Epilogue
GRACE
One Year Later
T he one-hundred-eighty-foot yacht glided through Boston Harbor, its wake rippling the water’s surface. The August sun dipped toward the horizon, painting the sky a canvas of amber, gold, and deep blue.
My heart fluttered with nervous excitement as I stood on the stern, the humid air kissing my skin, as I prepared to marry one of the most passionate, loving, and kind men in the world. Brian had shown me what true love was—tender, deep, and real.
I was overwhelmed by how far I’d come. Fifteen years ago, I walked out of my father’s house and into a sex-trafficking ring. Eleven years ago, I was a batter, bruised, and broken girl escaping the stronghold of a monster. After my escape, I struggled to find peace and a sense of purpose, fearing my past would one day repeat itself. One year ago, I was once again a kidnapping victim being rescued by the man I’d had a crush on since I was twelve. And now… Now, I was a bride.
“Ready?” Andie, my maid of honor, squeezed my hand.
She was in her sophomore year at BU, counseling incoming freshmen about the dangers of frat parties and how to protect themselves. After working with Kelton Maxwell, my lawyer, Andie had helped solve the mystery of who at Omega House slipped the date rape drug into girls’ drinks—thanks in part to Carl Dixon, the very asshole who tried to rape her. He straightened up and finally gave Andie a heartfelt apology. His father sent him to counseling, which I guessed had helped.
Andie fixed the sapphire pendant around my neck. “This gem is so beautiful. I want to meet a man like Brian one day.”
“You will, my friend.” I inhaled deeply, fingering the sapphire my soon-to-be husband had given me as a token of his love. He’d picked it because blue was also the color for human trafficking awareness, symbolizing hope and freedom.
“I guess it’s time,” she said. “Here comes Duke.”
My brother strode out of the cabin dressed in a tuxedo, brown hair styled, chestnut eyes dancing with happiness, and grinning like he couldn’t contain himself. “Sis, you are absolutely beautiful in that dress.”
I’d found a white strapless satin corset dress with royal blue trim around the top of the bust, the bottom edges, and train.
“You’re making me blush, brother.”
“I couldn’t be happier that you are marrying my best friend.”
“You’re going to make me cry.”
“Why?”
“Our family has been through so much, and I love Dillon and Denim, but you’ve been like a dad to me all my life. I know we had our moments, but if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be standing here today. Even when I was held captive, I would think of you and what you would do or say. So, in a way, you helped me push through for those four years.”
His eyes were moist. “Thank you for telling me. I’ve only ever wanted the best for you, sis. My guilt was rough on both of us, and for that I’m sorry. Now, let’s get you married. Brian is beside himself with nerves.”
“Any pain in his chest?” The last thing I wanted was for Brian to have a panic attack.
Not long after Fran and I had been rescued, Brian underwent a complete physical. He wanted to make sure his panic attacks while Fran and I had been missing hadn’t been caused by anything serious, and the great news was he was as healthy as an ox. Still, Brian had experienced a couple more panic attacks, mainly due to worry over Fran. After all, she was not behind a security fence at Oakwood Academy anymore.
“No, he’s fine. Just chomping at the bit to marry you.” Duke stuck out his elbow. “Shall we?”
I held on to him, trembling, feeling as nervous as he said Brian was.
“It’s my honor to walk you down the aisle,” Duke said, as the band began to play “Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts.
I picked the song because it resonated so well with my journey.
Duke and I followed my bridesmaids—Fran, Brittany, and Andie—as we crossed the deck, which had been transformed into an ethereal setting featuring warm string lights that created a canopy overhead.
Guests were seated at tables scattered around the cabin. The color scheme tonight was white, blue, and black. The wedding party wore blue dresses and black tuxedos with blue bow ties. The flowers were a mixture of blue and white, and all guests had been given blue ribbons to pin on their outfits.
Brian stood at the makeshift altar, staring in my direction as though I were the only person in the room. Goose bumps popped up on my arms as I zeroed in on his eyes that reminded me of rich green cypress leaves at dusk, dark and captivating.
Duke covered his hand over mine. “Breathe, sis.”
“I’m trying,” I whispered, smiling at guests seated around tables in chairs adorned with small blue awareness ribbons, a reminder of the cause that shaped my life and would continue to do so well into the future.
Tears were ready to pour out. The song was gutting me, but I also felt free for the first time in forever. On top of that, seeing Eve, the redhead who’d been next to me in that cage in the barn, made my heart sore. She and Fran were good friends now.
Fran had graduated a year early from high school this past spring and was about to embark on her college journey at Harvard. On top of that, she and Ryan Montgomery had built a strong relationship, and Brian had taken Ryan under his wing to help him and his mother in any way he could.
Eve placed her hand on the chair beside her that was empty in memory of Thea. Everyone in attendance tonight knew my story through my thesis on sex trafficking, which had been published in early June by a leading social policy journal.
Looking at the empty chair, I silently delivered a message to her. I wish you were here, Thea. I am so very sorry that it took me a decade to find your parents. They love you. And know I will keep fighting for victims of sex trafficking.
Three months ago, with Brian and Fran’s help, we’d finally located Thea Garrison’s parents after tracing their moves across five states. When I’d sat in Margaret and Tom Garrison’s living room and poured out my heart to them about their amazing daughter and her bravery and kindness in our darkest moments, they’d thanked me for keeping her memory alive.
“Now, I’m nervous,” Duke whispered.
I giggled as a sea of people, too many to name, watched me, some smiling and some crying. Then when Duke and I reached the last table, we both acknowledged our brother Denim, the only one in the family who’d been absent during the Josh ordeal. He felt bad that he hadn’t been there for me. As a bodyguard for the Guardian, he’d been on assignment.
After Duke and I reached the altar, Brian took my hand. “Stunning,” he said in his raspy voice.
Butterflies were going wild inside me as his sandalwood cologne hugged me like a protective blanket. “Thank you, handsome.”
Dillon was officiating, and he nodded at Brian and me. “Ready? I can’t wait any longer. I’m dying to see you two married.”
Brian and I laughed as we held hands.
Dillon cleared his throat, adjusting his blue bow tie. “We gather here not just to celebrate love but to witness the triumph of hope over darkness, of future over past. Our family has been through a lot, and it’s my honor to be standing here today to marry my baby sister and a guy who’s been part of our lives since I can remember. Grace, on behalf of Duke and Denim, we want to say that we are so proud of you. We are the luckiest brothers in the world that we have a sister who is also a fighter, a friend, and a survivor. We love you dearly, and we couldn’t be happier that you’re marrying Brian. You couldn’t have picked a better man.”
I couldn’t stop my tears if I had to. Dillon was so right. Brian was the perfect better half for me. Like me, he’d been through hell in the past but had a bright future. I’d never been more ecstatic than when the police recovered Brian’s folder that contained the photo of his sister, Sarah. Brian had lit up like a kid at Christmas. Sarah’s picture now sat proudly on the fireplace mantel in our condo.
Dillon addressed the crowd. “We are here to witness and celebrate a new chapter for Brian and Grace. And now, it’s time for the bride and groom to exchange their vows.”
Brian brought my hands up to his mouth and kissed them. “Grace, baby girl, I’ve known you since you were twelve. The first time I saw you with vanilla ice cream dribbling down your chin, with those big brown eyes, I knew one day you would stop hearts, as you did mine. And as the years went on, I watched you blossom into a beautiful woman.” His voice was steady as he grinned, his gaze soft and full of love. “Then one day, you captured my heart, held it tightly, and didn’t let go. Of course you didn’t know that right away. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met. You didn’t just survive—you transformed your pain into purpose. You make me a better man. I promise to stand beside you during all your battles, to support your dreams, and to remind you every day how much I love you.”
I couldn’t see through the tears as I sniffled. “I don’t know if I can follow that.” I giggled, staring up at him. “Brian, I never thought I could be with anyone, but you showed me how a man should treat a woman, with gentleness and kindness, as a partner and an equal, with love and devotion. Love isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being perfectly matched. I promise to be your partner in everything, to love you without reservation, and to build a future and family with you. You are the other half of my soul, and I can’t wait to make memories and build the family we both want.”
Brian was blinking rapidly to keep his emotions at bay as love tethered us together.
“By the powers vested in me, it’s official,” Dillon said. “You are now husband and wife.”
Brian didn’t wait for Dillon to say another word. My husband kissed me like a man possessed.
I could barely hear the applause as I got lost in Brian, in us.
I was now Mrs. Grace Hart McCauley, and I couldn’t be happier.
Dillon nudged us. “Save it for your honeymoon.”
Brian and I laughed.
As we turned to face our guests, Ryan Montgomery, Fran’s boyfriend, ran up and handed Brian an envelope.
Perplexed, I watched Brian open the letter.
“Before we kick off the party,” Brian said, “I want to thank my boss Janet Welby at Marsh Technologies for offering up her yacht tonight but to also thank her for what I’m about to do.”
I held my breath. Was Janet giving us the yacht? We weren’t broke. In fact, we’d thought Josh drained Brian’s domestic bank accounts, but he’d never gotten the chance.
Brian blew out a breath. “Grace, you’ve been dreaming of a way to help survivors of trafficking. The Marsh Technologies board has agreed to be the founding donor of the nonprofit corporation for Grace’s Light. This letter serves as the official letter of a fully funded organization that’s ready to start helping people as soon as we return from our honeymoon in Europe.”
My jaw felt like it hit the floor. “What!” I quickly searched for Janet in the crowd.
She rose in her blue-and-black dress. “We’re honored to be part of your dream.”
I couldn’t stop the tears if I tried. I’d dreamed of helping victims of sex trafficking through all those dark nights when hope seemed impossible, when I thought I would die, when I’d wanted to end my own life.
“Thank you,” I said to Janet.
Brian and I stood before our guests, holding hands, and I couldn’t help but think about the girl I’d been, how she never believed she would be loved, never thought she could outrun her past, never thought she would find her happily after.
I wished I could go back and tell her that not all men were scum. To believe in herself. That love did exist. That miracles did happen.
Our guests were on their feet, applauding.
“This is so surreal,” I said to my husband.
“Best fucking day ever, my bride.”
“I know you played a part in this.” I held up the letter.
“You deserve the world, baby girl. And I’ll do whatever I can and whatever it takes to give it to you.”
Our love story was a testament to the power of hope and redemption, the strength of purpose, and the healing magic of unconditional love.
As we mingled with our guests, I couldn’t have asked for a better happily ever after.
The end
Thank you for reading Hart of Hope. I hope you enjoyed Grace and Brian’s story.