Chapter 42: Epilogue

SARAH

^SIX MONTHS LATER…^

Sarah lay on the lounger in the yard of Grandma’s—~their~—home, her face turned to the rays of the warm spring sun. It wasn’t often that she was able to sit and do nothing, even if it was just for a couple of hours. Between the booming bakery, preparing for Indie and Seth’s wedding after they eventually settled on a date, and the last few months, spare time had been a treat that was as rare as Grandma’s cinnamon bread.

Thinking about it had the scent of freshly baked bread wafting to her. Grandma and Amelia were in the kitchen baking, and the two of them had shooed Sarah out of the door with a tall glass of iced tea before she could reach for an apron. Grandma had taken Amelia in hand and was teaching her every type of German baking she could, and Elli was absorbing the attention. The little girl had flourished since they moved into the big house, and Sarah couldn’t hold back her own smile as she thought of the smile that was a constant on Elli’s face.

Sarah sighed as she sipped the cold beverage, rubbing her hand over her protruding belly and thinking back over the last six months. How was it possible that life could change so much in such a short space of time? It felt as though her life was split into portions—life before the kidnapping, and life after the kidnapping.

~She remembered lying on the sofa in Grandma’s living room, feeling so numb as she thought about how scared Amelia must be. She had been surrounded by all her friends—Grandma, Indie, Faith, and Grace. Fatima had also stayed by her side. And as soon as he could close the bakery, Cleve had joined them. She remembered feeling so loved, even as her heart was breaking for her little girl.~

~And then Grandma had cupped her cheek, making sure she could look Sarah in the eye. “They are on their way, so you better go and get yourself cleaned up.”~

~Everyone had looked at Grandma, who had settled back into her armchair and picked up the knitting in her lap, smiling with secret knowledge. Then, Indie had led Sarah to the guest bathroom and wiped her face with a cool cloth and brushed her hair. They had been about to enter the living room again when they heard the sound of Gabe’s truck pull up. Sarah had froze, unable to move from the hallway, unable to tear her eyes away from the front door as she waited.~

~Gabe had filled the door, his shoulders so broad they nearly touched the doorjamb on either side. The white bandage wrapped around his right knee was a stark contrast to the black field pants. His cast was hidden from sight by the flouncy hem of Amelia’s orange dress, the white jack-o-lanterns gray with dust and dirt. He had tried to fix her hair, and Sarah smiled at the lopsided picture of her daughter’s beautiful face.~

~“She’s home,” Gabe had said softly, his voice gruff as he held Amelia to her. Sarah had let the tears flow freely down her face as she took her daughter in her arms, looking up at Gabe with gratitude. He had been true to his promises. He had brought Amelia home safely. And she could see in his eyes that he had delivered Christiano’s one-way ticket to hell. She had never doubted that he would.~

They found out that Christiano had bribed a teacher for access to Amelia. Not only had the teacher been fired, but Sheriff Burnsley had also charged her with child endangerment and other crimes linked to the kidnapping. Gabe had ensured that Amelia was transferred to another school immediately after checking their safety measures.

It was Gabe who calmed Amelia down after one of her nightmares, and Sarah was relieved that they were becoming fewer, with a longer time between them. Fatima was a rock during this time, referring Elli to a child therapist specializing in trauma, as well as guiding Sarah in supporting Amelia. All that mattered to Sarah was that there were so many people who were helping to bring her daughter back to the joyous little girl she was.

GABRIEL

He leaned over the railing of the deck, watching Sarah as she basked in the sun, her hair shimmering with gold highlights, and he couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face as he watched her hand smooth over the bump their baby made. It still amazed him that he could be a part of the creation of something so beautiful.

The frosted glass of iced tea clinked softly against his ring, and he looked down at the platinum band on his left hand. Sarah had put it there with such confidence.

The night he brought Amelia home had been the night of his healing, the glimmer of light breaking down the large chunks of darkness that had surrounded his soul. He still spoke to Fatima, but the love of Sarah and Amelia was making him realize that he was worthy of living again. And though he would never admit it to Seth, his friend had been right, and Gabe had never realized that he had been looking for ways to end his life without actually putting a gun to his head as Crane had done when they came home.

The last six months had been the closest thing to heaven for Gabe. Sarah and Amelia had moved in immediately after the kidnapping, and Gabe loved coming home to them after his shifts ended. And having Sarah in his bed every night had him smiling more than he ever had in his life. Watching Connor compete with Amelia in who could place the most kisses on Sarah’s extended belly was adorable. They couldn’t wait for the baby to be born.

He doubted he would ever forget their wedding day. His smile widened. Fuck, yeah, he had married Rah! He wasn’t stupid enough to throw away good advice, and it was the best thing he had ever done.

~They had all been sitting around the fire pit on New Year’s Eve, discussing their visions for the year, when he had looked at her and said the words without hesitation as they had simply popped into his head. “I’m gonna marry you, Rah.”~

~She had challenged him. “When?”~

~“As soon as we can get a license.”~

~“Thursday?”~

~“Fuck, yes.” She had entwined her fingers with his and smiled.~

~Everyone had stared at them in shock, and the silence had been broken by the mayor’s fireworks going off over their heads. He had leaned over and kissed Sarah, pouring everything that he was feeling in that kiss. Shouts of “Happy New Year” and “congratulations” had faded away as Sarah cupped his jaw and whispered into his ear, “Just in time, Deputy Von Ashner.”~

~He had quirked an eyebrow at her. Glancing at the celebrating group around them, she had slowly slipped her hand over her still-flat stomach, and he knew exactly what she had meant by the action. It had been the best damned New Year’s celebration he had ever had!~

~Rah had looked so beautiful at their wedding that took place two weeks later. She had worn a knee-length ivory silk dress with lace applique on the bodice and sleeves. Her hair had been pulled into an intricate braid, and he knew that Indie had fashioned it; the tiny pink flowers twisted in her gold locks highlighted the happy glow in her green eyes. Amelia had been dressed similarly, except her dress had a couple dancing around the hem. She had skipped up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck.~

~“I love you, Daddy,” she had whispered as he kissed her nose.~

~Daddy…~ The word still melted his heart each time he heard it.

Silently, he made his way down the stairs to sit beside his wife. With a gentle finger, he traced her eyebrows, the outline of her nose, and her full lips where they curved into a smile at the corners of her mouth. She turned her head to him, and he felt everything dissolve in the love that made her beautiful green eyes shine like jewels.

“You’re home,” she said softly.

“I’m home,” he agreed, pressing a tender kiss to her lips as he curved a hand around the bump of their baby. Sarah, Amelia, and little ~Bump~ would always be his home… His ~glitter girls…~

End of Book 2