EPILOGUE
Mase
Salty air tickles my nose as I pull Jayne tighter against my chest.
Clouds that match her eyes sit low above us, threatening to unleash a downpour at any moment.
While the ocean in front of us churns and tumbles about, the wind hurls sand particles at our legs, making it feel like hundreds of insects are biting at once.
Through all the chaos of the weather around us, I’ve managed to keep my shoulders relaxed and heart steady.
That’s more than I can say for my wife, who has a heartbeat that pulses a rapid tempo below my palm. Her whole body is in a state of anxiousness.
With the grip I have on her, you’d think I’m trying to absorb it through her skin.
I lean down to speak in her ear. “You’re still sure you want to do this?”
She angles her head to look at me, stroking my arm where it holds her. “We came all this way.”
“Well, we’ve made it into a vacation, so it doesn’t really matter.” I spin her around to face me properly, then reach up and push the strands of hair that spread across her face behind her ear. “And even if we had come here just for that, it wouldn’t matter.”
Taking hold of my hand, she kisses my palm, causing my chest to erupt with a million tiny flutters.
Jesus, after all this time, she still manages to affect me like a teenager with a crush.
After keeping her lips pressed there for several beats, she brings it close to her chest. “Have I told you that you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me?”
I use her grip on my hand to tug her even closer. “Only every day for the past several years.”
“Hm, doesn’t seem like enough.”
Grinning, I slide my hand up her back to twirl a lock of hair around my finger. “I’m open to hearing it more.”
“You are, in fact, the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I love you more than anything.” Her eyes zero in on my mouth. “I just want to sink into your smile. You’re too handsome, my husband.”
“I fucking love it when you call me that.” In fact, my cock twitches a little every time she does.
“Too handsome?”
“The husband part.”
Her lips curl into a grin.
Once Jacob was finally declared “actually innocent” six months ago, we had a small ceremony in the courtyard of my mom’s building so she could attend with ease. Neither of us wanted anything extravagant, so it suited us just fine to be surrounded by the blooming flowers and the few friends we have.
The last several years have been tough for both of us—emotionally and mentally—so we wanted to wait until that part was over.
It took a long time with many meetings and public statements made by Jayne before anything was started, and then there was a lot of red tape to get through.
Accusations were thrown around, along with a heavy dose of hate.
Everything she already felt was amplified by the voices of many. She was once again in the spotlight, just like after the attack.
But she took it all in stride, accepting everything that was thrown at her, determined to clear Jacob’s name.
It turns out that the person who hit Dylan with their car was another woman he had assaulted at some point, and she was getting her revenge after being forced to stay silent.
I think her testimony was what really helped things.
I had owned up to my mistake in believing Jacob was guilty and ended up reaching out to both Campbell and Neil.
We aren’t friends, but we share the tattered remains of our past.
Campbell was actually the one to give me the address for this trip.
I tilt her chin up, my eyes brushing over the smooth skin of her face. “I’m amazed by your strength every day, you know that?”
Jayne’s face sobers a little. “I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without you.”
“Sure you would have.”
She huffs a quiet laugh. “You know that’s not true, but thank you for the vote of confidence.” Determination fills her eyes as she looks past me in the direction of the town. “All right, let’s do it.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
I let out a shrill whistle, patting my leg, watching as our golden shepherd comes charging across the sand from where he was sniffing. “Come on, Sheppie. Let’s go.”
He circles the area, then trots beside us as we walk to the car.
It’s not until we’re driving through the streets, getting closer and closer to our destination, that I’m hit with true nervousness, and my hands turn clammy.
Maybe it’s Jayne’s constant shifting in her seat, or her hands fidgeting in her lap, that’s heightening my anxiousness.
While that’s probably some of it, I know it’s not entirely her doing.
Sheppie picks up on Jayne’s apprehension, giving her a lick on the shoulder every few minutes, as if to remind her he’s there, and she absently reaches back to rub his head.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” Jayne blurts after another minute, sounding like she’s on the verge of a breakdown.
Pulling over, I kill the engine, the cheerful tune on the radio disappearing, replaced by Jayne’s heavy breathing. Her chest pumps up and down, fists stabbed into her eyes.
“I can’t. I thought I could, but I can’t. I’m sorry. Let’s just forget this. We can mail it.”
“Hey, come here. It’s okay.” I reach across, pulling her into my arms. “It’s okay. I’ll just put the letter in the mailbox, okay?”
“Or we can just send it,” she murmurs again, face pressed to my neck.
“Well, we could, except we’re already here.”
Jayne pulls back with wide eyes, her gaze flinging around our surroundings until it lands on the old beachfront home that looks more like a cozy cottage.
Two rocking chairs sit on the front porch, a pink kid’s bike laying on the lawn beside a half deflated blow-up pool, like the stormy weather broke up the day’s fun.
It’s strange to see evidence of a normal life when I know there couldn’t have been much normal for him over the years. It’s more of a relief than I realized it would be.
With the way Jayne is staring at the house, and the items in front of it, I don’t think I’m the only one who’s feeling that sense of relief. Even Sheppie has his nose stuck out the window, checking it out.
Jacob’s house is tucked away on a quiet street on the outskirts of town, situated right on the water. If it weren’t for the storm about to hit, I’m sure this would be quite a peaceful, serene spot.
It was my idea to write a letter of closure to Jacob, but it was Jayne’s idea to hand-deliver it to him.
Of course, I always knew there would be a chance she couldn’t do it, but I also knew she’d always think about it if she didn’t at least try.
I gesture to the box that looks like a miniature house along the path to the front door. “I’ll just pop it in the box, then we can go, okay?”
At Jayne’s wordless nod, I pluck the envelope from the center console and push the door open. My stomach is buzzing, but I hide it with a reassuring smile to Jayne.
A few drops of water land on my face and arm when I get out, the beginning of the downpour imminent.
I’ve barely made it a few steps before I hear the car door open and my name being called.
I turn back, watching as Jayne steps out of the car, fists curled at her sides as if they’re holding in her courage. “I’ll put it in.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.” Her face scrunches. “Sorry, I’m all over the place.”
“Mmm, you can make it up to me.” I quickly duck down for a kiss and hand her the letter.
“You got it.”
Leaning against the hood, I fold my arms and watch as she rushes to the mailbox.
It would literally take less than thirty seconds to make it there and back, except, just as she slips the letter in, the front door to the house opens, and a man holding a little bundle of blue blankets steps halfway out, propping the door open with his foot.
Jayne freezes like a deer caught in headlights while my body tenses at the sight of him.
Even from here, you can make out Jacob’s bright blue eyes as they drift from Jayne to me.
I find myself standing straighter, my focus solely on the man I once called my friend.
He holds my gaze for long seconds, his expression never changing, before I give him one quick nod. A hello, I’m so fucking sorry, I hope you’re okay, you don’t need to say anything, all rolled into one.
Jacob’s eyes travel back to Jayne, who’s still frozen in place, though she doesn’t look frightened.
If he followed any of the news, he would have already known the two of us are together. He would know how much regret we both carry. He would know that a third of the money earned teaching my self-defense classes is donated to an organization we helped create for falsely accused men and women.
None of this is about being acknowledged or thanked, though. It’s about closure, about righting wrongs.
Though no words are spoken between them, it looks like a million things are being said as they stare at one another.
Jacob shifts the blankets to his shoulder, and I realize it’s a baby. He has a family; he has people he loves, and who love him in return. He’s living his life.
Happiness for him sparks in my chest.
I think I needed this as much as Jayne did. I needed to see with my own eyes that he looks fucking good. He’ll be okay.
Jayne’s eyes drop to the mailbox, where her hand still rests, then she taps it a few times while chewing on her lip. After one last glance at Jacob, she turns, and starts back toward me.
There’s no hurry in her steps, no rigid posture or curled-in shoulders. She’s at ease.
Mission accomplished.
I open the car door for her, and after one more nod in Jacob’s direction, I drop into the driver’s seat and start the engine.
Jacob remains standing at the door, watching as we drive away just as the clouds open up.
It takes a minute for either of us to speak, both unable to put into words what that simple encounter achieved.
Finally, I reach for Jayne’s hand, pulling it to rest on my thigh. “How are you doing?”
Her lips curve, small at first, but then it turns into a full-blown smile as she drops her head back, eyes closed. “I’m great.”
My own smile grows. “Yeah?”
She sighs, keeping her eyes closed. “Yes.”
“Well, what would you like to do now?”
Opening her eyes, she turns to me. Love and joy, and so much fucking happiness, radiates from her swirling gray eyes. “Let’s go live our lives.”