed to relax farther into the grass. Addy handed him the fish and took the leash. “Here, Dad. I’ll handle Pancake.”
Gage froze. Dad? He liked the sound of that.
She whispered in Pancake’s ear. The dog rolled to her feet like she’d been given a command from royalty.
Melanie reached up and kissed Gage’s cheek, eyes shining. “We’re already a family,” she whispered.
They were.
And life couldn’t be sweeter.