EPILOGUE
Fifteen years later
Danika
“Mom. You okay?” My twenty-one-year-old son places a hand on my right shoulder, and I place my hand on his.
I smile, having to look up to meet his eyes.
Sometimes I forget how tall he is. We adopted Beckett when he was only five.
I remember meeting him for the first time with his dark curls surrounding his face.
He had the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. So full of life despite having been in and out of foster care.
Ours included. But we couldn’t give him up.
Couldn’t let him go. So, after a year of providing him with a safe place to be cared for, we decided we wanted him to be our son.
Me and Liem knew in our hearts he was ours. Maybe not by blood but by bond.
The way he’d run to me when I picked him up from kindergarten. Or how he’d kiss me goodnight and wrap his much smaller arms around my neck. He was the light of our lives. The joy making us fully complete. We gave him the best childhood we could, and he made us happier than we’ve ever had been.
After graduation we had to watch him drive off to college and it about broke our hearts, but we were so proud of him and the man he’d become.
Liem is the best father. Taught him how to respect women. How to be proud and confident. How to really love with all your being.
I pull my son closer as he hugs me back, letting my head rest on his chest. “Yeah. I’m good, honey.”
We watch Liem have his moment, and then we meet him at Gracie’s headstone.
Some women may find it odd, sharing my husband with another. But it’s not, we owe so much to her, and she’ll always be important to our lives.
I kiss my two fingers then touch the marble of Gracie’s headstone, setting the lilies down in the vase.
Tears tug in my eyes as Liem wraps me in his embrace.
“I feel like I knew her even though we never met. Y’know?” Beckett says, his voice soft and quiet like Liem’s.
I tug at my son’s arm, pulling him to us. “I know.” And I did because Gracie is sprinkling her magic everywhere.
The wind kicks up and despite it being Winter in Oregon, it feels extra bright out today.
“Hey, Mom, Dad. Look.” Beckett points and I follow the butterfly that lands on her headstone.
“Huh. Would you look at that.” Liem holds out his hand and the purple butterfly perches on his finger before flying off.
“Think it was her?” Our son chuckles but I only smile.
“I think it was definitely Gracie, honey.”
Beckett’s phone goes off, and he pulls it from his jeans pocket reading the text. I smile as his cheeks turn a pinkish color, glowing with shyness. “It’s Chloe. She said everyone’s asking when we’ll be home for Christmas.”
My body turns lighter, the tension leaving a small fraction.
Liem smiles and my chest warms from the sight as it always does. “Tell her we’ll be home soon.”
Thanks so much for reading! There is a bonus epilogue next which is also a sneak peek into book 5 of the Steel Valley Chains MC.
Be warned though, it does hold SPOILERS from book 1.
If you don’t want anything completely ruined for you, come back after you’ve finished Charger, if you don’t mind, or you’re already caught up, carry on!