Epilogue

Forrest sipped at his lemonade, the ice chinking musically against the sides of the tumbler, as he relaxed on the patio he'd had installed outside his Greyhound bus. Nero was ensconced in what had once been Forrest's office, claiming he'd be "Done in a minute." Experience told Forrest it could be a minute, an hour, or longer, and he was okay with that.

Nero was putting the finishing touches on a new podcast. Part two of the one about Cooper Springs. The results of the DNA testing on Kaylee Fernsby's clothing had come back over a month ago and, even after Dina Paulson and Dale Lockwood, the results had shocked the citizens of Cooper Springs again.

When Chief Dear and Lani Cooper had arrived at his home to question him, Fernsby had almost immediately confessed to the decades-old crime. Russel Fernsby had been arrested for the rape and subsequent murder of his cousin and hauled off to jail where he was currently awaiting trial. He'd also confessed to setting fire to Cooper Mansion in an attempt to get rid of anything that might have linked him with her death, ransacking Cabin Five to see what Nero may have figured out, and, in a last-ditch effort to stop Nero, cutting the brake lines of Forrest's beloved truck.

The town had been shocked by the revelation that the mild-mannered librarian who'd lived in Cooper Springs all his life had been Kaylee's killer. After that first confession, Fernsby had clammed up, so whether Kaylee Fernsby had been his only victim was still unknown.

Forrest looked around, taking in Purple Phaze in all its calming lavender glory. He was perfectly fine with trading workspaces with Nero. He'd already moved his office out to the bus itself. The big, glorious bus that he loved almost as much as he loved Nero Vik.

Weird.

Loving someone who was (thankfully) not Lani or Ernst was the weirdest thing he'd ever done, the biggest leap of faith he'd ever made. But it was a good weird. The best weird. Forrest was as happy and content as he'd ever been in his life. Even if Magnus and Rufus claimed to take the credit for getting them together.

Fine.

Let them crow about it all they wanted. Forrest was happy.

He still preferred to stay home most of the time, and Nero's plan was to travel for whatever he needed to do. Grave Secrets was doing better and better, and Nero was always going to need to be at ground zero to get the flavor of a scene, interview those close to the case, and offer to transport evidence to Lindsay when needed. Forrest would go with him occasionally but when he didn't, he'd be here when Nero got home.

Forrest had faith that Nero would always come home.

A bonus was that Forrest had a better view of the lavender fields from his bus office than from inside the house. As planned, the Greyhound was set up to double as a gift shop during the summer months, a place where visitors could sip an espresso or glass of lemonade and peruse through lavender-themed tchotchkes.

While Forrest wasn't one for banking on the future—too many things could go wrong, thus making sure the future never happened—he was as close to sure as he could be that Nero was sticking around. Forever.

There were no plans for Nero to pack up his butt-ugly Explorer and leave town with his worldly goods. He'd moved his precious recording equipment into the office and that was that. Purple Phaze Farm was Nero Vik's home base.

Forrest liked the sound of home coming from Nero's lips.

And now that Dina and Dale Lockwood were gone, Forrest's nightmares had largely ceased. He'd had only one since Lockwood had tried to kill Lani. Was that because the ghosts were dead or because Nero Vik slept next to him every night? Likely a little bit of both, but Forrest wasn't complaining.

Forrest ran a hand along the arm of where he sat, enjoying the handmade outdoor furniture Liam had brought by earlier in the week, especially the long cedar bench with its wide seat. It felt a bit like a throne.

"These are just taking up space in my yard. They belong here," Liam had claimed. Silas had helped unload them from Liam's truck—silent as usual—and they'd driven off, refusing any payment.

Shutting his eyes, Forrest tilted his head back, better to enjoy the warmth of the sun on his skin. Seconds later, a flap of wings had him opening his eyes again.

A glossy black raven perched on the back of one of the intricately carved chairs.

"What are you doing here? You're going to put claw prints on those," he complained.

The bird didn't answer, just gave Forrest a beady eyeball.

"Polly want a peanut?"

Was that a look of disgust? Forrest suspected it was.

"You're right. I'm sorry, that was terrible. Polly does not suit you at all. What about Midnight? No?"

"Did I just hear you admit you were wrong and I missed it? Who are you talking to?" Nero claimed the spot next to Forrest, snaking a leg over Forrest's longer one and dropping a kiss on his cheek.

Forrest pointed his chin toward the bird. "Talking to the bird."

"My attention was on you, didn't see the bird."

"It's not just any bird, and we're discussing names. I suggested Polly and have been scorned."

"Of course you were. What about Yáahl? That's the Haida word for raven."

"How do you know that?"

"I know lots of interesting things, it's part of my charm. Raven is a god, of course. A trickster, one of the creators of the universe. Oh, also a shapeshifter. Yáahl can take human form and, this is the coolest, bore a son called the Rainbow Crow because his feathers shimmered with all the colors of a rainbow."

Forrest shifted closer to Nero and slung his arm over his shoulders. Always being close to him was good. It fed something in Forrest that he hadn't known was hungry.

"Yáahl it is, then. Wouldn't it be funny if our raven really was Yáahl?"

"Did I ever tell you that I found Ned because a raven flew into the side of my car? If that hadn't happened, I might not have seen him."

"Did I remember to tell you I think I'm in love with you?"

The raven disappeared around the side of the bus, its shiny feathers catching the day's sunlight. It was probably hunting for bugs.

Nero grinned and bumped Forrest's chest with his shoulder. "Once or twice. I think you've even sung it although we don't need to repeat that experience. Feel free to tell me again though."

"I love you, Nero Vik."

Forrest knew it was nerdy and ridiculous, but he loved saying those words. Who'd have predicted he'd be such a sap when it came to love.

"I love you, Forrest Cooper."

And he loved hearing the words too. Grandpa Ernst had cared enough to take them into his home, but he'd never been demonstrative. Lani usually punched him in the shoulder first and then told him she loved him. Nero just said the words randomly and meant them.

"That's pretty damn cool."

They sat there for a few minutes not speaking. Forrest listened to the familiar sounds of his world: the ocean thundering against the shores in the distance, bees humming in the lavender, an eagle or hawk whistling high over their heads hunting mice or something else to fill its belly.

"What's Yáahl got there?" Nero asked, pulling Forrest out of his reverie.

Forrest looked around for the bird and spotted it hopping their direction with something glittery in its beak. The bird was fearless; Forrest had learned that over the past few weeks that it had been hanging around. It came right up to them, cocked its head, and dropped a piece of colorful mylar ribbon at his feet.

Action completed, it fluttered off to perch on the back of the chair across from them. Forrest swore it was silently castigating him to hurry the fuck up.

"What is it?" Nero asked.

"Ribbon." Forrest picked it up to show Nero. He wrapped it around his index finger and flashed it at Nero.

"I think I'm being courted."

"He's mine, bird," Nero said, staring across at the raven.

"Yours, huh?" Forrest said with a lazy grin.

"Yep. Mine," Nero confirmed.

"Have you decided about the job with the high school?"

The school district had offered Nero a part-time position teaching journalism. The offer was likely fueled by the success of Grave Secrets and the fact that Nero was a semi-celebrity around town after Fernsby was arrested and charged.

"I'm going to accept, but you knew that."

"I didn't know for certain, but I hoped."

"You're sure about this?" Nero waved between them. "About us?"

Forrest smiled, something he'd been doing more of since the year began.

"I'm sure."

Twisting around on the bench, Forrest gripped Nero's chin and proceeded to plant a a sloppy smack on Nero's sexy lips.

"Mm," said Nero between breaths. "I like this kind of celebration."

The kiss turned to something more passionate, and soon enough they heard the rustle of wings as Yáahl fluttered away with a raspy and possibly disgusted caw.

"I told you, bird, he's mine."

* * *

Next up inthe Elle-verse is In the Nick of Time, which is part of the Subparhero series world. It's a departure from my quirky small-town work but so much fun, and amazing nonetheless. And yes, one or too dead bodies. So, not too much of a departure.

Have you always thought you were special?

Perennially unemployed loner Nick Sedgewick applies to an online job opening with that exact phrase and expects nothing to come of it. It was likely a no-so-funny prank after all.

If Doug "Long Shot" Swanson wanted a new work partner he"d hire one himself. He"s perfectly happy on his own and if he plays his cards right he might retire sooner rather than later. And he certainly wouldn"t hire an irritating spicy-candy-eating slacker who"d probably miss his own funeral.