Epilogue
A month had passed since the fateful day that had changed their lives, but Kieran still wasn’t used to waking up with Georgia every morning and making love to her every night.
Oftentimes, he’d rouse in the middle of the night and watch her sleep, amazed by his good fortune.
It was that, along with some gentle persuasion from his woman, which had led to the gathering they were headed to.
“Are you worried?” In the passenger seat, Georgia smoothed her hand over her ponytail, then pulled down the visor to use the mirror to check her lipstick.
It seemed he wasn’t the only one who was anxious. “Have I told you in the past ten minutes that I love you?”
She popped the visor back up and smiled. “You might have mentioned it about two minutes before we got in the car, and don’t try to change the subject. I’m onto your ways.”
“Are you now?”
“Mmm, you do your best to distract me from topics you don’t want to discuss, sometimes in the most interesting ways.”
She wasn’t wrong. He often made love to her rather than deal with the subject of his family. She’d been patient with him, but he knew it hurt her when he didn’t share. “I don’t know what I’m feeling.” And that was the truth.
“You and Sam and Alex have come a long way,” she reminded him.
The three of them had spent endless hours talking and had come to terms with the revelation about their mothers.
They’d also grudgingly accepted that their father had been trying to help them, in his own way.
That he’d put them and the women through hell in the process was something that would take longer to reconcile.
“We’re closer than we’ve been since we were kids.” That was an unexpected blessing in all of this.
“And your father’s alone.” It was a point she’d made more than once. Rather than belabor it, she moved on to another topic. “Are you sorry we’re staying in Redemption for the time being?”
Reaching across the console, he snagged her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I think we all need to be here right now, to spend time together. Besides, my brothers and I can run our businesses from here with the occasional trip thrown in.”
“Businesses?” She snorted. “Empires, you mean.”
He shrugged. “We’ve all had a long time to make money.” Her reaction to finding out he was loaded hadn’t been what he’d anticipated. Most women would have been ecstatic. Georgia had ended up having a panic attack.
She refused to allow him to spend a cent of his money on her—he was working on that.
Instead, they left the house early each day and headed to the bakery, where they labored side by side.
She’d hired a woman to work the shop, freeing him up to bake alongside her.
Eventually, she planned on bringing another baker on board, but that was farther down the road.
“It’ll be odd when the day comes to finally leave, but I’m looking forward to whatever adventure comes after. I can bake anywhere. Maybe I’ll write a cookbook or two. I have options.”
“There’s also the recipe deal.” He’d done some digging. Basically, he’d hacked David’s email and had found the CEO of the manufacturing company who wanted Georgia’s recipes. Then he’d given her the information.
She laughed. “Maybe I’ll start my own cookie empire.”
“You can do anything you put your mind to.” He made the turn at the Little Lavender Company sign, following the long driveway to the house.
The trees had turned a blaze of red, orange, and yellow, giving the yard a welcoming glow.
It had been decided to have the meeting at Adrianne’s farm.
It was more secluded than Cilla’s Ivy House and Georgia’s home, and none of them were sure how today’s visit would go.
“Looks like we’re the last to arrive,” he said.
Alex’s vehicle was next to the new truck Sam had bought last week.
After parking, Kieran hurried around the car, but Georgia was already out with the back door open.
“Let me. I’ve got them.” Reaching past her, he pulled out four large bakery boxes.
When he’d protested the amount of baked goods she was determined to bring, she’d sniffed haughtily and informed him, “You can never have too many treats.” He understood it was her way of contributing, of showing those close to her how much she cared.
When they reached the house, Sam had the door open. “Come on in.”
Chester, Adrianne’s large gray cat, padded over to greet him. For some reason, the elderly male feline had taken a liking to Kieran. “Hey buddy.” Familiar with the home, he went to the kitchen and set the boxes on the counter. “Hey, Adrianne. Cilla.”
“What, no greeting for me?” Alex slapped his hand against his chest. “I’m crushed.”
“You’re not as good-looking.” He brushed a kiss against both women’s cheeks in greeting, noting a vase filled with Cilla’s roses in the center of the table, flanked by lavender candles Adrianne had made. All the women were adding their special touches to the family gathering.
Georgia was busy unboxing the chocolate fudge cake and apple crumble pie, along with an assortment of cupcakes and cookies. “No sign of Dad yet?” Both his brothers shook their heads.
The raucous call of a crow had all their heads swiveling toward the back door. It was followed by a heavy knock. It kind of surprised him that his father didn’t simply pop in. It wasn’t like he couldn’t.
After getting a nod from Kieran and then Alex, Sam opened the door. There was no sign of either the robe or the scythe. Instead, their father was wearing black jeans and a black linen dress shirt. The sight took Kieran back to their childhood days, when their father had been more approachable.
“May I come in?”
Sam raised an eyebrow at the question but waved him forward. “Please do.”
He stepped inside. Everyone stared and no one spoke. Talk about awkward. “I’m glad to see you.” Georgia broke the stalemate with a tentative smile. “I hope you like sweet treats. I brought an array.”
If Kieran hadn’t been watching closely, he would have missed the darkness in his father’s eyes lightening. “Thank you. I’d like to try them.” He nodded at the other women. “Ladies, it’s good to see you. Alexiares. Kieran.”
Could it get more stilted? Determined to do his part—he’d promised Georgia he’d do his best—Kieran waved everyone toward the kitchen table. “Why don’t we all sit down?” Since it wasn’t his house, he was overstepping, but Sam was still holding the door open.
While everyone settled, Kieran helped Georgia ferry the trays to the table. She’d even brought paper plates, disposable cutlery, and napkins. The woman didn’t miss a trick.
“How about coffee?” Adrianne jumped up and hurried into the kitchen, where a large pot was waiting.
“I’ll help.” Cilla joined her, and soon everything was on the table. Sam and Alex had spent the time staring at their father, as if they couldn’t believe he was really here.
Kieran was beginning to believe Georgia was right, that all he wanted was a connection with them.
No one helped themselves to anything. Steam rose from the untouched cups.
Georgia reached beneath the table and took his hand, linking their fingers together.
Taking a deep breath, he asked his father a question he never had.
“So, Dad, how are you?” His brothers looked at him as if he’d suddenly sprouted a second head, but they leaned closer, intent on hearing the answer.
Death frowned. “I am as I have always been.”
That made Kieran unbearably sad. “Have you considered that you don’t have to be?” It was a brash question, but he honestly wanted to know.
Their father frowned and gave some thought to the answer. “I am not like you and your brothers. You are more than I will ever be. I’m proud of the men you’ve become. The saying, ‘I’m too old to change’ certainly applies to me. I’m not sure I can, or if it would be wise.”
“Look what happened the last time you tried something different.” Georgia rubbed Kieran’s arm. “You made three amazing sons.”
A smile flitted across the Grim Reaper’s face. “Yes.” Then his lips compressed into a thin line. “Although my last attempt at something different was not as well received.”
“You’re talking about what you did to us.” Elbows on the table, Sam leaned forward.
Their father inclined his head. “My intent was to try to find a way to…make things better.”
Alex rubbed his hand over his face. “While I can’t say I’m thrilled with how you went about it, I can’t complain about the outcome. Being with Cilla is the best thing that ever happened to me.” When he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, she leaned her head against him.
“How did you know that we’d fall in love with the woman chosen for our assignment?” It was a question that had kept Kieran awake more than one night.
His father’s eyes became fathomless pools, their inky depths impenetrable.
“There was no way to be certain. Humans have free will. Not even I can tamper with that. Every choice a person makes has an outcome. I see them all. I knew the possibility existed for all of you. It was slight, every decision compounding onto the next. It was up to you if you chose to pursue the relationship. Any of you could have rejected it.”
That was both enlightening and sobering. “Why did you take our powers?” Kieran asked. It was something he and his brothers had discussed endlessly, determined to find a way to ensure it never happened again.
“I’ve observed human nature for eternity. What I’ve discovered is that, when faced with adversity, people push beyond anything they imagined they could ever do.”
“You were testing us.” Anger vibrated in Sam’s voice.
“No,” Kieran interjected. “He was allowing us to test our own limits, to dig deep and discover who and what we truly are beyond being reapers and Death’s sons.
To find out who we are as individuals, as men.
What we value.” He lifted Georgia’s hand to his lips.
“What we’ll fight for. How much we’ll sacrifice for love. ”
“I had to be sure. Removing anyone from the timeline is not without risk. The Fates were not pleased,” their father said.
Kieran gave a low whistle. Going up against the Fates was not something any sane person did. They could cut a cord without hesitation—and had in the past. They could be fair and compassionate as well as vindictive. It depended on the day.
“How did you manage it?” Alex asked.
A dark, deadly aura pulsed from within and around their father.
Georgia’s grip on Kieran’s hand tightened.
“I reminded them that I am the final fate of all. I am Death. And you are my sons. There is nothing I will not do to protect you.” He pushed to his feet. “I should go.”
“You haven’t tried the cake.” Georgia popped out of her chair and reached for the knife she’d set out to cut it. “My double chocolate fudge is to die for.” Her mouth snapped shut as she realized what she’d said.
Adrianne pointed to his mug. “You haven’t finished your coffee.”
“And you simply must try Georgia’s apple crumble pie,” Cilla added.
His father’s eyes softened, but he looked at his sons in turn, from Samael to Alexiares, and finally to Kieran.
Shaken from the revelation, Kieran understood that his father was a mystery to him.
The fury and pride in his voice when he’d said my sons had dissolved the remaining resentment inside him.
He imagined his brothers were having their own revelations.
“You really should try Georgia’s cake,” he told him.
“And finish your coffee,” Sam added.
“The apple crumble pie is the best you’ve ever eaten,” Alex said.
Taking their comments as the invitation they were, their father sat. They might never have a close relationship, but it never paid to say never. Kieran was living proof of that. He’d found the love of his life and planned to live happily ever after.
He pulled Georgia down into his arms and kissed her. His brothers did the same with their women. Out of the corner of his eye, Kieran caught his father’s satisfied smile.