Epilogue
Adelaide
Two weeks later
I glance across the island bench at my sister as she sets the table for Thanksgiving and my combined housewarming. She’s looking breezy and happy in a flowing long sleeve dress with gorgeous daisies all over it and white cowboy boots.
“You’re doing a mighty fine job there, sis.”
She turns and smiles, just as her new golden retriever—who’s also her emotional support dog— Rupert, comes sticking his nose in the kitchen. She’s only had Rupert a short time and he’s simply divine and goes everywhere with her.
Over the years, Carrie had recurring nightmares about the house fire, being trapped, and suffered with bad burns to the left side of her body, so much so she found it hard to relax.
She found it hard to do a lot of things.
But with his support she’s gotten more and more confident these last few years and found her mojo again.
When Rupert isn’t working, he’s also a big goofball, too.
“Thank you.” She smiles. “I’m really looking forward to meeting Hope.”
Denver went to see her as soon as he’d recovered. It was important to not scare her even more than she was after her accident. Not wanting to inflict any more trauma on the poor girl after what she’s been through was our top priority. It’s been hard, but she’s doing as well as can be expected.
We spoke to Elaine from Child Protective Services—someone Denver knows—straight away after Denver was released from hospital about putting in an application to foster her.
Naturally there was a process and no guarantee of what will happen long-term, but she has been temporarily placed in our care these past two weeks.
After the crash, CPS stepped straight in to conduct the necessary arrangements to get her into emergency placement.
Only one of us can be the licensed foster parent for now, until we are living together, but we have the arrangement pretty much mapped out.
Denver’s suggestion of him looking after Hope during the day if I’m with clients, and me being home in the afternoon and nights has been working for us.
We will aim for the same two days off whenever we can.
Federal law requires CPS to check for relatives, but so far no one has come forward. As we all suspected it seems her mom, grandma, brother, and sister were the only family she had. My heart breaks for her, but we will do everything in our power to help in any way we can.
The past two weeks has been both difficult for everyone but hugely rewarding. She’s such a sweet, brave little girl and we want her to make it through.
We didn’t want to overwhelm her right away with having a lot of people over for Thanksgiving, so we asked her before we made any arrangements.
We were both happy to have just us three if that’s what she wanted.
But it’s turning out that Hope, in spite of what’s happened to her, thrives around people who care about her.
She wanted to have a proper Thanksgiving with Duckie, her Hello Kitty that Denver first brought to the hospital, and her beloved Mr. Pickles—a big, oversized teddy bear that CPS retrieved from her house with her things.
“You’re going to love her,” I say to Carrie. “She’s a real sweetie.”
“The poor kid, I mean, she’s so young.”
“I know, life can be cruel and strange sometimes.”
“Thank goodness there’s people like you and Denver in the world,” she sighs as she arranges the flowers in the middle of the table. “You two could rule the world, you know.”
I laugh as I walk over with the rolls and place them on the table. “I don’t know about that, but he’s a good man.”
“And he’ll always be your hot rescuer.”
I smile. It’s bittersweet to think about the circumstances which are forever etched into my soul, and I know it is for her, too. “He was twelve!”
Carrie gives me a knowing smile, bending to give Rupert a scratch on the head. “He did a great job with what he had—he could have gotten himself killed. I know he tried to get back into the house for me and our parents, but he couldn’t.”
“Yes. He told me his dad had to hold him back. Then he saw you guys make it out.”
Carrie blows out a breath. “He’ll forever be our hero no matter what happens.”
“He will,” I agree. “And you will be too, Care.”
She blinks up at me. “Me?”
“Yep. You’re the strongest woman I know, sis. You took the brunt of it, but look how you’ve come out the other end. The kids at school love you. Everyone does.”
“They love Rupert,” she interjects, but her eyes are watery and her features softer than ever.
“They love you too, we all do. You have more friends than I know what to do with. And you’re a babe.”
She laughs and covers her face with her hands. “I think Nicholas might love me as well,” she blurts.
My eyes bulge instantly. “Nicholas? From the opposing school?”
The giggle she lets out takes me back to when we were kids because I used to hear it all the time. He’s the physical education teacher she’s brought up in more than one conversation.
“Yeah.”
“Yeah? Is that all you have to say? I didn’t know you were up to I love yous.”
“Well, I didn’t want to say anything just in case.”
“In case what?” The buzz for my door doesn’t break me out of my hands-on-hips stance, not until she gives me some info. “Carrie!”
“In case it didn’t work out, I guess. I haven’t dated or gone steady in a while.”
“Well, Rupert can report back to me in the future. I assume that he approves?”
“Rupes is a Goldie! He loves everyone.”
We both laugh. “Well, I think he’d put his foot down if Nicholas wasn’t a good guy. I’m happy for you. You should have brought him!”
Carrie shrugs. “I thought about it, but next time. He bought me a new telescope, we’re gonna try it out some time.”
“I bet!” I waggle my eyebrows as I edge towards the door and buzz Abby and Daryl in. “We’re not done talking about this,” I holler.
Eric and Brax said they’d come over later, too. Eric stepped up with Rachel and they’re going steady. So it’ll be a good chance to get to know her a little better.
Abby and I have become great friends these past few weeks, kind of surreal that we all knew each other forever ago.
And here we are. Their folks and mine are on their way a little later, our moms are bringing desserts—which I think will consist of a mountain of pies—while we tackle the rest here.
Turkey is already in the oven. Denver should be here any minute too with Hope.
We stayed at his place last night and they went to grab Hope’s things and some extra supplies at the store.
She’s like his little shadow, it’s so cute.
The only thing missing is Delaney, but she’s planning a visit in a couple of weeks and I can’t wait to show her around.
“You better bring him next time,” I say. “You deserve to have the very best, sis.”
“We both do. We just got to find a nice girl for Daryl now.”
“That’s true. We might have to set him up on some blind dates.”
We both have a laugh before they all arrive because Daryl isn’t the kind of guy who likes those kinds of surprises.
It’s not long before the kitchen is bustling with us girls, while Daryl tries to make himself useful by chopping vegetables at the kitchen island.
When Denver and Hope arrive, Rupert lets out a hearty woof because he loves her and she gives Rupes long belly rubs. He practically splays on the floor waiting for one whenever she’s around.
Hope hobbles up the hall and wraps her arms around me as I pull her into a big hug. Her injuries have been healing well, but she’s still a bit slow on her feet. “Wow, honey, what was that for?” I say as Denver rounds the corner and walks over to quickly peck my lips before he greets anyone else.
“Thank you for the unicorn!” She waves the big purple soft toy we got her as a surprise in the air. “Duckie loves her! And Mr. Pickles will, too!”
Denver gives Daryl a pound hug and it’s then I notice he has Duckie under his arm. It tugs at the corners of my mouth what a sweetheart he really is and how good he is at this. Some conversations have been really difficult, but Denver handles it all with ease.
“You’re welcome, honey. I’m so glad Duckie and unicorn have met and they like each other. Do they want to stay for Thanksgiving?”
“Yessss!” she cries out in delight. It’s probably the first time we’ve seen her so happy and engaged. It comes and goes with her grief and confusion.
We know it will be a long road for her, but one day at a time.
“Well! I best set some extra places for them, hadn’t I?”
Hope toddles off down the hall to her room happily, which is half my office and half her bedroom for the moment. I know she’s going to grab Mr. Pickles. In a flash, she’s coming back down the hall with him.
“Aunty Abby will help!” Abby says, taking Duckie from Denver after he gives her a hug.
“Mr. Pickles loves potatoes!” Hope declares.
That makes us all laugh.
“Ha! Lucky Uncle Daryl makes the best mash potatoes you’ve ever seen!” Daryl puts his bit in.
Hope giggles and then her face falls ever so slightly. “My grandma made really good potatoes,” she whispers.
Oh jeepers, my heart could break more than it already has this past few weeks. I stare up at Denver as tears rock my eyes. He presses his lips together and takes a breath. “You know she will be watching down from Heaven, sweetheart. Like we said, remember?”
“They are angels in Heaven!” Hope declares.
Carrie gives me a squeeze on the shoulder and I take a much needed deep breath.
“Maybe you can give Uncle Daryl some tips on your grandma’s potatoes,” she says behind the back of her hand. “Sometimes he can’t seem to get it right.”
Hope giggles again and we all join in. It’s so sweet to see her little face light up.
“She’s gonna be okay,” Denver says, sliding an arm around my waist, planting a kiss on my temple.
“Are you sure?” I say. “It’s early days yet.”
“Her name is Hope,” he says simply. “In many ways that’s all we need.”
“I love you,” I whisper.
He gives me a sneaky little pinch on the butt and I refrain from squealing.
“I love you too, Red Robin.”