Epilogue
Callie
Three Months Later
For the first time in nearly a decade, Dead Roses was closing early.
I had flicked the button on the sign to indicate that we weren’t taking any more walk-in clients, and anyone on the books was called and rescheduled.
There was a tiny ball of excitement that had been building inside my stomach ever sense Ford first turned down his scholarship and chose to stay in Rose Ridge.
I’d never forget how my son looked that day he informed us that he wasn’t going to college.
His boxes had been packed, his room nearly empty as we prepared to move him to the dorm.
Wes and I had planned the route and all the stops along the way as we prepared to say goodbye to our eldest child.
We were proud, hopeful but when he’d told us that he was staying, my husband had glanced at me and I knew right then and there this was about her.
The girl who had kept my son busy sketching well into the night. The one who had come to my house more times than I could ever count to clean, or bake, or wash our cars. The reason was always obscure but not enough to veil the true intention.
Royce had grown up with a crush larger than life on my son, Ford.
It was endearing and even adorable at times, until I realized how big of a mess things might have become.
Connor had his heart set on Royce, and Ford was nothing if not the best kind of friend you could ask for.
So, years ago when all this began, Wes and I knew that our son would end up with the broken heart.
The one left behind as the girl who liked him would go shunned and ignored because of the code he lived by to not take something that his best friend desired.
So when Connor left, and Royce stayed, I wasn’t surprised in the least bit that Ford had chosen to abandon his dream and remain in Rose Ridge.
Because of all the dreams he had, Royce Quinn had always been the largest, and the most out of reach.
Wes and I supported Ford, we never even questioned why he wanted to stay.
I knew by staying that meant he’d join the club, and I knew it meant I had to allow the tender part of my heart that might not want that for my child to bleed or heal, but regardless, he was going to be in the Stone Riders. I knew it was just a matter of time.
What I did not expect was how long it took for Ford to finally make a move toward Royce.
Six years passed and with each month, I began to worry that this was all for not.
That Ford would simply miss his chance at this great love, and he’d be stuck watching her from afar.
I could nearly scream with how frustrated I was over his lack of action.
And then it happened, the two were thrust together that night at dinner and I saw the way Royce looked at Ford, with awe and a bit of surprise.
There was plenty of animosity too, but I saw hope there too.
Laura had tugged my hand after dinner and with her eyes blown wide, and no words needed we both had begun thinking the same thing: They were finally going to start this thing that had been brewing for the better part of twenty years.
Did Laura and I secretly hope our kids would one day end up together? Of course we did because Laura was my chosen sister, and my best friend but we had never done anything to try and force that or even encourage it.
Now, here we were, three months after the two started dating and they were coming in to get tattoos together.
Royce had been the one to reach out and ask if they could reserve a slot together, and if I would be the one to do the tattoos.
I was so honored that she’d asked me that I had shut down the whole shop for them.
The bell over the door rang as Royce entered the shop with her blond hair swept up into a sleek pony tail.
“Hi, Callie!” She called sweetly.
My son trailed her, holding her hand as he entered and locked the shop door behind him.
Things were on edge, which was partially why I had closed down the shop.
“Hi.” I stood and pulled her into a hug.
My eyes landed on Ford as I did and the soft way he watched us made my heart flip.
My son was in love and he had finally got the girl who had taken up so much of his heart and hope throughout his life.
Countless conversations with him and Wes where he’d encourage him to move on for the sake of his happiness but our boy never would.
Once we broke apart, I set Royce up first for her tattoo. She wanted hers printed along her wrist, and from what she described it would be small.
I got to work slowly drawing the numbers into her skin while he talked about the club apartment they were in and the different houses they had gone to look at. There wasn’t anything yet although Ford had a house that he’d started building in secret that I knew would eventually become their home.
He was going to surprise her with it but I wasn’t sure when. I just listened and continue to ink the date onto her skin. Once I was finished I sat back and wiped it. “Okay what’s the significance of—”
“Mom, will you do mine before she tells you?” Ford asked.
He slid out of his jacket and took Royce’s spot in the chair.
Royce sat in the waiting chair with a secretive smile on her face and my stomach had that ball of excitement churning inside of it.
I had so many hopes and dreams for my children, and with how much Royce loved Ford, it was everything I had ever hoped for.
Ford instructed me to begin tattooing the same design into his wrist that Royce did. Once I was finished, I sat back and glanced between the two.
“Okay tell me why you both got December twelfth tattooed onto your wrists.”
Ford smiled, and that’s when I realized Royce tugged something out of her back pocket.
“Because it’s our wedding day.” She held her hand out to me, revealing a rose-colored diamond ring.
My nose burned as I swung my gaze back to my son who was smiling at Royce in a dopey, happy way that made a tear fall down my cheek. My son was getting married.
Ford was marrying the girl he’d loved since he was old enough to understand what love meant.
“Are you serious?” I asked on a sob.
Ford sat forward and pulled me into a hug.
“Yeah, Mom, we’re serious.”
My little boy was getting married.
Laura’s little girl was getting married.
Another sob came out of my chest as Ford held me. With a sniff I pulled away. “Does your mom know?”
Royce smiled and then glanced up. Wes, Killian and Laura were all crowding the back hall, waiting until the time was right. I swiped at my face as a laugh bubbled up from my chest.
“You all were in on it?”
Wes made his way through the group and pulled me into his arms. “No, we were told to meet here. I was supposed to unlock the back for Laura and Killian.”
“We had no idea.” Laura cried as she made her way over to Royce. She pulled her daughter into a hug and I watched as Killian shook Ford’s hand. “Congratulations.”
I leaned against Wes while I watched Royce curl into Ford’s chest. The two were completely enamored with one another.
Laura caught my eye as a tear slipped down her face. “Well, I guess this is official. We’re family, Cal.”
“We’ve always been family.” I laughed even as a new burning sensation claimed my nose and throat. I knew what she meant but I meant it. Laura was my chosen family was my sister in every way that mattered.
“But now we’re going to be grandma’s together, and share holidays. I used to hope for this when they were kids.”
I did too. Especially when Royce began coming over as frequently as she did, and I began learning how special of a person she was.
Something happened when the kids were fifteen and sixteen though and all that hope fled when Royce began dating Connor and my poor son merely watched from the sidelines.
“Now we just need to make sure you two tell Ellie and Taryn.” Laura said with another swipe under eyes.
Ellie was on her way to Europe to dance in a prestigious showcase, but she’d come back for her brother’s wedding, I was sure of it.
“Taryn is still gone, but we wanted to tell you all first.” Royce explained sadly.
I knew things between her and her sister were strained, but it wasn’t until I glanced over at my best friend that I realized how strained. Her pained expression told me things hadn’t been smooth these past few months, and were still strained.
“Well don’t worry. The wedding is still several months away.” I tried to sound encouraging but deep down I wasn’t sure how this would all get cleared up. Taryn had made a mess, and it had created a rift not just between the Quinn sisters, but between the Chaos Kings and the Stone Riders.
With a heavy pause between everyone, it was Wes who finally spoke up and broke the awkward silence. “Dinner?”
Killian made a sound of agreement and just like that, the conversation had transitioned but the unease in my stomach remained. I hoped this would smooth out before Christmas…I mean it had to, Royce and Taryn were best friends…but would that be enough?