18. Joaquin

Chapter 18

Joaquin

Three Months Later…

After sending Katsen and his men to the deepest pits of hell, Joaquin and Cole settled into life back home in Ridgeback Falls with ease. It sometimes felt like a fairytale, but Joaquin had never been happier.

Working as a barista at Coffee King was giving Joaquin the kind of stability and routine that he'd simply never had in his life before. And the fact that he had radically improved the quality of the coffee there was an added bonus that very rapidly endeared him to the local community.

Joaquin loved putting in a shift at Coffee King and then heading home to be with Cole and Ranger. Together, the three of them made a great team. And what was especially nice was being able to invite friends over too…

‘Guys, this place is so cool,' Jenna said as she sipped on her glass of freshly squeezed OJ. ‘And Ranger is a great dog. He's so gentle with little Jo.'

Joaquin looked on in delight as he watched Ranger and Cole lying on the floor alongside baby Jo. Jenna had named Jo in honor of Joaquin, and it was a great feeling to be an unofficial uncle to the baby alongside Cole.

‘I'm proud of you,' Jenna said, putting her hand in Joaquin's. ‘You've made a real life for yourself.'

‘You don't miss the old me?' Joaquin laughed.

‘The old you was cool,' Jenna said, a knowing look on her face. ‘But he was too much trouble! And anyway, people change. And I like the change I've seen in you.'

Joaquin smiled.

To have a lifelong friend in Jenna was a good feeling. And knowing that he would be able to play a part in baby Jo's life too was something that filled Joaquin with happiness.

‘Come over here guys, Jo looks like he wants to crawl,' Cole said, pride in his voice as he encouraged the baby to wriggle his butt and make a move.

And as Joaquin lay on the thick rug next to Cole, he felt something that he'd never experienced before…

Joaquin felt truly complete.

‘I love you,' Joaquin whispered to Cole as they cheered on baby Jo. ‘I love you so much.'

And with a little encouragement from Ranger's big black nose, baby Jo did take his first tentative steps on his hands and knees. It was a perfect scene, and one that would live in Joaquin's memory for the rest of his days.

Ridgeback Falls was his home now, and Joaquin knew that this was the first of many more memories to come for him and Cole.

Blood had been spilt to make things right, but from here on out it was all about the love.