Epilogue #3
She was quiet, and I turned my head to look at her. “Is something bothering you?”
“No,” she said slowly. “Not really.”
I propped myself up. “Be honest.”
She sighed. “This has been perfect.”
“But…” I gestured with my hand, encouraging her to tell me what was wrong.
“But I’d love to have a big engagement party or announcement with all our family in the grove, you know? Is that asking for too much, though?”
I grinned. “We’re having one.”
“What?” She sat up. “Really? When?”
“Tonight. Everyone’s in town for it.”
She gasped and practically launched herself into the air. “They are? Wait… tonight? It’s already getting late.” She started gathering everything up. “We’ve got to get home and get ready…” I stood up and grabbed her to me, her back to my front.
“We have time,” I said, holding her around her stomach and kissing her neck. “Don’t worry.”
She relaxed against me. “Alright.” She looked up at me, the late afternoon sunlight causing her green eyes to sparkle like the emeralds on her ring. “Thank you. This is so, so perfect.”
***
Cara
As we sat around the huge table in the grove, I looked around at all my family members. It was so nice that we were all back together, even if it was for a short while.
I glanced at Edward and tried not to smile. He was definitely overwhelmed. All of the kids who’d been so young the last time he was around them had grown up and started making their way in the world. A couple of them were actual celebrities, which probably made them even more intimidating to him.
But to me? No matter how famous any of us got, all I saw when I looked around the table was my family, my loved ones.
Whether Hargrave or Whittaker, or in Callum’s case O’Leary, they were all the same to me.
I loved them all so much, and I was thrilled that they were here to celebrate this huge event in my life.
And Edward’s, of course. I grasped his hand and met his eyes.
My heart overflowed with love for him. I hoped that all the people gathered around the huge picnic tables we’d pushed together to accommodate everyone would come to see him as family.
Livy and Declan already did, and I knew it was only a matter of time before he won over everyone else.
He’d done it before, when we were younger. I knew he’d do it again.
My eyes fell on Willa. She was sitting next to Siobhan, who had made the trip down from New York for the occasion.
Their heads were close together as they talked each other’s ears off.
It was nice to see them back together again.
I knew the two of them missed each other terribly.
It was a welcome change from Willa and Declan’s near constant bickering.
Though sometimes they were fun to watch.
Like tonight.
Declan’s eyes were often on Willa. I think he was hoping she’d pay attention to him, and she finally did.
Willa looked across the table at him, suddenly. “Declan,” she hissed. “Quit staring at me.”
Declan grinned. “God, Willa! Quit flirting with me,” he said loudly enough to draw everyone’s attention. “I know you want me, but this is ridiculous.”
Everyone turned and stared at her. All conversation stopped.
Willa’s mouth opened a little and her cheeks turned bright red. “I wasn’t… I mean, I don’t… Oh, forget it,” she said when he doubled over laughing. “You are such an idiot, and everyone here knows it.”
Laughter sounded out around the table, and the only one not amused was Willa, of course.
But I had to hide a smile when I saw the sparkle in Declan’s blue eyes when he looked at my younger sister.
As much as they fought, I knew there was something underneath the surface of their relationship. I hoped they would figure it out soon.
We had mainly finished eating, and it was almost time for the announcement.
I knew Edward was nervous even though he shouldn’t be.
No one here was stupid. I was pretty sure they’d all figured out why we were gathered in the grove tonight.
And I wasn’t hiding my engagement ring. Anyone who looked at my hand could see it.
Still, I couldn’t quite relax until Edward wasn’t so on edge.
“Why don’t you go ahead,” I leaned in and whispered in his ear.
For a minute, he looked like he wasn’t going to say anything, but he finally spoke up. “If I could get everyone’s attention for a minute, please.” Everyone kept talking.
“So formal,” Dec said from across the table, shaking his head. “It’s the wrong approach with this crowd, man.” He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “Hey, y’all! Shut up for a second.”
It worked. All talking stopped as everyone turned to see what Declan wanted.
“Edward has something to say,” he said.
Everyone’s eyes moved to Edward, and for a minute he looked frozen. I couldn’t breathe knowing how nervous he was. He cleared his throat. “I just wanted to let everyone know I asked Cara to marry me…”
“And I said yes!” I exclaimed, jumping up and flashing my ring at everyone.
Applause and cheers rang out, everyone suddenly talking at once.
Even Edward’s mother, usually so reserved, was talking loudly, trying to be heard over my raucous family and friends.
Her new boyfriend, who Edward had told me she’d dated a long time ago, was looking around with a big smile on his face.
I loved that he was enjoying himself. I loved it even more that he had his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to him.
They looked happy, and I couldn’t wait to get to know him better.
Kelisha and her wife Myla had been laughing and talking with all of the parents, but paused to lift a glass of champagne and yell out their congratulations.
I was so happy they’d made the trip up from Tybee to celebrate with us.
Kelisha and I had gotten closer over the past few months.
Almost dying together will do that to you.
We spoke often, and she’d come in to my dance studio a few times to teach and work with my most advanced dance students.
I considered her and Myla to be part of the family now, and I was pretty sure everyone else felt the same way.
“About time!” Declan called out. He came over and picked me up, twirling around with me. “You couldn’t have picked a better one, Cara,” he said, kissing me on the cheek and setting me down. He grabbed Edward’s hand, shaking it as he brought him in for one of those one armed ‘bro’ hugs.
“If you hurt her,” he said to Edward, holding onto him tightly for a moment, “Aidan will help me bury your body where no one will ever find it.” He said it quietly, but I heard. I tried to give him a look, but he ignored me.
“If I hurt her, I give you permission to kill me, man,” Edward said.
Declan hugged him again.
Then everyone was coming over and hugging us, offering their congratulations. The evening was a whirlwind.
After the champagne was popped and dessert was served, people started to scatter, breaking up into small groups and following old patterns.
Louisa and Liam were swimming in the lake, and I shuddered.
Night swimming seemed so… dangerous. But neither of them had ever been known for being cautious.
They were having a blast taking turns dunking each other and acting like little kids.
That was extra funny considering they both looked like the furthest thing from being kids.
Louisa, beautiful, tall, and with curves that wouldn’t quit, turned heads wherever she went.
Liam was six-seven, ripped with muscles, had lots of tattoos, and wore his long, wavy hair in a man bun.
Yet when they were together? The years fell away, and they turned right back into those two mischievous children they’d always been.
Louisa’s screams of laughter could be heard all over the farm.
Declan, Aidan, Livy, Lufton, Edward and I sat around the table drinking and talking like we’d always done.
The only addition was Sam, Livy’s podcast partner.
Willa and Siobhan had hovered for a moment, still caught in that limbo being in the middle between age groups had caused for so many years.
Finally, they decided to head to the floating dock where the twins and Finn were relaxing and star gazing.
They grabbed a few bottles of champagne and ran, giggling, over to one of the canoes.
“You don’t have to go,” Declan called out after them, but they both just waved over their shoulders and kept going.
“Times have changed,” Aidan said, taking a long pull from his beer and scratching Davenport the pig under his chin.
His goat Athena was curled up beside his feet, sleeping peacefully with a couple of young squirrels.
Aidan had raised them after their mother was killed by a hawk.
“You used to run them off, you know. Funny how you want them to stay now.” His eyes twinkled as he looked at his brother.
Declan gave him a half grin. “Fuck off,” he said with no malice as he watched Willa row away.
And then it was our normal crew. I turned to Livy. “Why were you, Lufton, and Sam staring at Edward and me during dinner?”
Livy’s eyes widened. “You caught that?”
“Um, yeah. Y’all weren’t exactly secretive.”
“I thought we were keeping things subtle,” Sam laughed, drinking his beer and looking up at the full moon through the trees above us.
“Nope,” Edward said. “Out with it.”
Lufton shook his head. “This is all these two. I had nothing to do with it.”
Now I was really curious. “What is it?” I asked, staring at my sister.
“Well,” she started. Livy looked nervous, and she never looked nervous. “Sam and I want to start a new podcast.”
“That’s great,” I said, excited for her. Her original podcast with Sam had become a hit, and we were all so proud of the two of them.
“I hope you still think so in a minute.”
Edward frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Livy’s eyes were locked on mine. “The podcast is going to be called ‘Obsessed’. It’s still in the true crime genre, but instead of featuring a new crime on each weekly episode like we do with Georgia on My Crime, we’d focus on one person and tell their story over the season.
” She paused. “It’s about stalking victims.”
Oh. I saw where she was headed with this. Edward and I shared a quick glance.
“We want the first season to be your story, Cara,” Sam said.
I nodded, taking a heavy glug of my champagne and thinking about it.
“I’m not sure that’s the best idea,” Edward started, but I cut him off.
“I’ll do it.”
Livy and Sam both looked surprised, as if they thought they’d have to really work to convince me to participate.
“Are you sure?” Edward grabbed my hand and looked down at me with concerned blue eyes.
“Yes,” I nodded. “I want to support Livy and Sam. And… who knows? Maybe my story can help other people.”
Edward looked concerned, but he rubbed my back. “I’ll help any way I can.”
“That’s good,” Sam drawled, “because we want you to be on some episodes, too.”
Edward paled. “Uh, okay. Whatever Cara wants.”
I could tell he hated the thought of ‘performing’ in any way. “It will be just like talking to friends,” I told him.
“Exactly,” agreed Livy. “Just with microphones, headphones, and a sound board down in our dungeon studio in the Whittakers’ basement.”
“You’re really selling it,” Edward said drily, reaching down to pet Davenport as he snorted for attention beside his leg.
Livy and Sam talked excitedly about their ideas. After a while the topic changed and we all just laughed and talked like good friends did when champagne, or beer, was plentiful and times were good.
The rest of the night passed in a blur, and before long we split from the others.
They were going to row out to the floating dock to hang out some more.
Edward and I drifted off. We could see the parents, now including Edward’s mom and her boyfriend as well as Kelisha and Myla, at the pool area still celebrating.
We waved but headed in the opposite direction.
The two of us walked down to the shores of the lake where Edward had saved me from the goose and we’d shared our first kiss so many years ago.
“Who did this?” Edward asked, staring at the ‘Beware of Attack Goose’ sign firmly planted in the sandy area that led to the geese’s nesting ground.
“Who do you think?” I laughed. “Dec and Aidan gave it to me a few years back for my birthday. What a great present, huh?”
Edward shook his head, a bemused grin on his face. “Come on,” he reached for my hand and threaded our fingers together.
We walked out to a more secluded spot where no one else could see us, and Edward held me. I leaned back against him, and his arms circled my waist. He rested his chin on top of my head while we looked out at the water, the light of the moon reflected across its surface.
“You sure about doing that podcast? We’re already going to have testify against the Harts at trial. Do you think it will all be too much for you?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so. I mean, if I had my choice, I’d skip the trials and just do the podcast, you know? But we can’t do that.”
“No, we can’t,” he agreed. “But I’ll be with you every step of the way. You can lean on me when you need to, and I promise we’ll get through it all together.”
I leaned my head back on his strong chest. “You know, when we were teenagers, I thought you were the perfect guy. For a while, through all our troubles, I thought I’d been wrong about you.
But something kept me holding on to those memories of us when we were younger.
I just couldn’t let go of the idea of this amazing guy who was everything I’d ever dreamed of.
And I’m so glad I couldn’t,” I said, turning around, standing on my tiptoes, and kissing his cheek.
“Because I couldn’t imagine being with anyone but you. ”
He pulled me to him for a real kiss, and we held onto each other as the cicadas and tree frogs sang around us. We could hear the sounds of our family laughing and talking in the distance. Both sounds were comforting to me, and I grew drowsy in his arms.
“The first moment I ever saw you, I knew you were the most beautiful girl in the world. I still can’t believe I’m lucky enough to be the man that gets to love you for the rest of our lives.”
“We’ve come a long way and been through so much to get to where we are. Now let’s go home. I’m tired.” I smiled up at him.
He bent and kissed me one more time, then we joined hands and walked back toward the pool area. Everyone cheered again as they saw us coming back through the trees, the Edison lights twinkling in the branches above us.
The End