Epilogue
Ican see it now.
Someday, when I'm old and gray and my grandchildren have run out of things to ask me, Netflix will finally come knocking. But this time, the documentary won't be about a dead girl.
Karyna Francisco Caristia: The Girl Who Got Her Happy Ending, All by God’s Grace.
Because it’s true.
When Ruel and I got back together, and we started talking…
it just had us in awe, and honestly, it had me crying, and Ruel’s eyes suspiciously bright, when we realized how God turned everything for good.
Because Ruel was right. Humans had the most incredible capacity for both good and evil, and there was no telling what could happen with people who didn’t truly know Him.
Sadie setting me up and bribing those officers to have me arrested could have easily gotten so much worse…
But it didn’t.
Instead, it was what paved the way for us to find our way back to each other, and oh, Chadwick, too.
He and his men were still with us; they went wherever we went, and I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way.
There’s safety in numbers, especially with me still having nightmares over what Sadie’s done.
The last I heard, she’s still with the Feds, and all I can do now is pray for her.
They’re the ones who took her away, and it was Keiran who made the arrangements.
I’ve always known Harbour Locke is no ordinary club.
But I never thought that breaking one of the club rules meant going against the FBI.
And oh, speaking of Harbour Locke…
I can’t help smiling a little when I remember my last Zoom call with Gwen and Patrick.
The two of them are dating now, and in fact, we’re having them over as guests next month, along with Keiran and Cadence, and both our lawyers and their spouses, too.
It’s going to be the best yacht party ever (without anyone getting drunk)—
“Ahem.”
I barely keep myself from wincing, which would have made things worse. It would’ve made me guilty of not paying attention, and I’d rather not let my professor know that even if it’s true.
“Are you still with us, Caristia?”
“Absolutely.”
My professor squints at me on the screen, and I fight to keep still and not squirm under her prying gaze.
Since she teaches Intro to Psychology, I’m always worried she’ll see through me or something, and it’s not like I have anything to hide, but I just want to be careful, you know? Considering who my husband is?
“It’s your turn,” Professor Douglas says finally. “You can begin any moment now.”
Gulp.
This is the exercise I’ve been dreading the most. She’s asked us to introduce ourselves to the class as though we were our own patient, but…what if I let something slip?
And also…
How do I talk about my life without sounding like I’m either low-key bragging or high-key flaunting?
Because honestly…
I love being Ruel’s wife so, so much!
I mean, I loved it the first time, but now that everything’s real, and we both know we’re head over heels for each other?
I love our life, I love him, and I…I just want to thank God so, so much!
My heart feels like it’s about to burst no matter where I look.
Like this upper deck alone…
He’s turned it into a reading nook ever since I shyly admitted to wanting to go back to school. He’s the most supportive husband ever, making sure that our sailing schedule and social calendar revolve around the demands of my online course—
“We’re waiting, Caristia.”
Oops.
I clear my throat. “Good morning. My case study today will be about Patient John 3:16–”
Some of my classmates smile while a few curl their lips and roll their eyes at me. Most, however, just look at me like I’m crazy.
“Her current location is somewhere…warm, and her lifestyle…”
Huh?
I’m distracted by the way everyone’s faces share a similar look of curiosity and…envy? I’ve made sure that the angle of my laptop camera doesn’t show where I am—
“I missed you.”
Oh, so this is why!
I only realize my husband is back from his business trip when I find myself caged within his arms as his hands settle on each side of my desk. And then he’s reaching to cup my chin from behind, turning my face to him—
Oh, Ruel.
It just makes me want to cry every time I see that precious smile of his. I know it’s silly, but I’m torn between wanting to hoard all of his smiles for myself…and wanting the whole world to see it because they’re that beauti—
W-What is he doing?
He’s turned the laptop around and adjusted its view so that its camera is now directed on the lower deck and the turquoise waters surrounding us.
“R-Ruel, it’s my turn to present—”
“I know,” he says. “You told me about your assignment last week. Introduce yourself as a patient.”
If he knows about that, then why is he interrupting—
“Trust me, love. What I’m about to do is the only instruction they’ll need from you.”
My eyes widen.
Oh no.
I try to escape, but of course it’s no use. He’s swung me up in his arms, and I do my best to free myself but nope. It’s like going against a force of nature, and the next thing I know, he’s slowly laying me down on the couch, dark gaze gleaming in a way that never fails to make my heart race.
But even so.
They can hear us, I mouth in panic.
He presses a finger against my lips.
Not if you don’t make a noise.
And then he’s slowly lowering his head—
W-Wait!
My hands press against his chest, but it’s like trying to move a wall, and…oh!
I nearly cry out as his lips brush my ear.
“I love you.”
He only whispers the words…but everyone in my Zoom meeting clearly hears it because the next thing I know—
AWWWWWW.
I hear everyone’s response from the laptop loud and clear, and I feel like laughing and crying even as I find myself reaching up to touch his cheek.
“I love you, too.”
There’s no point trying to mouth this, but everything after those words, though…
I manage not to make a sound.
And as much as I hate to admit this…
He’s also right.
It’s all the introduction the class needed to know who I am.
And that’s a wife who loves her husband…and whose husband loves her back.
The End
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