I scoot off his lap to sit beside him, and Goblin curls up by his leg. “I didn’t mean to lose it as soon as you came through the door.”
He slides his arm around me, pulling me closer. “I’m sorry I stayed away. It wasn’t because I was upset with you. I was angry and confused.” He sighs, running the heel of his hand across his forehead. “I was a mess. I still am. But I couldn’t spend another night without telling you.” His fingers brush through my hair and my heart aches at the look on his face. “Ilove you. I’m so fucking in love with you. I should’ve said it a long time ago.”
It turns out I’m not all out of tears. Good god, I haven’t cried this much in my life.
He speaks again before I can. “You don’t have to say anything back. You don’t owe me anything. I’m not asking for anything, but I need you to know.”
I stop his words with a kiss. Just a soft press of my lips while I try to let what he said sink in. When I pull back, I touch my forehead to his. “I love you, too.”
He runs his palm down my cheek and presses his lips together. “I’m not okay. I may not be for a very long time. I’m bent to the edge of broken. I’m going to have dark days when I’m not fun to be around. It’s not fair to ask you to be with me now, but I’m asking anyway. Will you come home?”
Home. He is my home. His confession and his plea are shredding me. As if there’s any chance that he could scare me away. “You don’t have to be okay. I love you and there’s nothing I want more than to be with you. We’ll tunnel through the darkness together.” We hold each other tightly as my words hang in the silence.
It’s what life is about, that’s the lesson this last year has taught me. We’re all burrowing into the dark, gouging and pushing and dragging ourselves through life as best we can. Sometimes we can’t save each other, but we can be a hand to hold in the endless night. And the hand that holds the shovel.
EPILOGUE
SILVER
TWO YEARS LATER
Lucky’s Coffee Baris packed to the walls with people. Half have come from the diner side to watch the large TV in the corner that’s broadcasting the national news. The only other time our small town made national headlines was because of a tornado. This is much more exciting.
It’s been nearly three weeks since the story first dropped, stunning the locals and causing an instant uproar in town. Regional and national news vans showed up within days, happily interviewing anyone who would talk about the Matheson’s and speculating on the scope of what they’ve allegedly done.
There’s been no sight of any member of the Matheson family as they hole up in their homes, avoiding public scrutiny and humiliation. The fire marshal came into the diner afew days ago to pick up the breakfast he requested that I return to our menu, the bird’s nest. I know his name was in some of those documents, that he’s taken some bribes to look the other way. I wonder if he’s one of the people who are working with the authorities and that’s why he hasn’t been mentioned publicly or arrested yet. The rumor is that quite a few on the lower levels will be turning state’s evidence to avoid their own charges.
He gave me an amiable nod as he always does, like nothing unusual has happened. Of course, no one knows I’m the one who sent the proof to the attorney general, state police, and the national news outlets. I don’t have a grudge against him. He wasn’t wrong about the fire at my house. It was arson, it just wasn’t me.
The big moment of the arrests has finally come, and I make my way through the crowd to watch with the others. “Hey boss, I got an iced mocha that’s going to be wasted. You want?” Riley asks. He hands it over the counter to me when I nod. Camille sidles up beside me with a wide smile, points the remote at the TV and cranks up the volume to get over the rising clamor.
The bright voice of the newscaster fills the room. “Alleged corruption at the highest levels of Sunwood, Kentucky government has led to the arrest of three prominent members of the town. We first reported on this back in April when our station received evidence of a multitude of state and federal financial crimes including grant fraud, embezzlement, and bribery. The documents were sent anonymously, postmarkedin a Florida town, and bore the warning, to be opened after my death.”
I thought that was a nice touch, if I do say so myself. It doesn’t mean anything since they don’t know who the sender is that must’ve died, but coming from another state with that instruction should take any suspicion off me. I had my brother drop it in the mail when he was on vacation. Celia died in Florida a little over a year ago. She has no family remaining in our state that the Matheson’s could target in retaliation. If it’s tracked back to anyone, it would likely be her. The way things are going, I doubt revenge is going to be an issue anyway. They’re scrambling to save their asses.
The newscaster continues. “The Attorney General has assigned special prosecutors, and the first arrests were made today.” The screen splits to show a video of Grady being led out of his home in handcuffs.
The room fills with excited conversation and a few laughs while the newscaster goes on. “Grady Matheson was taken into custody by the Marshals at his home where he’s remained since the story broke.” The screen flips to another man in handcuffs. “The chief of police, Clay Matheson, who has been put on administrative leave was also arrested at his home.”
“Hope they feed him that moldy jail bologna,” someone calls out and laughter erupts throughout the room.
“A crowd has picketed the government center calling for the mayor, Emmett Matheson’s, resignation, which he has refused to respond to. He was taken into custody withoutincident as well. All three face numerous charges. We’ll be back with more updates as they become available.”
Camille turns the volume down and grins over at me. “I know you have to be happy.”
“I’m going out to dinner to celebrate,” I tell her, and she nods her approval. She doesn’t know what I’ve done. Only Lee, Calli, and Arlow do. But she knows what they tried to do to Lucky’s.
I look up to see Arlow towering over the crowd, with Lee and Calli at his side. Calli waves and points to a table, signaling they’ll wait there. She and Arlow go while Lee makes his way over to me.
“Place is packed,” he says.
God, his smile is so sexy. I’ll never get used to it. “There are lots of extra people in town right now. Journalists love a good coffee, you know.”
Our first year together was hard but we got through it. My heart broke when I learned about Lee’s suicidal thoughts and part of me wanted to kill Isla all over again for it. But we did exactly what we said we’d do and made it through the dark times together.
Things have been much better, and I know Lee gave the hundred dollar bill back to Arlow a year ago. It was guilt that was eating him alive for all those years and after discovering the truth about Isla, he doesn’t have to carry that anymore.
We’ve lived together at Lee’s ever since the night he came for me at the cabin. Whenever I mention buying a new house, he says he’ll just carry me back to his over his shoulder. After some thought, I realized I don’t want to move anyway. I wantto see him first thing every morning and last thing every night.
