Epilogue
LUKE
It’s the beginning of fall. In North Carolina, that means breathtaking views of colorful leaves on a sea of trees. The farm is flourishing, thanks to the Bells and Tommy.
I pull up to the farmhouse right around dinnertime, entering through the side door to the sound of laughter. Kate’s voice stands out to me above the others, and my steps quicken toward her.
The kitchen is bright, a bouquet of white and purple gardenias decorating the center.
Tommy’s grin is stretched wide across his face while he stands in front of the group, gesturing with his hands as he speaks.
Linnet and Walter are both sitting at the table with mugs of coffee, observing the scene.
Kate and her dad, Mark, are hunched over a sketchbook. Kate’s hand is flying across the paper, directed by Tommy and Mark alternating a story about sea turtles who run a farm on the bottom of the ocean, rescuing other sea creatures and giving them shelter.
I stand in the doorway for a few moments, listening to the tale. The turtles have magical healing powers, offering them to any who are in need. The other animals love the turtles, but the farm is cursed, so they are all on a mission to help break the spell preventing the seaweed from flourishing.
Kate has a beautiful smile on her face, blonde hair up in a massive bun on top of her head.
She doesn’t see me walk in, her attention down on the paper.
I approach silently, not wanting to interrupt.
I take a seat next to Linnet at the table, who smiles at me.
Walter nods in my direction before all our eyes return to the trio.
“Okay, after Gilbert explores the flotsam and discovers the magical compass, who does he enlist to go on the journey with him?” Kate asks Mark and Tommy while still drawing.
Tommy taps his chin, thinking about his answer.
Mark pipes up a moment later. “I think he should ask Ruby. Even though her fin is wounded, she’d be the best companion for the task with her history of being so well traveled.”
Tommy nods in agreement. “Can’t Salem go too? She’s so much fun. An octopus’s legs will come in handy for carrying the map, food, and the compass too.”
Kate looks up to nod, eyes meeting mine as she does. The smile she’s already wearing brightens along with her blue eyes.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” She stands. “I missed you.”
I envelop her in a hug, brushing a kiss across her pink lips. “I missed you more, baby.”
I went on a business trip to New York for three days, which felt like longer having to sleep in a bed without her.
Kate tugs on my hand, pulling me out onto the porch for a smidgen of privacy.
Our lips crash together the moment we’re alone.
She tastes like Linnet’s lemon pie, the tart sweetness melting over my tongue.
She presses her hips into me, driving me wild.
Her hands are wrapped around my neck, and mine crush her body closer to me.
“You smell like fresh flowers,” I whisper into her hair.
“I was out in the field, picking the gardenias.”
“How have things been while I was gone?”
She looks up at me, eyes shining in the light from inside. “Good. Dad is in and out with his memory, but he seems to love it here. Tommy and he are dead set on me submitting our turtle book to a publishing house, so . . .”
“You absolutely should, no doubt. You’re incredibly talented, Kate.”
She smiles shyly, dipping her head down. I tilt her head up by her chin so that she faces me again.
“I mean it.”
“I know you do. I want to. It’s scary though.” She changes the subject. “How was your trip?”
I don’t keep secrets from her anymore, but we’re careful about where we talk about things.
“It went fine. I didn’t sleep well without you though.” I still don’t get much sleep even with her, but away from her it’s nearly impossible. Therapy is helping, but nothing makes it better than the feel of her warm body next to mine.
She nods, smiling.
“I will always make your safety my number one priority. You believe that, don’t you?”
“With all my heart. I always feel safe with you.” She pushes up onto her toes to plant a kiss on my lips.
From inside the house, we hear music pouring out of the speaker system I had installed last week. A country tune starts to play, and I grasp her hand in mine.
“May I?”
She smiles. “Of course, Mr. Bradshaw. If you insist.”
KATE
SIX MONTHS LATER
The photographer’s camera flashes in my eyes one last time before he lowers it. Tommy’s arm is around my shoulders, an enormous smile plastered on his face.
Behind us, the oversize exhibit of sea turtles at the Dallas Sea Life Aquarium provides a unique background well suited for the event.
Our first book signing and reading.
Saving Speckles is an illustrated children’s book, written by Kate Dawson and Tommy Flint, illustrated by me. It’s about a tiny sea turtle running away from home and ending up on a farm under the ocean, where he restores the vitality of their seaweed crop by breaking an age-old curse.
Tommy sits down on the beanbag in the center of the circle of children, who are all on their own beanbags. He opens the book and begins to animatedly tell the story with unique voices for each character.
I’m standing outside the circle, smiling at the enraptured faces full of awe.
My dad was supposed to be here, but he had a bad episode this morning, so the staff at Memory Care said it would be better not to bring him today.
I spent the first half hour holding in tears over it, but I plan on taking him his own copy of Saving Speckles later.
The fact that he’s still here with me is enough.
A hand reaches around my waist, gently pinching me.
“Hello. I was wondering if I could get an autographed copy of Saving Speckles.” Luke’s deep voice purrs over my skin.
“I don’t know. We might be out of them. Are you willing to pay extra?”
“Hmm . . . name your price.”
“You probably couldn’t afford it.”
He laughs, nuzzling my neck right below the ear. “I might surprise you with something very unaffordable soon.”
I jerk my head around, my gaze meeting his. “What do you mean?”
Surely, he’s not hinting at what I think he is . . .
He smiles, winking at me. “You’re just going to have to wait and see, Miss Dawson. By the way, we have a plane on standby for us.”
I narrow my gaze at him. “A plane to take us where?”
He can’t help but spoil me with impromptu dates and weekend getaways across the globe, and the lavish lifestyle he’s accustomed to still feels unnatural to me.
“Do you really want me to ruin the surprise now?”
Another voice cuts in, “You guys are way too compatible. It makes me sick. Kate, the book is perfect! I’m sending one to all my friends with kids.”
I turn to see Fallon. She smiles as she pulls me into an embrace. Her perfume smells expensive, and she’s dressed to the nines in something I would definitely classify as designer.
“I’m so glad you could make it! How was the flight?”
We’ve gotten a little closer in the past six months since she informed me that Luke’s never had a long-term girlfriend. Apparently, she thinks I’m a permanent entity. After spending a few days together on the Amalfi coast, we planned to go back on a couples’ trip in the next few months.
She shrugs, tossing her mahogany hair behind her shoulder. Luke gives her a hug before he extends a hand to Garrison, shaking it firmly.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” Garrison says before turning to me with a smile. “Congratulations are in order.”
I nod, giving him a side hug. “Thank you! I can’t believe it’s happening.”
Fallon wraps an arm around his waist. He and Luke still aren’t on best friend terms, but they’re grown much closer and the former tension has eased substantially.
Fallon and I are determined to make them love each other like brothers again, and we’ve been scheming to get pregnant at the same time and force them to bond over fatherhood.
She winks at me, leaning down to whisper in my ear.
“I’m ovulating right now.”
“Oh my gosh, me too!”
She pulls back, winking. “It’s happening tonight. I can feel it.”
I laugh, nodding as I look over at Luke. “They’ll never know what hit them.”
THE END