“Me too.”He glanced up at the cloudy sky and silently thanked God for the many blessings He had bestowed upon them.
He knew this would be a fresh beginning for both of them.
Epilogue
One month later...
“Did you hear the data center project is on hold indefinitely?”Micah asked as they drove.“Once the FBI got involved, Jin Yong Wu disappeared, and the company is now up for sale.The police think that it will eventually be purchased by a legit company and that the project will still move forward.”
“Did they know who the dead guy was or figure out what Damien and the others planned to use it for?”she asked.
“The dead guy was another investor in the data center project, guy by the name of Howard Dall.They believe he learned about the criminal intent behind the data center, so Damien eliminated him, making sure he left his cuff links behind to help fake his own death.”Micah shook his head.“The truth would have come out eventually, but apparently, Damien had planned to be long gone by then.”
“Unbelievable,” she murmured.
“As far as the data center itself, the feds believe it was going to be used to infiltrate legit companies to steal personal information that could then be used in cyberattacks.”He shrugged.“Thanks to you, that won’t happen, at least not at the Wild Prairie site.”
“I wish I knew how Damien got involved.Gwen and Nate White too.”She shook her head.“Greed is a powerful thing.”
“Yeah, I know.I assume Damien got chummy with Phil and maybe even Jin Youg Wu.He’s not talking, so there are a few details that are still unknown.Richard is apparently not involved.The good news is that you’ve been cleared, and the criminals involved will pay for their crimes.”
She nodded.Richard had reached out to her, offering a stilted apology.He’d then offered her Gwen’s job, but she’d declined his offer.Last she’d checked, the company’s website hadn’t been updated with any new clients, and she secretly believed Richard would end up declaring bankruptcy.It was difficult to market yourself as a PR company after your co-owner and employee were arrested for embezzlement and murder.
When Micah slowed to a stop in front of a red-brick ranch house with a for sale sign in the front yard, she glanced at him in confusion.“What’s this?”
“A house.”He grinned.“The realtor is meeting us here.”
“I didn’t know you had a realtor.”She didn’t move to open the door.“Is this why you haven’t encouraged me to apply for jobs in downtown Chicago?”
“Yes.”He gestured to the home.“We’re in Glenview, which as you probably noticed is thirty miles from the apartment.This house has a wooded lot and is located across from the park.I thought it was worth checking out.”
“You’re buying a house?”She was still trying to understand what was going on.Her insurance company had declared her home a total loss, and she hadn’t yet decided whether she should simply take the money and sell the lot for someone to build upon or spend the time to rebuild and then sell.If she were honest, she wasn’t thrilled about making the trip back and forth from Chicago to Madison to rebuild.Even though only a month had passed, it seemed like her old life was eons ago.
“Bryn, please, let’s just look at it, okay?”He squeezed her hand, then pushed out of the driver’s side door.“I’d like to know what you think.”
She slid out of the SUV, too, inhaling the sweet scent of the lilacs blooming nearby.May was a time for rebirth, and while she’d become accustomed to her new life, she hadn’t anticipated this.Micah’s apartment was fine, but she had secretly missed living near the marshland.
The realtor hadn’t arrived yet.Micah punched a code into the keypad and opened the front door as if he owned the place.The house was bigger than the one she’d lost, but not overly so.They stepped into an open-concept living and kitchen area, complete with an amazing brick fireplace that reached all the way to the ceiling.
“It’s beautiful.”She stood, then slowly turned in a circle to take it all in.“I’m afraid to ask how much it’s going for.”
“The home prices here in Glenview are comparable to those in Madison.”He grinned.“The closer you get to Chicago, the more the home prices rise exponentially.I thought this was a good compromise.”
She nodded and took a few steps toward a hallway that she presumed led to the bedrooms.As she poked her head into each of the rooms, her thoughts whirled.
Did Micah think they would live here like roommates?He’d taken her out on several dates but then had spent a week on some assignment for his boss, Rex Grayson.She’d used that time to travel back to Madison to meet with the insurance adjuster.In between his work and her job hunt, they’d spent some time getting to know each other again, but this seemed like a radical step.
The main bedroom was at the end of the hall.It was huge, with a king-sized bed, and contained not only a walk-in closet but a spacious en suite bathroom that was about the size of the guest bedroom at her old house.The one that was nothing but an empty lot after the construction crews had gotten rid of the fire debris.
When she turned, Micah was right behind her.She forced a smile, hiding her doubts.“It’s beautiful.If you think the price is reasonable, then you should put in an offer.”
“Bryn, I love you.”He pulled a small velvet box from his pocket, went down on one knee, and held it up for her.“Will you marry me?”
Her eyes widened in surprise.She hadn’t expected this, although maybe she should have.“But I don’t have a job yet,” she said, uttering the first thought that entered her mind.
“You’ll find something, but that’s not important.I love you.I want to marry you and to have a family with you.”His blue gaze never wavered.“This is a house, but it takes a loving couple and maybe a kid or two to make it a home.”
His words resonated deep within.She realized this was what she wanted, too, more than anything.“Yes, Micah.”She held out her left hand, watching in awe as he slid the diamond ring onto her finger.“I love you, and I can’t wait to marry you.”
