Epilogue
Mendocino, California
“Elle, it’s time to go.” Ronan stood in the kitchen doorway. “Are you ready?”
“Almost. I need to feed the dogs. I don’t know why we’re leaving them at home.”
“Because there’ll be too many people along the parade route. Last year I took Puff and a tourist brought a dog who was aggressive and there was an argument.”
Elle’s eyes went wide. “Puff fought a dog?”
“No. Puff just lay on top of the dog when it attacked. The owner tried to have an argument with me.”
Elle sniffed. “Tourists.”
That made Ronan smile. Five months of living in Mendocino and Elle was fitting right in. The community had welcomed her with open arms after she’d risked her life to save Eunice, and Elle had made friends all over town.
She’d sold her house in San Francisco for an ungodly sum that Ronan was afraid to even think about. She’d considered using the profits to buy a house in Mendo but had decided to rent instead.
She wasn’t far away. Just next door. Emil and Lydia had decided to stay in SoCal for the summer to spend more time with their grandchildren and had rented to Elle for a year.
The idea was that with time they’d be more comfortable moving in together. Truth be told, he had wanted her in his house from the first day, but she’d been firm. She wanted time to let their relationship grow. But after five months, she’d decided they’d grown enough.
She stayed over most nights anyway, so they’d soon make it official. She’d be moving in with him next week and he could not wait.
Penny had earned her degree, gotten a job with the clinic in Fort Bragg, and rented an apartment. Ronan was just happy that she wasn’t going far.
Now that Penny had moved out, Elle would be moving in. She’d found someone to take over her lease next door and Emil and Lydia were happy with the new arrangement.
Things were changing, but all were for the better.
Elle gave both dogs a kiss and a dog biscuit. “Puff, you’re in charge. Jelly, do what Puff says.”
The lab mix—they weren’t sure what exactly Jelly was mixed with, but it was something huge—tried to follow, but she gave him another kiss and shut the door in his face. He was Elle’s shadow.
And the full brother of the neighbor’s dog.
“Hi, Annie!” Elle called to the young woman who was leaving the house next door.
Annie Purvis maneuvered the baby stroller down the walkway and met them at the street. “Hi, Elle. Ronan. We’re so excited. We’ve never been to the parade in Mendocino before.”
Ronan bent over to tickle Annie’s son, smiling when the baby giggled. He was healthy and happy, his mother having left her abusive husband. Annie had started a new life, complete with a new job.
She was the new pharmacy tech at Eunice’s store.
A few weeks after she’d arrived in the shelter, she’d found permanent lodging and had come to take Squiggles home.
Elle had been despondent, having fallen in love with the pup.
But Annie had surprised Elle with a puppy from the same litter as Squiggles. Elle had been overwhelmed and grateful.
It had been Penny’s idea to name the pup Jelly. Elle had considered naming him Peanut Butter after her much-loved dog Peanut, but when Penny suggested Jelly instead, Elle had immediately agreed.
“It’s my first parade, too,” Elle said. “Come on. My family and friends are going to meet us in the park.”
David and Summer Randolph had visited a few times already.
Ronan would have accompanied her back to Florida, but her parents wanted to see the bluffs Elle loved so much, and Elle still had panic attacks when she thought about going back.
Her parents and sisters would be flying out at Thanksgiving—along with Ronan’s mother, of course—and Elle was already making plans.
Ronan liked Elle’s parents. He could immediately see where she’d gotten her brains, her empathy, and her tenacity. Those seemed to be Randolph family traits.
As a group, Ronan, Elle, and Annie made their way to the other end of Ford Street, where Elle’s parents were staying in one of the many B&Bs in town.
David and Summer were waiting for them on the street corner and both gave Annie hugs. It was a pleasure to see the young woman flourish.
Everyone in Elle’s orbit seemed to flourish.
Ronan included.
They picked up friends and neighbors as they walked toward Main Street where the parade would pass. Ronan had always enjoyed their small-town parade.
He took Elle’s hand as they walked, smiling as she waved to nearly everyone.
When they got to the park, Elle saw Alexis, Sara, and Felicia and ran to greet them.
The women had driven up from the city for the day and they embraced each other as if they’d been apart for years.
In reality, it had been only three weeks since Elle had visited her goddaughter.
In San Francisco, she’d been working all the time. Now her pace was slower and she was taking the time to enjoy her friends and her life.
Ronan loved this for her.
Ronan loved her.
“She’s happy,” Summer murmured.
“She is,” Ronan agreed.
“Thank you,” David said gruffly. “She was so lost. I don’t think we’d realized how…muted she’d become, being married to Todd. It wasn’t until after his death that we really saw how bad it was. But now? It’s like we have our daughter back. We have you to thank for that.”
“It’s been my honor and pleasure.”
Seriously, there had been a lot of pleasure. Both he and Elle had made up for a lot of lost time.
Ronan was happy, too. He hadn’t realized how lonely he’d been, but now his life was full.
He laughed when Summer ran after her daughter, and the two mock-argued over who got to hold Sara and Felicia’s baby first.
“My money’s on Summer,” David said. “She says Sara and Felicia were honorary daughters, so Josie is her granddaughter.” He aimed a sideways glance at Ronan. “She’s going to start hinting for you two to give her some grandkids, too.”
Ronan hesitated, then decided to be honest. “We’ve talked about it, Elle and I. We don’t think we’re going to have kids of our own. We might adopt an older kid in a few years, but things were so chaotic for Elle for so long, she wants time to learn who she is.”
David was quiet for a moment, and then he nodded. “I can understand that. So will Summer.”
Ronan was relieved. “Elle was nervous to tell you.”
David shook his head. “She wants to please everyone. Don’t let her lose herself to other people’s needs.”
“I won’t.”
David clapped him on the back. “Good. Let’s go. They’re waiting for us.”
They were, the women waving them to join their group. They were an attractive bunch, but Ronan only had eyes for Elle.
She’d swept into his life and turned it upside down.
Had she not been chasing Reece Miller, Ronan never would have met her. He could only be relieved that she’d left that life behind.
Yes, they’d mourned Dianne and Judith and Kasey. Their absence would be felt for a very long time. They’d paid respects to Steve Garfield and Olive Lavery, who’d done some terrible things but who hadn’t deserved their ends.
Elle had written letters to the families of Ashton’s other victims expressing her condolences. Some had responded positively. One had cursed her out. Most hadn’t answered at all, but Elle was okay with that. She’d done what her heart had required.
She’d found her peace.
She’d often said that she was the only one who’d walked away. But she’d walked into his life and he couldn’t be happier.