EPILOGUE

R OOSTER

"Where exactly are we going, Curious?" I asked when she put on her blinker to pull into the parking lot of a construction company.

"I told you, it's a surprise."

"Can we go to that diner you mentioned to see if any of the band members come in there?" Madison asked from the back seat.

"Maybe later, Mads. Right now, I want to check out another place where we're almost guaranteed to find at least a few of them."

"At a construction company? They're not even open today," I argued.

Rosie turned in the parking lot, and I saw a guard shack with an entire neighborhood of houses behind it. "Whose place are we going to? I'm not sure I'm up for another house full of people whose names I'll instantly forget that want to grill me about my intentions."

"Stop whining," Rosie chided. "It wasn't that bad."

"I didn't realize when Tiny invited us to a family dinner that he meant one at his future in-laws home," I muttered. "The men in that family are downright terrifying."

"Lout's a teddy bear, and so is Uncle Marcus."

"I like Lout. He's funny," Mads added from the back seat. "I don't think he's scary at all."

"I know, right?"

I scoffed at Rosie's easy agreement and argued, "Maybe not to y'all because he smiled when he looked at you. When he looked at me, it felt like he was plotting my death."

"He probably was. I think that's a hobby of his," Rosie said nonchalantly.

There was a couple walking out to their car, and Rosie honked and waved as we drove past and then turned when she reached the dead end and took us deeper into the neighborhood. The houses were gorgeous, different styles of homes that somehow seemed to blend seamlessly together to make a comfortable neighborhood. There was what looked like a community garden and even a large fenced-in pool that was empty since it was the middle of winter.

"Is that a community center?"

"Well, it's private for the residents of this neighborhood, so it's more like a clubhouse."

"That sounds bougie," Mads said before she unbuckled her seatbelt and scooted up to rest her elbows on the console between us so she could see where we were going. "Are we going to a farm?"

"That looks like a barn, but it's not," Rosie said vaguely as we left the houses and followed a gravel drive to a huge red structure with cars and motorcycles parked outside. "We're going to meet some of my friends here and hang out for a while."

"Oh! We get to meet more of your friends?" Madison asked.

"We are. I thought that while we were here we might take some pictures. That's why I took you to get your hair and make-up done."

"And my nails," Madison said as she thrust her hand out and held her fingers up for me to see. "Aren't they gorgeous?"

I didn't even pretend to understand Madison's fascination with all things feminine, but it made her happy, so I agreed as Rosie parked next to a stunning custom motorcycle that I couldn't wait to look at up close. The second she turned off the truck, I got out and opened the back door for Mads before I hurried around the truck to get the door for Rosie.

"I can't wait for the carnival tomorrow," Mads said as she met Rosie and I at the front of the truck. I walked over to look at the motorcycle while they talked about this weekend's events, the reason we were here in Rosie's hometown of Rojo. "When will Kerrigan be here with Clark and Dianna?"

"They should be here tomorrow around lunch," I added as I walked around the bike. "I've gotta find out who this belongs to because whoever painted it is a fucking artist. I need to see what it would take to get my bike into him."

Rosie looked at the motorcycle and then shrugged before she said, "It was probably Asa Martin. He's Tucker's son."

"I guess I haven't met him yet, but you'll have to introduce me."

"You're here!" I looked up and found a woman standing in the doorway ahead of us. She looked familiar somehow, but I had no idea where I might have met her. I guessed, like most of the other people I'd been introduced to so far, that she had probably been at Dub and Elizabeth's wedding and I'd seen her there.

I thought that until I heard my sister gasp and whisper, "Is that Raven Forrester?"

"It is," Rosie said as she took Madison's hand and tugged her toward the woman who was waiting with a big grin.

"Ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod," Madison chanted as we got closer to the door.

The gorgeous woman smiled at my sister and said, "You must be Mads."

"I am!" Madison squealed. "You're Raven Forrester!"

"I am," Raven said before she asked, "Can I have a hug?"

"Oh my God!" Madison whispered as she walked into Raven's arms. "This is crazy."

"I've got some people who are waiting to meet you."

"You do?" Mads asked.

"Yeah. We were wondering if you'd like to hang out with us while we practice a few new songs."

"Songs? With the band? The whole band?"

"Every single one of them," Raven said as someone walked up behind her.

Madison made a choking sound, and when I looked at her, I wondered if she might be about to pass out.

"There she is!" the man said as he walked out and stopped beside Raven. "You must be Mads. Rosie told us all about you. She said you like to sing, so we were wondering if you'd like to make a few recordings with us while we practice today." Words were beyond Madison's capability right now. I was sure it was taking all she had to stand upright and breathe at the same time because she was so shocked and excited. The man stuck his hand out and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mads. I'm Memphis Forrester."

Madison stuck her hand out and shook his and all but melted into a puddle at his feet. He didn't let go of her hand after they shook but instead swapped the grip over to his other hand and turned to walk back toward the door as he tugged her along. He said, "Come on in. I'll introduce you to the rest of the band while they warm up."

When Madison looked over her shoulder at us, her cheeks rosy and eyes so bright, I thought the only thing keeping her from floating away on a cloud of joy was the grip she had on her celebrity crush's hand. I heard the sound of a camera shutter and realized Rosie was taking pictures with her phone.

I always worried about how Mads would be accepted by strangers but knew in my heart of hearts that I didn't have to worry about that here. There was no way Rosie would introduce her to people who might treat her differently or badly because of the way she was born. If anything, they'd realize that Mads was just like all of us, she just sometimes had to take the scenic route to accomplish things that most people took for granted.

"Come on, Strange!" Rosie called out as she rushed past me toward the door. "I want to get this on video so Mads will always have it to remember this day."

I knew she wouldn't need a video because she would never forget how much joy having Rosie in her life brought her.

And neither would I because I was never going to let her go.

THE END

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