Epilogue

A year later

The bell from the entryway rings in our home as I leave the garage where I was workin’ on my bike to come and greet my girl. I installed it when we moved to Seattle so I would never miss her comin’ home at the end of the day. I go to work early to get there before she arrives; that’s our routine. I just check inventory, accounts and torture people earlier in the day.

It’s alright with me, always been a morning person anyway.

“Hi, Angel,” I greet, pulling her into my arms and kissing the heck out of her. She kisses me back, stars in her eyes, her golden hair holding a few flower petals in it. Our chubby orange cat Harley runs between her feet with joy.

“How was your day?” I sign before taking her coat off. I took more signing classes and I’m fluent now, which makes everything easier for us. And also makes her laugh each time I mess up the signs and give sentences a whole new fuckin’ meaning.

“Intense. I had to make four flower arrangements in a hurry for a customer who forgot to order in advance. Then the shop was packed so I helped Gladys at the counter, but a lady kept yelling in my ear because I wasn’t replying to her. We laughed so much with Gladys after because, you know, it was the silliest thing.” She chuckles, shaking her head, as she always does when people shout in her ears, thinking she’s deaf too.

Always kind even when she’s dealin’ with dumbass folks.

She found a job at this local flower shop where she works three days a week and the rest of the time she can rest at home and work on an online art course from the University of Seattle. She tried literature and business but didn’t like it so we switched her to art classes and she’s been thrivin’ ever since.

I think she doesn't want to admit that she prefers workin’ at the flower shop than gettin’ herself a degree, but I know how important it is for her confidence to get one, so I support her, no matter what.

She has also joined a support group for children who've been spiritually abused and made a few friends there. They came last month for a barbecue, and she was so nervous cause it was the first time she ever had friends at home. Turns out, everyone was nice and they had a great time.

I'm fuckin proud of her.

Steppin’ into the outside world has been challengin’ for her, but I admire how she keeps goin’ even when she’s unsure and afraid at times. She tried to contact her friends Greta and Jezebel back in Knoxville, but they never got back to her, neither did her mother. I hope one day she’ll get the closure she needs with them, but either way, I can tell she’s doing good right now. And her happiness is all that matters to me.

I’ve never thought I’d be this fuckin’ happy but I am. After years of building walls up, pushing people away, protecting myself from my past, I finally found what I was searching for all along. And now, between expending our territory, dealing with the other gangs and being Ares’ right hand man in the east side of the country, I got a full plate.

But I like it that way. We’ve got eyes everywhere now, and I’ve never been more efficient than with my girl safe by my side.

Carrying her to our couch overlooking our garden, I lay her on my lap, cupping her cheek with my black greased hand. Passing my other hand on her flat creamy stomach under her shirt, I kiss her forehead. She traces a question mark on my chest, the large diamond shining on her ring finger.

I proposed to her five months ago after our first vacation in Canada. We had a blast visiting, trying new foods and hiking. She didn’t even let me get back on my feet after I proposed, she was already in my arms, nodding her head and whispering “yes” in my ear. Felt like the luckiest bastard on earth, so much so that I got the date tattooed on my arm.

I chuckle. “Haven’t said anything.” She laughs silently, her chest heaving in the most adorable way before signing again.

“Let’s enjoy our lives together for now. And when the time comes…” she signs with a grin.

I smile like a fool cause I know one day, we’ll have a tiny version of us runnin’ around and it makes my chest tighten at what life has in store for us.

“Never thought I’d be this happy, Angel,” I say, shaking my head.

“Right back at you,” she signs, swallowing a small laugh, using my own words and making me fall even harder for her.

“So flower shop, orange cat and swollen bellies, sounds pretty fuckin’ good, what do ya think, Angel?” I sign to her.

“I think it sounds like happiness,” she signs back, biting her lips with a breathtakin’ smile.

“Damn right it does,” I say, grabbin’ her hips and kissing her with all that I am.

A dark knight who found his fallen angel.