Epilogue

Rayne

I couldn't remember the last time I was this nervous. Wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans, I shifted in the chair and glanced over at my parents, who looked just as nervous as I felt.

The only one in the room who appeared calm was Jameson, who was glancing down at his phone.

"They just pulled up outside." He looked up at me. There, deep behind his eyes, I could see his fears. He felt just like I felt.

Taking his hand, I walked over and stood just outside my dad's hospital room and waited for the elevators to open.

When they finally slid open, a thin woman stood there holding the hand of a very small boy who appeared no older than six. My heart broke a little at seeing the boy's bones through his skin.

When they started walking towards us, he looked up from the ground and spotted us. His eyes moved to Jameson.

"I know'd you," he said in a thick Cajun accent as he pointed to Jameson.

"Yes, I know you too," Jameson said, kneeling in front of the boy. Then he held out a piece of candy and the boy smiled and quickly took it and tucked it in his pocket.

"Hi," I said, getting the kid's attention. I knelt beside Jameson until I was eye to eye with my brother. We had the same eyes. The same mouth. The kid's hair was a little curlier than mine, but it was the same color. "I'm Rayne. You must be Benjamin?"

"Benji," he corrected.

I nodded. "Benji, I'm your sister."

"Yeah." The kid looked down at his feet.

"Did your pa ever talk about me?" I asked.

The kid shook his head. "No, but my ma did. Before…"

We'd been filled in on how the kid's mother, my biological mother, had died shortly before Jameson had taken his first trip out to the bayou and met Benji for the first time. She had died of natural causes. Word was, since my biological parents, didn't believe in real medicine or even coming out of the swamp, she had died from a simple infection.

"She called you Heather," Benji said. I felt my heart drop in my chest. My name was Heather Dupuis. "I like Rayne better. Can I change my name too?"

I smiled. "If you want to."

He seemed to think about it for a moment. "Maybe later. When I know'd who I am." I smiled at that. "They told me I'm going to stay'd with you." The kid looked at Jameson.

"If that's okay with you?" he answered. "Rayne's parents, the ones who found her and cared for her, would like to have you stay with them. Would you like to meet them?"

Benji shrugged and I held out my hand for his. He hesitated and then took it and we walked into the room.

"What happened to you?" Benji asked my father.

"A bad man shot me," Dad answered with a grin.

Benji frowned. "Did you get the bad man?"

"We did." Dad laughed.

"You a cop?" Benji asked, looking at all of us.

"We are," Jameson said proudly.

"You too?" Benji looked up at me.

"I am." I smiled.

"Then I'd be one too. Someday." Benji smiled. "Just as long as I can eat candy."

We all laughed.