“Maeve, I was going to kill them anyway.If you need me to find an excuse, just know they broke their own trade law.They sold someone who didn’t belong to them.They were evil, and trust me, I am not going to lose sleep because they are dead and gone.”
I pulled her into my arms and pressed my face against the back of her neck.I kissed her neck and told her it was going to be okay.
“Where are we going?”Maeve asked after a short time had passed.
“I’ve got a little surprise for you.”We pulled up outside of a quaint little café.
The Barbieris were less than a twenty-minute drive from my home.I had reached out to them, told them the information I had.I’d also gone to see them, and the shock at what I told them had been a big deal.I asked if they wanted to know their daughter.I told them how amazing she was, beautiful and kind.
“What is this?”Maeve asked.
“Your parents, your real parents, are in there, waiting to see you.They never thought they were going to get this moment, Maeve.But it’s finally here.The choice is up to you.We can go in, have some coffee, possibly a cinnamon roll, because I know how much you love them.Or we can leave, and they’re part of a past you never knew.”
She nibbled her lip.“What if they don’t like me?”
“Maeve, I like you, and I don’t like anyone.”I took hold of her hands.“Actually, we both know I love you.I will do anything for you, and I think you’re going to want to meet these people.”
She looked at me, and I saw that small glimmer of hope.
Opening the back of the car, I hold onto her hand, pull her out with me, and we step onto the street.Wrapping my arm around her, I have no intention of letting her go.
“We’ve got this,” I said to her.
Stepping into the café, I spot the Barbieris instantly.Maeve does as well.Isabella is on her feet, as is Luca.They are older now, slightly older than me.
The moment we’re close, there is nothing I fear.Isabella stepped closer and cupped Maeve’s face.I stepped back to allow a mother to finally look at the daughter she thought she had lost.
“I knew.I just knew I hadn’t lost you.”She let out a sob, and Isabella pulled Maeve into a firm hug.
Luca is next, holding both women, and they are a unit.I see it.Luca looked at me, and I nod at him.He had already given me the dad talk.He wanted to make sure I could take care of his girl.As I reminded him, I was the one that found his little girl and connected all the dots.
“Uh, I-I want you to meet my fiancé.I think you have already seen him.This is Draven Adams,” Maeve said.
I shake Luca’s hand and hold Isabella’s hand to my lips.
I had reunited this family.
I did it for Maeve.
There is nothing I wouldn’t do for Maeve.
Epilogue
Maeve
Ten Years Later
“And we have to go why?”Alice, my oldest daughter, asked.
“They’re your grandparents, and we had agreed to this.”
“But they’re going to want us to put on thick, knitted sweaters and it’s like a hundred degrees outside,” Alice said.
It was part of the summer tradition when we went to my parents, that they always wanted to get ahead with the Christmas photograph.I had been missing out of twenty-one photos, and I wasn’t going to miss another.Draven made sure we didn’t miss any.
I had thought my parents and Draven wouldn’t get along.However, my family adored him.Sure, they didn’t like his lifestyle choices; however, he seemed to make sure the worlds didn’t collide.
He was good friends with my two brothers, Francis and Theodore Barbieri.Also, I loved my sister Emily.She was amazing and beautiful.We had so much in common, or at least our interests were the same.
