“For loving me. For loving Phoebe and my mom.”
She places a hand on my face. “Adam, you’re my world. And so is your family.” Her tone is full of love and devotion. “And you are all so easy to love.”
“You are my forever, Emily Parker.” I press my lips to hers.
I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I believe the challenges we faced in the last year have shaped our lives for the better, and in looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing.
30
Emily - Epilogue
Iscan the online article to see if it offers any new insight, but it’s just a rehash of the now-familiar story. Mom and Richard Bennett were finally apprehended in Italy a month ago, and they were extradited to the US, where they now await trial. Dad and I will both have to testify, but I want my day in court. The police investigation was thorough, and they uncovered victims across three different states spanning twenty years. That bastard won’t ever see the light of day again, and I want to ensure I play my part in his conviction.
It will be tough, but I’ll have Adam and our families and friends there to support me, so I know I’ll do it. My therapist believes it’s important to help me move forward with my treatment, and I know she’s right.
“Whatcha reading?” Adam asks, slipping onto the bench beside me and handing me a homemade gin cocktail. Tom, aka Coach Price, is a bit of a cocktail connoisseur and anytime they invite us here to their beautiful house for dinner, we sample a variety of delicious drinks. Although, I always stick to one, two, tops, because alcohol is a slippery slope to drugs for me, and I like to avoid temptation.
“Just another article, but it doesn’t mention anything about the Weston blackmail.” The cops found some interesting material on Mom’s computer. It seems Weston had discovered Mom’s affair, and he had photos of her and Richard in intimate poses. He was blackmailing her into supporting his efforts to date me, and she was also lodging considerable sums into his bank account every month. If Sam had kept digging, he most likely would’ve discovered this before the cops, and it all would’ve made sense earlier.
I couldn’t understand why until the cops divulged the Blakelys are virtually bankrupt. It seems Weston wanted to marry me purely to gain access to my trust fund. But my grandfather was a shrewd man and I won’t get the cool million he left me until I turn thirty. Either Weston didn’t do his due diligence correctly, or he was hoping Mom would continue bankrolling him.
At least it went some way toward explaining why Mom was always defending him and pushing him on me.
“I’m sure it’ll come out in court,” Adam says, draping his arm around my shoulder. I lean into him, inhaling his comforting masculine scent that always reminds me of home.
I shut the feed down and switch off my cell, taking a sip of my drink. “Man, this is so good.” I peer into the glass. “Is that cucumber?” I inquire, quirking a brow.
“It is.” Tom sits down on the bench across from us, smiling warmly. “Serving Hendricks gin with anything but cucumber would be sacrilegious!”
The door pings, echoing faintly throughout the house. “Adam!” Dad hollers, lifting his sweaty head from the outdoor grill. “Will you get that?”
“Sure. It’s probably Mom and Phoebe.” Adam kisses my cheek before walking across the large well-maintained back yard and disappearing into the house.
“You’ve got a good one there,” Tom says.
“I know. So do you,” I add with a cheeky wink.
He raises his drink to mine, and we chink glasses. “Touché, pretty lady.”
I grab hold of his hand and squeeze. “I’m so happy you and Dad decided to move here with us.”
“It was a no-brainer,” Tom admits, tilting his face up to the sky. Although it’s December, the weather is always warm here. “CU was pressuring your father to resign after the scandal with your mom and then Adam, and we both wanted a clean slate to start a proper relationship where no one knew us and would judge us.” He squeezes my fingers. “Besides, your dad could never be apart from you. You’re his little girl and the center of his universe.”
“He means the world to me too. You both do.” And it’s the truth. Tom has been easy to get to know and even easier to love. He makes my dad happy and he’s gone out of his way to form a relationship with me. For the first time ever, I know what it’s like to have two loving parents, because that’s what our family is now.
“Emily!!” Phoebe’s adorable voice resonates from behind, and I get up, turning around and opening my arms as she flings herself at me.
I hug her tight, loving her as if she was my own flesh and blood. I’ve always wanted a sibling, and now I have one in Adam’s sister, and I couldn’t be happier. She is the sweetest girl, with the biggest heart. She’s a teenager now, having turned thirteen recently, and I know Megan, Adam’s mom, is happy she has someone else to confide in as she enters puberty.
“Don’t hog our girl,” Megan says, winking at me. “I need me some hugs too.”
Phoebe lets go, rushing around the long picnic table to hug Tom.
“It’s so good to see you,” Megan says, enveloping me in her arms. “We have to start up a weekly dinner get-together again.”
“I know,” I agree, extracting myself from her embrace. “But it’s difficult with the hours you work, and my studies, and Adam’s job and classes.”
I hated that Adam had to drop out of college. I was lucky I got to transfer to the local university and that I’m getting to complete my degree. Dad got a generous settlement in the divorce from Mom. Something she couldn’t contest as she was AWOL with her fugitive lover, so the courts granted him a sizable sum in her absence. He paid my college fees and offered to cover Adam’s fees too, but Adam refused to accept it.
