Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER…
Sadie stretched languidly on the pristine white sand, letting the warm tropical sun caress her skin. The gentle lapping of turquoise waves against the shore was a soothing melody, one that was embalmed on her soul after years of island life.
She glanced over at Saul, her new husband of just one week, as he emerged from the crystalline water. Droplets glistened on his tanned, muscular body as he approached with a devilish grin.
They’d set up home on Syèl la, the family island attached to the Eden Resort, one Luca had set up so that those with families could remain in employment at the child-free kink resort.
Saul made no secret that he wanted them to have children…
lots of them! Although Sadie was well on her way to coming to terms with her childhood, and no longer allowed it to rule her life decisions, becoming a parent herself was not something she’d wanted to rush into, but only because she’d wanted Saul all to herself for a while.
They’d married on Elysium, right there on the sand, and exchanged their vows in an intimate ceremony, officiated by Mia, with just the ocean and their closest friends as witness, while the orange and pink hues of the sunset painted the sky and frolicked on the surf.
Then they’d barbecued on the beach, with a delicious spread the head chef, Cree Smith, had insisted on contributing for them, and champagne Luca had provided, before dancing into the night under swags of fairy lights to the sounds of a traditional steel drum band.
She hadn’t invited Marcie. Though they were in touch now, the relationship was tenuous, and Sadie didn’t think she’d ever be able to get over the betrayal of her mother’s actions, no matter how much Marcie apologized and tried her best to mend things between them. Some actions could never be undone.
Marcie was in the long, drawn-out process of trying to divorce Ned, but he was being difficult, demanding half of Marcie’s property, his lawyer saying that was his right since it had been his home for almost twenty years, even though it was solely in her mother’s name.
Marcie didn’t have the money to buy him out and was arguing he’d been incarcerated for most of that time.
Sadie would have happily paid Ned off if it meant getting him out of her mother’s life - and by extension hers - but Saul was absolutely adamant that the man should never, ever benefit from either Sadie or himself, and since he rarely asked anything of her, she couldn’t deny him that.
Sadie hadn’t wanted that kind of drama marring their wedding day…
although drama they’d had, since Zack’s wife - the mysterious woman nobody knew anything about - had turned up to throw a spanner into the works of his and Dani’s rather tentative, but extremely volatile relationship.
One that had been an excruciating work in progress since he’d come to Elysium to help Saul. But that was another story.
“I have another wedding gift for you,” Sadie told Saul, almost shyly.
“Hey, what’s this?” Saul asked at her unusual uncertainty, squatting down in front of her and lifting her chin to meet the intense, dark gaze she loved so much. “And you know I don’t need gifts as long as I have you.”
The past year had been one of healing and discovery for Sadie.
With Saul's unwavering support and love, she had slowly begun to unravel the knots of her past trauma.
His patience and understanding had been a balm to her wounded soul, allowing her to blossom into the woman she was always meant to be.
Sadie took a deep breath, her heart fluttering with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Well, this is more of a promise, than a physical gift,” she began, her voice soft but steady. “I've been thinking a lot about what you said... about starting a family, and I'm ready. I’ve had my IUD removed."
Saul's eyes widened, a spark of hope igniting in their depths. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might shatter this precious moment.
She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "I am. I want to build a family with you, Saul. I want to create the kind of love and safety I never had growing up."
Saul pulled her into his arms, his embrace warm and secure. "Oh, Sadie," he murmured into her hair, his voice thick with emotion. “Next to having you as my wife, that’s the best gift I could possibly be given.”
He pulled her into his arms, his strong hands caressing her sun-warmed skin. Sadie melted into his embrace, feeling the rapid beat of his heart against her chest. Their lips met in a passionate kiss, full of promise and longing.
As they parted, breathless, Saul's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Well, Mrs. Stephens, shall we start practicing right away?" His hand trailed down her side, fingers teasing the edge of her bikini bottom.
Sadie giggled, a sound that still surprised her sometimes. It was a testament to how far she'd come, how safe and loved she felt with Saul. "Right here on the beach? What if someone sees?"
Saul quirked an eyebrow. “We scene at a BDSM club in full view of complete strangers, and this is an island full of kinksters.”
“But this is the family island, Saul… there are children.”
Saul swung her into his arms, bridal style, and she clung to him, relishing the cool droplets of water against her overheated skin. “Then, for the sanctity of little eyes, I’d better take you inside.”
As he laid her on the bed, the phone started to ring. “Ignore it,” he murmured, his lips on their own voyage of discovery.
Sadie's fingers tangled in Saul's damp hair as he trailed kisses down her neck. The phone continued to ring insistently, but she was lost in the sensations he was evoking. His hands skimmed over her curves, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
Just as Saul's fingers found the tie of her bikini top, the answering machine clicked on. A frantic voice filled the room.
"Sadie! It's your mother… I just found out… Ned’s dead! He’s gone. We’re… free.” The relief in her voice was unmistakable.
Sadie bolted upright in shock, her eyes wide as she stared at the phone. The line went dead, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.
“Do you… do you think it’s true?” Sadie asked, her breath hitching.
She didn’t know exactly how she felt right now.
There were too many emotions swirling around in her head.
Relief, liberation, something akin to joy, which was closely followed by a crippling guilt for feeling that way about the death of another human being.
Saul sat back, his expression a mixture of concern and care. "Are you okay?" he asked softly, reaching out to touch her arm.
Sadie leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his waist and taking comfort from his solid presence.
"I... I don't know," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Her mind was reeling. The whirlwind of conflicting emotions threatening to overwhelm her. Ned. Her stepfather. The man who had tormented her childhood, whose actions had driven a wedge between her and her mother. Dead.
“I’m almost scared to believe it’s true, that he won’t be able to hurt anyone again.”
They both knew he wouldn’t have stayed in prison much longer.
“I can find out,” Saul said, retrieving his phone from the pile of clothing on the floor.
It didn’t take more than a few minutes to receive confirmation. Ned had been shived in an altercation with another prisoner.
“Is it wrong to be happy about another person's death?” Sadie asked tentatively. Even though she was the psychologist, she needed to hear it from someone else.
Saul pulled Sadie closer, his strong arms enveloping her in a protective embrace. "No, my love," he murmured softly against her hair. "After everything he put you through, it's natural to feel relief. Your feelings are valid."
Sadie nodded slowly, tears welling up in her eyes. "I just... I never thought this day would come. I always imagined him lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike again."
"He can't hurt you anymore," Saul reassured her, his voice firm and steady. "You're safe now. You and your mother are both safe."
They sat in silence for a few moments, the weight of the news settling around them. Sadie's mind raced with memories - both painful and cathartic. She thought of her mother, and the complex emotions she also must be experiencing right now.
"I should call her back," Sadie said quietly, reaching for the phone.
Saul stopped her with his hand over hers. “You don’t owe her anything, Sadie. I know she’s trying to make her peace with you, but we’re on our honeymoon, and your mother will wait if you don’t want to make that call.”
Sadie hesitated, her hand hovering over the phone. Saul was right. She really didn’t want to make this call.
Not now, at least.
Maybe later, when she’d had enough time to process her own emotions properly.
She nodded, a tremulous smile forming on her lips. “You’re right.”
“How about we hop over to Elysium for dinner at Bahamian Rhapsody?” he asked, clearly wanting to take her mind off things.
Sadie’s smile widened as she shoved thoughts of the past aside. “I might be up for that… if you take your e-stim kit and we couple it with a visit to Iniquity.”
Saul nibbled at her lips, and Sadie felt her blood start to thrum again. “Now that’s a plan I can get behind wholeheartedly.”
Later that evening, as she stood bound and spread eagled against a St. Andrews cross under Saul’s practiced hand, Sadie felt a sense of liberation and joy wash over her.
And as pulses of electricity danced over her skin, caressing her nerve endings with exactly the right blend of pleasure and pain, Sadie let go of the last thread tying her to the ordeal of her past and embraced the promise of an even more brilliant and beautiful life with Saul and the family they’d committed to.
The future was bright; the future was electric.