Epilogue
Nalini: One Year Later
When Julia’s parents asked if we’d spend Christmas with them, my first instinct was that I wasn’t actually invited.
Cassidy was close with her grandparents; she’d stayed with them for a month over the summer, giving Kam and me time to ourselves before things started to get crazy.
I’d gotten a literary agent, and my book sold quickly — which meant I was transitioning out of teaching while Kam was transitioning back into the rockstar life.
However, they insisted they wanted to meet me, and Kam informed me it meant they’d probably try to adopt me.
It was strange, the idea of having people want to be my surrogate parents.
I wasn’t used to the concept. And while my anxiety didn’t spiral as it would’ve in the past, it didn’t do anything for my nerves about meeting them.
I twisted my engagement ring around my finger, trying not to let my anxiety win as we made our way towards their house.
I didn’t want them to think I was trying to replace their daughter.
There was no reason to think they would, but the situation was still delicate enough that I wanted to be respectful of their loss.
Kam had proposed on our first anniversary, and Cassidy, upon finding out, immediately brought us a giant binder of how she’d planned our wedding.
She was a little disappointed we told her we wanted something small, but when I reminded her she could save it for her own eventual wedding, she perked up.
We were getting married in Vegas next month, while RaineFall was in the middle of a week-long concert residency that was leading to their new album announcement.
Cassidy was excited enough for the concerts; she’d almost forgotten about the small ceremony we’d planned while all eyes were focused on something else.
“Relax,” Kam smiled, taking my hand and squeezing it as we pulled into the driveway, “They’re going to love you.
And true to his word, Howard and Leslie were as kind as Kam and Cassidy had insisted.
It was clear they were passionate about figure skating, with shrines not just of their daughter, but to the sport as a whole all over their house.
I felt out of place, especially when I realized each shrine was for an Olympic event they’d attended.
Despite how intimidating it was, the house itself was filled with love from top to bottom.
From the surprise hug Leslie pulled me into the moment she saw me, to Howard asking me all about my upcoming book release, it was clear they’d immediately accepted me as part of their family before we’d ever met.
They happily showed the stocking they’d gotten for me, embroidered with my name so it’d fit in with everyone else’s.
For the millionth time since Kam and I'd gotten together, I found tears coming to my eyes, as I once again felt the love I now understood I’d always deserved.
“I have one last present for you,” Leslie quietly said to me, motioning for me to follow.
Nobody noticed us leaving: Cassidy was on her new phone showing off her GM screen to her friends, while Howard and Kam were debating some sort of cooking technique in the kitchen.
I was curious as we walked into a small office.
“This one’s from Julia,” the older woman said, her eyes a little misty.
“She made this video when she realized her time was coming, and she gave me strict instructions: if Kameron ever found love again, and if we approved, which we do wholeheartedly, to give this to you. Howie and I haven’t watched; it’s for your eyes only.
” She smiled at me as she closed the door, and I stared at the computer screen.
“Hey future sister wife! I’m going to start this off by saying, trust me, I know this is completely morbid,” Julia laughed on the screen.
Her head was wrapped in a scarf, and it was clear she was in a hospital room.
Despite how sick she looked, I noticed how much joy she still had, and how obvious it was her illness hadn't broken her. “The whole current wife talking to the future wife thing? I know. It’s weird. So, do me a favor, and don’t tell Kam.
He’s going to spiral about this, so wife-to-wife, think of this as our little secret.
” I was shocked by her personality — I’d seen a few bio pieces from the Olympics she’d competed in, but I now understood why Kam was certain we would’ve been friends — she was hilarious, and Cassidy had inherited not only her personality, but her mannerisms.
“All this weirdness was to say thank you,” the Julia on the screen said, a large, sad sigh leaving her lips, “I hate that I won’t have forever with Kam.
And I hate I won’t get to see Cassidy grow up.
And honestly, I’m jealous you get to. But my thankfulness outweighs my jealousy because if you exist, it means they aren’t alone.
” Tears streamed down my face matched the ones streaming down hers.
“Because I know if you’re seeing this, you love them both with your whole heart.
So, thank you for taking care of the two people who were my whole world.
Thank you for being a part of my family, even though we’ll never actually meet.
I can’t imagine the journey that got them to the point they met you, or what you went through to join it.
And I know whoever you are, you’re exactly the person I dreamed of for them both.
I know he keeps insisting he won’t get remarried, and I’m not sure if it’s his hope the treatment will work and he hasn’t grieved yet.
I don’t even know if I’m making this video for no reason, and he’ll stay single forever.
But if my gut is right, and most of the time it is, I want you to know I’m looking down on the three of you, and I’m rooting for you. ”
“The world needs more love, not less,” she continued, “And I can’t be greedy and hope their hearts won’t be open to something new.
So, what I want you to know is I’m not some dead wife angry my husband remarried; instead, you have my blessing.
Keep Cassidy out of trouble, good luck with talking her through her first period if Kam didn’t get to it first, and don’t let Kam abandon his dreams. Give him a nudge from me if he ever thinks about it.
Give them my love, and don’t tell them you were visited by the video ghost. I’m haunting you, but I promise it’s just me cheering you on. ”
The video ended, and even though it was definitely weird, it made me smile. I knew Kam loved her, even now. I knew losing her had been hard for him and Cassidy. And I knew the family we’d become over the past year was nothing like the family the two of them had built together.
“Don’t worry, Julia,” I said, nodding at the computer screen, “I’ve got them, and I promise I’ll take care of them. I’m sorry we never got to meet, because Kam was right. We would’ve been friends.”
I let out a breath, wiped my eyes, and looked back down at my engagement ring. Then walked back out to spend the rest of the holiday with my family, knowing that Julia’s love being there made it even more complete.
Kameron’s story was only the start…
Jack’s love life blasts off in book 2 of The RaineFall Trilogy:
I Love You To The Moon And Back
Coming in 2027