Epilogue
EPILOGUE
CADEN
“To the new future of Everton!” my father says, raising a glass of sparkling rosé.
“To Everton!” the crowd cheers.
“Good turnout,” I say to Dad as the band starts playing and everyone goes back to their conversations.
“Our stock prices are up,” Dad says. “It appears our investors are happy with this new direction. And its new leadership.” He pauses. “You asked me why I never named Von heir to Everton.”
My head whips around. “You’re finally going to tell me?”
Dad’s gaze lingers on vineyard outside. “Because it’s yours, son. It’s always been yours. You’ve loved this winery more than anyone—besides myself. And you cared about it in a different way. A way I couldn’t even see until recently.” He clears his throat. “It was an empty threat,” he admits.
I gape at him.
“You were bluffing,” I say.
Dad grins. “You must admit, I’m good at it.”
“All this time…” I shake my head and find that I’m not mad at my father. This isn’t a day for holding grudges. “Remind me never to play poker with you.”
Dad chuckles and I look out across the sea of people gathered for the celebration, from all walks of life. Finn is talking to the congressman from our district who I know is planning to retire soon—Finn can finally run for his seat. Alistair is whirling Joni around on the dance floor. Von is having a rather animated discussion with one of the sheriff’s deputies, who looks like he’d rather be someplace else. Mrs. Greerson is speaking sharply to one of Dad’s investors who wears a bemused expression—Daisy approaches and offers Mrs. Greerson a glass of rosé, leading her away from the man and over to a table with Reggie and Dev.
“Mom would have loved this,” I say quietly.
I feel the faintest pressure on my shoulder as my father’s hand comes to rest there.
“She would have,” he agrees. “She would be very proud of you. Of the man you have become.” There’s a pause. “And so am I.”
Neither of us look at each other. We stare straight ahead, but my jaw tightens and my heart thuds a heavy beat.
“Thanks, Dad,” I say.
Then the pressure is gone.
“Must check in with the investors,” he says and strides off into the crowd. I chuckle. That’s probably the most affection I’ll ever get. But I don’t mind. I’ll take it. I can feel my mother’s presence here, enveloping this room in a giant, invisible embrace. I’ve come back to where I started but finally, I feel like I belong.
I head out onto the veranda and find Isla talking with Eric Kim. For a moment, I just admire her—she looks stunning in a strapless, lilac-colored dress. Her hair is curled and piled on her head and a pair of dangly earrings catch the light as she laughs at something Eric says. He sees me and waves. Isla turns and her whole face lights up. I’ll never get tired of seeing her smile.
I walk over and she slips her arm through mine.
“Guess what,” she says. “Eric wants me to bake some things to sell at Perks!”
“Pamela hasn’t stopped talking about those croissants from Magnolia Day,” Eric says. “And of course, we want to support local small business owners.”
Isla blushes. “I don’t really have a business yet.”
“You will,” Eric says with a wink, then he excuses himself. Isla lifts her champagne flute and pulls me closer.
“To the man of the hour,” she says, clinking our glasses together. I lean down and brush my lips against hers.
“As gorgeous as this dress is,” I murmur. “I can’t wait to get you out of it.”
She laughs against my mouth, her lips parting for the briefest moment so that her tongue teases mine.
“Soon,” she coos, and I feel myself stiffen.
I pull away and she giggles.
“Too much?”
“Not enough,” I say. “But I can’t whisk you away just yet, so I’d better be good.” I don’t want to be good, though. I want to rip her clothes off and feast on her sex, I want to feel the length of my cock inside her and watch her shiver as she comes.
I can’t do any of those things yet, though, so I just pull her into my side and press a kiss to the top of her head. In a few more hours I can take Isla back to her place.
“Alistair says your website will be up and running in a few days.”
Isla sighs and gazes out over the vines. “This is so surreal,” she says. “To think, I was going to be getting married today.”
“Any regrets?” I ask her. She glances up at me, a wry expression on her face.
“Not a single one.”
“Hey guys,” Noah says, coming up to us. “Jeez, Von is really giving Derek a tough time. We’ve done everything by the book with that casing.”
I look over to where my sister is now arguing vehemently with the deputy, who appears to be shrinking into his suit jacket.
“That’s Von for you,” I say. “I don’t think she can turn it off.”
“Maybe she should try yoga. Or meditation.”
Noah and I look at each other and burst into laughter at the thought of Von on a yoga mat surrounded by Upper East Side moms in head-to-toe Lulu Lemon.
“Has she ever tried not being quite so scary?” Isla asks.
“Nope,” Noah says. “She lives to dominate.”
“Never seemed to intimidate you,” I tell him.
“I am a man of strong moral fiber,” he says, grinning. He claps me on the shoulder. “Ready to take on the responsibilities of running this place?”
“Dad isn’t retiring yet,” I remind him. “He’ll still be involved in the day-to-day. But yeah.” I smile. “I’m ready.”
Isla rests her head against my shoulder and for one second, time seems to slow. I wish I could capture this moment and keep it in a jar like a firefly, a reminder of the brightness of life and the possibility of the future.
The next second, I hear sirens wailing in the distance. I look to Noah.
“What’s going on?” I say.
“I don’t know,” he replies. “I’m off today.”
The sirens come closer until suddenly, three Magnolia Bay police cars descend on the lodge. Sheriff Briggs gets out, surrounded by his men as they storm up the steps to the veranda, startling all the guests.
“What is going on here?” Dad says, pushing through the crowd to get to the sheriff. “This is a private event, Bill.”
“I’m sorry, Russell,” the sheriff says. “But this couldn’t wait. We’ve got a match on that fingerprint.”
I feel a jolt run through me, like an electrical current straight to my heart. A match. Finally, we’ll have a name for the monster who took my mother away from us.
“Who is it?” Dad demands as my brothers and sisters join us.
The sheriff strides over to where me and Isla are standing. For a second, I’m confused. Then he turns to my best friend.
“Noah Patterson, you are under arrest for the murder of Marion Everton,” Sheriff Briggs says.
It feels like the earth drops out from under my feet. I’m floating, disembodied, my pulse thudding in my ears.
I must have misheard him.
It sounds like he’s accusing Noah of shooting Mom.
Noah looks stricken. “What?” he cries. “Sheriff, what’s going on? What are you talking about?”
I turn to my best friend and his face mirrors my own shock.
“You have the right to remain silent,” the sheriff continues, taking out a pair of cuffs. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be,” he says quietly.
“This is insane,” Noah protests. “I didn’t do anything!”
This can’t be happening.
This can’t be real.
“Caden,” Noah says desperately. “I didn’t do this, Caden.” The sheriff continues to read him his rights. “I swear. You’ve got to believe me. You know me, Cade. I didn’t do this!”
I don’t know what to say. My mouth has gone dry and my knees shake. Isla’s hand on my arm is the only thing keeping me upright.
Noah allows himself to be handcuffed and led away. They put him in the back of one of the cars and drive off.
My head pounds.
“It can’t be,” Isla murmurs. “It can’t be Noah.” She hesitates. “Can it?”
“No,” I say. The reaction is a knee-jerk, immediate. But then my brain starts to spin over these past couple of months. How Noah always seemed to be picking and choosing what he could tell me or how he could help.
Isla’s comment about the shooter having firearms training.
How the killer seemed to have knowledge of the house and grounds, using the entrance through the garden.
Mrs. Greerson’s observation that she saw Noah wandering the halls at the party.
Could it have been Noah in that room arguing with Mom?
Oh god. I feel like I’m falling, the world around me blurred and distorted.
“Caden?” Isla says.
“This can’t be happening,” I gasp.
Did my best friend murder my mother?
Find out what happens next in DEFEND ME : EVERTON LEGACY BOOK 2, out March 4, 2025!
Want to see how it all started? Grab your copy of RUIN ME , a FREE Everton prequel novella that takes you behind-the-scenes at the anniversary gala!