Epilogue

Epilogue

One year later…

I t was a good day for a concert in the park. Scarlett, Remy, and their father had recorded the song together they had written in Remy's hospital room. They had gone on to write an entire album of songs and recorded them together. A portion of the proceeds would benefit cancer research. The concert they were about to perform would also benefit charity. All the proceeds would be donated, with a part going toward finding a cure for Leukemia and the other part going to making wishes come true for terminal kids. Both had become important to Scarlett over the past year.

She walked up to her brother and hugged him tight. He was doing remarkably well, and the doctors believed he'd be around for many years to come. Still, she refused to take him or anyone for granted. "How are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm great," he said and gestured toward her father. "I think he's more nervous than the two of us combined. How is that even possible?"

She shrugged. "I have no idea." Thatcher Wyatt had performed many times over the years with Harrowed Souls. "You would think he had become accustomed to this."

Scarlett walked over to her father and hugged him. "Thank you for doing this with us."

"I wouldn't be anywhere else," he said simply. "These charities mean a lot to me too."

Music started to play and they all strode out on stage. The crowd erupted in cheers at the sight of them. Remy picked up the guitar on the far end of the stage, and Thatcher stayed to the right. Scarlett walked to the middle of the stage and grabbed her own guitar, then stepped toward the microphone. "Hello, everyone," she said. "How is Sparkle City doing tonight?" The cheers grew louder at her words. This was the part of performing she'd always liked. There was no feeling like being on stage in front of thousands of fans. "This song means a lot to us." She gestured toward her father and then her brother. "So we're going to kick off this concert with it. I hope you love it as much as we do."

Their album hadn't been released yet. They hadn't even dropped a single for radios to play. The plan was to hold this concert and introduce the music to them live, then release the album a week later. Preorder sales were already astronomical.

The first notes of their song, "Diamonds Don't Cry," echoed around her. She closed her eyes and counted the notes until it was time for her to lead with the first verse. She sang the words with all the emotion she had inside of her. Scarlett nearly shook as she belted the lyrics, then it led into the chorus, and they all sang in unison. When the song finished the crowd was completely silent. As if the gravity of the song touched them so much they didn't know how to react. After several heartbeats the fans erupted in whistles, cheers, and a round of applause.

Scarlett wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "Thank you so much."

Remy came to stand next to her and slid her microphone out of her hand. "The world doesn't know how amazing this woman is. Without her, I might not be here today." He held his hands out to her and waved them. "Please give this woman a round of applause for her generosity." The crowd cheered even more.

Heat filled her cheeks and she shook her head. She hated that she had been singled out. She couldn't speak to them because Remy had taken her microphone. She reached for it, but he held it back. "There is one more thing that has to be done before we can return to the music. I hope you'll be patient for a little while longer."

He looked past her to the other side of the stage. Thatcher walked out, escorting JD. What the hell was going on? She turned to Remy, and then back to her father and JD. When they reached them JD snatched her microphone from Remy and turned to her, then dropped to his knees. "Scarlett," he began. "Love of my life, will you please marry me?"

She shook with equal parts fear and excitement. This was a risk. He had stood her up at the altar once before. Scarlett didn't know what to say. Did she trust him to show up to the wedding this time?

"I thought you might have trouble answering," JD said softly into the microphone. His tone was coaxing and tender. "That's why I've decided to simplify things for you."

He took the ring out of the box and slid it on her finger. "Say the word, and Remy will perform the wedding right now. We have the marriage license, and he's taken steps to be able to perform the ceremony." JD gestured to the other side of the stage. "Your sisters are here to act as bridesmaids and your mother and stepfather are backstage."

"And if you decide to marry this young man, I'll do my part and give you away," her father said. "Even though we haven't had much time together."

Tears flowed freely now. She nodded her head furiously. "Yes," she shouted. The microphone picked up her voice, carrying her answer through the speakers. The crowd screamed at her words. "I'll marry you."

JD stood and wrapped his arms around her, kissed her cheek, then pressed his lips to hers. Maybe it wasn't the most conventional wedding, but she married JD in front of an audience of over three thousand enthusiastic fans. She was glad he had planned it the way he had. They'd already had a chance at a large wedding. This was much better. There was no anticipation or unexpected obstacles preventing them from saying their vows. They were married, and they could finally start living their lives together—as it always should have been…