Epilogue
She couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day to spread Chase’s ashes in the shadow of Mount Greer.
Snow still clung to the jagged peak and blanketed the mountain’s foothills, all the way down to the edge of the lake.
A dense forest of evergreen trees stood alongside the stately birches and cottonwoods with their bare branches dancing in the breeze churned up by the helicopter.
Ice still rimmed the edges of the lake, but the water in the middle had thawed and rippled in the sunlight, reflecting the expanse of blue sky and the mountain’s breathtaking facets.
Ethan guided them over the lake, then set the chopper down in a flat clearing not far from Jess and Shannon’s cabin. The meadow, still covered in snow, sparkled like scattered diamonds.
Ethan reached over and squeezed her hand. “Are you ready?”
Tisha looked down at the urn nestled in her lap.
She’d suggested that Melinda and Tom keep the urn with them.
They’d driven out to the cabin from Redemption along with Sadie.
Chase’s siblings Tyler and Jennifer, along with Tyler’s wife Skye, planned to follow in their own vehicles.
But Tom and Melinda had insisted that Chase needed his final journey to include a flight.
And who better to make that possible than Ethan—the best at the stick.
She gave Ethan a small, grateful smile. “Thank you for doing this. Not too many men would fly their girlfriend to spread her late husband’s ashes.”
He smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I’m not just any man. Thought we’d established that.” He leaned closer, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. “This is going to be a beautiful day, and I’m honored that you included me.”
He climbed out and circled around to open her door. She shifted the urn to the crook of her arm, gathered the hem of her floral maxi dress, and reached for his hand. Ethan’s strong grasp steadied her as he lifted her down, setting her gently on the soft ground.
Ahead, the small group had gathered near the dock.
Tom and Melinda stood close together with Sadie between them, her ever-present Ollie tucked under her arm.
The cabin’s owners, Jess and Shannon, along with their two kids lingered nearby, flanked by Chase’s siblings and Luke.
Sadie looked adorable in a navy-blue-and-white-striped dress, her wide eyes reflecting an innocent understanding of what this all meant.
Tom cleared his throat. “Thanks for coming. I have a brief passage I’d like to read.”
He flipped open his well-worn Bible and carefully draped the ribbon marker over the side. The breeze picked up, tugging at Tisha’s hair and carrying the mingled fragrance of earth and wildflowers. She brushed her hair back, and Ethan’s hand, warm and steady, found her shoulder. She leaned into him.
Tom began to read, his voice firm yet laced with emotion. The verses resonated in the stillness broken only by the gentle lapping of the lake against the dock and birds chirping beyond the cabin.
When he finished, he closed his Bible and looked up. “Tisha, if you would do the honors.”
She hesitated, clutching the urn. “Are you sure?”
Melinda stepped forward, her expression peaceful. “We’re sure. Chase would want it this way.”
“Go ahead, Mama,” Sadie said. “I’ll watch.”
The dock swayed gently under her feet as she walked out slowly to the end.
Her heart thrummed and the urn felt heavy in her hands.
At the edge of the dock, her fingers trembled as she loosened the cap.
Then she tilted the vessel and the ashes spilled out, caught instantly by the wind.
They swirled in the sunlight, a soft gray plume against the winter sky, before drifting out over the water until the lake embraced them.
Behind her, someone sniffled.
Tisha closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. She looked out over the lake, where the ashes had disappeared into the endless blue, and whispered, “Goodbye, Chase. We’ll see you again one day.”
The soft thud of footsteps broke the silence, and Tisha turned. Sadie was running toward her, clutching Ollie tightly to her chest, her face pink from the cold air.
“Mama!” she called, skidding to a stop in front of her. “I think Daddy’s part of this place now. Just like the trees and the lake. And did you see the way the ashes danced? They were flying. He’d love that.”
Tisha’s heart swelled, and she smiled through her tears. She knelt, pulling Sadie into her arms and pressing a kiss to her daughter’s temple. “That’s beautiful, sweetheart. You’re right. He sure did love to fly.”
Ethan walked out on the dock and joined them. “I’m proud of you,” he said softly.
Tisha looked up at him, her smile widening. “Thank you. Now it’s time to focus on what’s ahead. On the life we’re building.”
Sadie beamed, holding Ollie high in the air like a flag. “We’re going to do this together, Mama. Right here in Redemption!”
Tisha laughed, the sound light and unburdened as she stood and reached for Ethan’s hand. Together, they walked back toward the others, streaming through the trees.
For the first time in a long time, Tisha felt the weight of her grief lifting, replaced by hope—a promise of love, faith, and the future waiting for them all.
THE END
Thank you for reading The Other Side of Goodbye.