Epilogue
I stood in Mama’s room just staring at it, hovering near the door, for the millionth time. The emptiness pressed in on me from all sides. The once vibrant space now felt like a shell. Her clothes, her treasures—the dresses she’d worn to church every Sunday, the aprons she’d tied around her waist as she baked—were all gone, donated or sold off in the weeks since her passing. Only the memories remained, clinging to the walls like faded wallpaper.
One month. It had been one month since we’d lost her, since the world had tilted off its axis and left me reeling.
Some days, it felt like an eternity. Others, like no time at all. Like she’d just stepped out for a moment and would breeze back through the door any second, filling the space with her light once more.
But she wouldn’t. I knew that. She was gone, and all the wishing in the world wouldn’t bring her back.
I closed my eyes, breathing in deep, searching for some lingering trace of her. The air still held a hint of her perfume, the floral scent she’d loved and I’d always associated with her. I remembered the day I’d accidentally knocked over the bottle on her dresser. The fragrance soaked into the carpet. We’d laughed as we’d tried to mop it up, the scent clinging to our hands, our clothes.
Now, it was all I had left of her. That, and the aching hole in my chest.
A soft knock startled me, and I spun around to find Dustin hovering in the doorway.
“Lewis is ready to go.” He stepped into the room, his gaze casting over it almost hesitantly. “Anderson has the car all packed up.”
I swallowed hard, a lump rising in my throat. “I don’t know if I can do this, Dustin.”
He sighed, crossing the room to pull me into a hug. I leaned into him, breathing in the familiar scent of motor oil. My little brother, all grown up and strong.
When did that happen?
“I know it’s hard, Liv,” he whispered into my hair. “I know you’re hurting. We all are. But you can’t put your life on hold forever.”
I squeezed my eyes shut against the sting of tears. “I just… I feel like I’m abandoning her. Abandoning you. Running off to chase my dreams while you’re left here to pick up the pieces.”
“We’ve gone through this.” He pulled back, his hands firm on my shoulders. “You’re not abandoning anyone, you hear me? This is what Ma would want. What I want. For you to get back out there, to sing your heart out and show the world what you’re made of.”
A wobbly laugh escaped me, half sob, half amusement. “When did you get so wise, little brother?”
He grinned, the crooked, impish smile that always made him look like an overgrown child. “I’ve always been wise. You just never listened.”
I shoved at his chest, sniffling. “Jerk.”
“Brat,” he shot back, the old, familiar banter a balm to my battered heart.
But the moment was short-lived. I’d put off leaving for weeks and Lewis, bless him, had nodded every time I delayed us. The band was understanding but I knew we couldn’t put it off forever. Still, the thought of leaving this house, this town, my family… it crashed over me anew, stealing my breath.
“I can’t,” I whispered, fresh tears welling. “I’m not ready. I thought I was, but… maybe I should stay another week. Just to make sure you’re okay, to help get everything settled with the house, the estate…”
He sighed, exasperated but fond. “You said one more week last week. And the week before that. If you keep putting it off, you’ll never leave.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me off with a look. “I’m a big boy, sis. I can handle things here. And Ashley’s just a phone call away if I need anything. You’re not leaving me high and dry.”
He gripped my shoulders, his gaze intense. “But if you stay, if you keep putting your life on hold because you’re worried about me… that’s not what Ma would want. That’s not what any of us want.”
His words hit home, a bittersweet truth I couldn’t deny. Mama had been my biggest cheerleader, my fiercest supporter. She’d believed in me, in my music, with a faith that never wavered. The thought of disappointing her, even now…
But still, the idea of walking out that door, of leaving her behind…
Dustin must have seen the hesitation, the conflict, in my eyes. He huffed a laugh, shaking his head. “Alright, you asked for it. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Before I could process his words, he’d scooped me up, throwing me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I yelped, flailing and pounding on his back as he carried me out of the room, down the stairs.
“Dustin Monroe, you put me down right this instant!” I shrieked, torn between laughter and outrage.
He ignored me, his grip firm as he marched us through the living room and out the front door. I caught a glimpse of Lewis and Ashley waiting by the car, matching grins on their faces.
“A little help here?” I called out, glaring daggers at their amused expressions.
Ashley shrugged, her eyes dancing with mirth. “Sorry, Liv. I’m with Dustin on this one. It’s for your own good.”
Lewis nodded. “She’s right, cariad. It’s time.”
I huffed, going limp in my brother’s hold. He set me down next to the car, his hands gentle on my shoulders.
“I don’t want to go,” I whispered, my voice small and childlike to my own ears. “I don’t want to leave her.”
Lewis stepped forward, pulling me into his arms. I sagged against him, breathing in his scent, his strength. He’d been my rock this past month. I didn’t know how I would have survived without him.
“I know it feels like leaving her behind. But she’s with you always. In your heart, in your memories. In the music you make and the life you live.” He pulled back, cradling my face in his hands. His hazel eyes were soft, shining with love. “And we’ll be back. As often as you need. Just because we’re going back to the tour doesn’t mean we’re saying goodbye to Jasmine Bay, to your mam. Not forever.”
He was right. Of course he was right.
Leaving didn’t mean forgetting. It didn’t mean I loved my mother any less, that I was abandoning her memory.
It just meant… living. Moving forward.
I took a deep, shuddering breath, leaning my forehead against Lewis’s. “Okay,” I whispered, the word a shaky exhale. “Okay. You’re right. It’s time.”
A smile broke over his face, bright and beautiful. He leaned in, brushing a soft kiss over my lips. “That’s my girl.”
I turned to Ashley and Dustin, my heart clenching at the sight of them. My best friend, my brother. Leaving them behind, even for a little while… it was a physical ache, more so than it had ever been before.
But they were smiling, their eyes shining with affection and the sheen of tears. They knew, better than anyone, how much this meant to me. How much I needed to do this, for myself.
For the little girl who’d first picked up a guitar and dreamed of something bigger than this small town, this sheltered life.
“Go on, then,” Ashley said with a shaky but fierce smile. “Go show the world what Olivia Monroe is made of.”
Dustin nodded, his grin crooked and bright. “And don’t you worry about us. We’ll hold down the fort here. You just focus on knocking ’em dead out there.”
I swallowed hard, my throat tight. “I love you both. So much.”
“We love you, too.” She pulled me into a fierce hug. “More than anything.”
Dustin wrapped his arms around us both, squeezing tight. “What she said,” he mumbled, his voice gruff with emotion.
We held each other for a long moment and I closed my eyes, relaxing into them, committing the moment to memory. When we finally pulled apart, my cheeks were wet, my heart full to bursting.
“Okay,” I said, my voice steadier now. Stronger. “Let’s do this.”
I hugged Ashley and Dustin one last time, whispering promises to call, to visit, to keep them close even from a distance. Then, with a deep breath and a resolute nod, I turned to Lewis.
“Ready, husband?” I asked, the word still new and thrilling on my tongue.
His smile was blinding, his hand warm and strong as it enveloped mine. “Ready, wife.”
As Anderson pulled away from the kerb, I watched my childhood home recede in the rearview mirror, the porch swing where Mama and I had spent countless hours swaying in the breeze.
My heart ached, the loss still so fresh, so raw. But with Lewis by my side, with the love and support of my family, I knew I could face whatever lay ahead.
Mama was with me, just like Dustin said. In my heart. In my music. And as long as I kept singing, as long as I kept reaching for those stars… she’d never truly be gone.
* * *