41. Epilogue
One year later
Sara zipped up Hailey’s dress and handed her the bouquet. Hailey turned around. “How do I look?”
Angie beamed. “Like the most beautiful bride I ever did see. Well, aside from me, anyway.” Angie winked.
Hailey smiled and shook her head.
The day still felt surreal to Hailey. She was about to be Mrs. Trey Harbor, and she was counting down the seconds. She had almost opted for a courthouse wedding, but Trinity convinced her to have the wedding of her dreams. Trinity had been right. Hailey and Trey deserved a beautiful ceremony surrounded by their friends and family as they vowed to love each other forever.
“You’re supposed to have something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” Trinity said as she handed Hailey her gold locket. “The locket is something old, but Dad took it to the jeweler to have the stones switched to a blue topaz. It’s a stone from one of your mother’s rings that Genevieve still had- which is something blue.” Then, Trinity handed Hailey a gold bracelet. “And this is new and matches the locket.”
Hailey teared up. “These are beautiful, I love them.”
Trinity rolled her eyes. “You don’t need to cry, Mom.”
Hailey chuckled. “Okay, I’ll stop. Is that why you two were gone so long a few weeks ago?”
Trinity smiled and shook her head. “Yes and no. We dropped it off at the jewelers but…” She handed Hailey a piece of paper. “I’m officially Trinity Harbor.”
Trinity had asked to change her last name months ago and Hailey had happily agreed. It had just taken her longer than she anticipated with wedding plans.
“I love you.” Hailey beamed. Trinity fought and nearly failed to hide her smile.
“That’s sweet,” Sara said dryly. She handed Hailey a bobby pin. “Here. This can be your ‘something borrowed.’”
Hailey lifted a brow. “How sentimental.”
“It’s the one I use to pick locks with so don’t lose it. I want it back.”
Hailey laughed and hugged Sara. Sara hugged her back and said, “This is the one time I’ll let you hug me and it’s only because it’s your wedding day.”
Hailey shook her head and pulled away. “You’re so dramatic.”
Angie brought over a makeup bag. “Sara, sit. We need to do your makeup.”
Sara made a face as Angie began laying out foundation, brushes, and eyeshadows. “Do I have to?”
Angie stuck her hip out. “Don’t be a brat. My house was almost destroyed while I was gone so you owe me.”
Sara smiled. “I see you’re not going to let that go.”
“Not a chance,” Angie chuckled.
Hailey walked to the window and stared down at the guests who were trickling in below.
Today had been a whirlwind of emotions, much like the last year had been. Her father had passed away eight months ago and, though it angered many people, Hailey refused to give David a funeral. She and Sara were the only people to stand over his casket as they lowered it into the ground. They wanted to make sure he was buried six feet under.
Lauren had been put on suicide watch when the FBI delivered the news about David’s death. The day David left her in prison, Lauren had screamed bloody murder, begging David to come back. They ended up having to sedate and restrain her. Her reaction to his death had been far worse. She tried to kill a guard, two inmates, and herself.
Since then, she hadn’t spoken to anyone, so they revoked her plea deal, and she was now looking at life in prison.
After Lauren had divulged her crimes to David, the FBI found letters she’d written to him from prison that he never opened. Of course, that knowledge had sent her into hysterics. She tore her cell apart and beat her cellmate so badly the woman had to be life-flighted to a specialty hospital.
And she likely would have gotten away with everything if it wasn’t for the hair she had left at the crime scene and Ryan going rogue on her. The hair they found in Nicole’s car was linked to the death of Lauren’s parents and, from what Hailey could gather, the facts of the case were still hazy and being investigated.
After finding Cecilia’s phone in Ryan’s car, the FBI surmised that Ryan had been stalking the girls in an attempt to kidnap Trinity. They assumed he overheard their conversation about sneaking out and when the opportunity presented itself, stole Cecilia’s phone and texted Trinity to lure her out of the house.
Unfortunately, Trinity still had nightmares, but they were happening less frequently now. Therapy was helping and she enjoyed talking to Agent Garcia. He seemed to calm her nerves quite a bit. Hailey even found her daughter spending more and more time with Sara, though Sara still wasn’t sure what to do with the teenager.
Sara was also working with a lawyer on a lawsuit against the state. From what the lawyer said, it was very promising. For now, Sara spent her days running down leads for Jasmine Johnson. Hailey was shocked to find the woman actually paid her twin very well.
That turned out to be a blessing because many of David’s assets had been frozen so there was no money left for the twins to inherit, though the house had been given to them upon David’s death. But after some thought, neither Sara nor Hailey wanted to keep it. They decided to give it to Genevieve who had the idea to turn it into a wedding venue, stating that good memories needed to be made at the estate.
And after fourteen long years, their mother could finally rest in peace.
A knock at the door drug Hailey from her thoughts. Gavin poked his head in. “Are you ladies ready? It’s almost time.”
Hailey took in a deep breath as butterflies filled her stomach. She couldn’t believe this was happening. “We’re ready,” she said with a smile.
Angie handed everyone their bouquets and the four of them lined up. Gavin looked at Sara up and down. “You single, miss?”
Sara rolled her eyes. “Unfortunately, no.”
He laughed. “Well, that was rude.”
She laughed back. “Go. You shouldn’t keep Trey waiting.”
He came in and stole a kiss from her. “Promise to catch the bouquet at the reception, okay?”
Sara blushed as he walked out.
“Oooh, I like him a lot,” Angie said.
Hailey laughed. “I think Sara does, too.”
Assessing her reflection one last time, Hailey smiled and stood behind Sara. Angie opened the doors and led them out of the room and into the foyer of the church where they waited for the chapel doors to open.
Angie walked out first, followed by Sara, and then Trinity. Without skipping a beat, Trinity walked over to Trey and gave him a fist bump, sending a wave of laughter through the crowd.
Cecilia agreed to be a flower girl and Angie’s nephew, Jax, agreed to be the ringbearer, despite both of them being Trinity’s age. The two made their way down the aisle as Hailey waited for her bridal music to start.
The doors opened one last time, and she looked directly at Trey. He was smiling from ear to ear, and she found herself needing to pace herself. She wanted to run down the aisle, fling her arms around him, and skip everything but the vows.
She couldn’t wait to become his wife.
The music played and everyone in the audience stood as she made her way toward the altar where she and Trey promised to love each other forever. A promise they both intended to keep.
Six years later
Lauren sat in her jail cell waiting for her next visitation. She was excited to see him again. She had been surprised when he had started visiting her. She had been even more surprised that he knew about her.
She smiled inwardly. He would help her, and nothing would stand in their way.
She thought about Trinity, loathing her. Rage burned within Lauren at the thought of her. That little bitch tried to kill her. What she wouldn’t give to unleash The Beast, to tear Trinity to shreds for taking away everything she loved.
She may have been a kid when she shot Lauren, but she wasn’t anymore.
And now Lauren was plotting her revenge.
And he was helping her.
Trinity thought she was safe. She thought these walls and bars and chains would hold Lauren in.
But soon, Lauren would be free. The Beast would need to be satisfied.
And Trinity would need to run for her life.