Epilogue

EPILOGUE

ONE MONTH LATER

"I s there any more news on Landon?" May asks, coming through the door after being out and feeding the animals. She holds a bunch of mixed flowers from the garden surrounding the family burial plot.

"Not yet. Hunter hasn't called this morning with an update. Which is unsettling," I say, taking a small bite of my toast.

I'm really not feeling well this morning. The baby is healthy, and I will hopefully reach the end of this morning sickness soon. It should be called all-day, every-day sickness. It's the worst.

"Still not feeling well, honey?"

I shake my head.

"Perhaps it's the anxiety and stress over what happened, along with being pregnant." She comes over and gently rubs my back.

She is most likely right. I'm so worried about Landon. He should be waking up at any moment now.

"Maybe. It's been a crazy few months with everything going on. I can't keep up, and I think I'm more of a hindrance than help most days. Because I've come in, in the middle of something that was already well-established, I don't know what to do or how to help." I sigh, rubbing my forehead. "Hunter has been great, though, running things, checking in on Landon, ensuring he spends time with me, and making our doctor appointments."

I think about the past month and how Hunter crawls into bed late at night, pulling my body against his. His warmth wraps around every part of me. His hands will roam, and the heat intensifies. Those nights are usually late ones.

"I know that smile."

I pause, unaware I was smiling.

"You two are beautiful together, and I'm so glad you both have found happiness. When I look at you two, you remind me of myself and your grandfather." The wistful smile that brightens May's face brings tears to my eyes.

"I'm sad that I never got to meet him." I stand and walk toward her, opening my arms. We share an embrace as she reminisces.

"He was a great man. Had a wise-ass personality like Nash." We laugh.

I step back. "Have you seen Mom this morning?"

May nods. "She went to see Nash and Miles." Her eyes glaze over. "It's been a long time since she has seen either of them. Hunter's father did a good number on Miles, which is why he was such an angry boy."

We'd soon discovered from Hunter's brother, Levi, that his father was only using Miles to kill off his own family. He would have killed him and taken everything for himself when that was done.

"Perhaps I should go to her."

"I think she would like that." May hands me the bunch of flowers she'd been holding.

I place a light kiss on her cheek. "Love you, Granny."

She giggles like a schoolgirl. Every time I use the word ‘Granny,' she gets giggly, and nothing wipes the smile off her face.

"Love you, too, sweet grandbaby of mine and great-grandbaby." She rubs my tummy.

I walk along the path to the family plot, and Mom sits on the same bench I did a while back when I read Nash's words, which changed the course of my life.

"Hey, Mom," I greet gently so I don't scare her.

Turning in her seat, she smiles. "Hey, beautiful."

We are still building our relationship. I heard her talking with May the other night, and she said she blames herself for everything that's happened, even though none of this is her fault. Two grannies went out on a limb to try to prevent anything bad from happening to my sisters and me. It's been a season of darkness for this family, and I can only hope that we—Mom, Dad, and I—can work through this and learn to love and grow together as a family moving forward.

Nash was right. Dad didn't want to hurt me. Like Granny, he wanted to protect me.

Now, the Redmont men have been laid to rest side by side. There will always be an emptiness inside my chest that may never be filled again in my lifetime. These men were my blood, my family.

"How are you this morning?" I ask as I sit beside her, still holding the flowers.

Her arm comes around me. "You know how long I've waited for my family to come back together . . ." she pauses and turns to me, adding, ". . . a very long time."

I've only known my mother for a short time, but already I can tell she's this very quiet, meek woman. Everything about her is demure in some way—how she glides into a room, makes Dad smile, and holds my hair back when I've been throwing up my breakfast.

It's something I've never experienced. I've always taken care of myself, and now I have a tribe of women and men who care deeply for me.

"I know, and when the time is right, we will find the other girls, and then we'll be together." Here's hoping my sisters are willing to let us into their lives.

"I know it's still not safe for them while Thomas is alive somewhere. I silently hope he's dying in a ditch. Poor Esther. I'm sure she's going through hell as well. Thomas was her only son, and he's like the son of the devil."

"Mom, we all make our choices, and this was his. He became money-hungry and deranged by power. There's nothing we could do for someone like that."

"I know. I still feel terrible about it, though."

I catch a tear sliding down her cheek and quickly wipe it away. "It will be all right, Mom. Hunter and I plan to change things." She has no idea that things have already been put into motion to eradicate the underworld of people who favor Thomas Wolfe.

"Hunter is a fine young man, and I'm so happy you have him."

"I love him," I say, unable to hide my smile.

She smiles. "I know, and he loves you. I see it in the way he responds to you. He's always aware of where you are and he becomes a different man when he's around you. I'm happy for both of you. When is the proper wedding planned?"

I look out over the property. This place would be perfect for a wedding, and one day, it will happen. But first, we have to deal with Thomas Wolfe.

"It will happen when the time is right." I stare down at the pink diamond resting on my finger.

The sound of crunching tires coming along the driveway has our heads turning. The butterflies in my belly kick up again. It's a habit now when I know it's Hunter. I miss him when he's away, even though I know he won't be gone for very long.

"He might have some news on Landon," I say, rising from my seat. I take the flowers in and divide them up among the three graves. Mom helps, then we wrap our arms around each other and make our way back to the house.

Hunter comes running up to me with a brilliant, wide grin.

"Landon has woken up. He's going to be all right. I also think his doctor is smitten with him. She's become this hound, shooing everyone away to give him his rest."

I grin. The heaviness that has been resting on my chest since he took that bullet for me finally lifts. I release Mom and step into Hunter's arms. "She's doing her job, and I'm so relieved he's okay." My throat thickens with emotion.

Hunter loosens his arms around me. "Morning, Miriam."

"Morning, Hunter. I'm happy to hear your friend is okay." She doesn't stop but keeps walking back to May, who is on the porch.

Hunter's gaze falls to mine. "I'm so glad he's going to be all right."

"Me too."

He sweeps his fingers along my cheeks, cupping my face. "I love you, Little Red."

"I love you too."

He presses his lips to mine, and at this moment, everything is perfect. One day, the storm clouds will come again, but for now, the sun is shining, and my world is finally coming together in a way I never imagined.