I fight to open my eyes, but my body won’t listen to me. I squeeze again.
I hear the hitch of his breath. “Come on, Jade. Open those eyes.”
I’m trying.
I try again.
At last, they open.
I’ve spent the past week in the hospital, and today, I finally get to go home and start my new life. A life with West. A life without the threat of Adam.
West helps me into the house and up the stairs to the bedroom. I’m feeling better, but it will take a while for my body to not feel so weak.
My injuries weren’t as extensive as the last time, but it will still be a long healing journey. I’m thankful I have my friends and West’s family to be there for me this time. I also reached out to Natalie, letting her know she isn’t alone.
When we reach the top landing of the stairs, I let out a grateful sigh.
“Easy, baby.”
West helps me crawl into bed when I notice some of my belongings in his room.
“W-what?”
West follows my gaze and smiles. “The girls moved you in while you were at the hospital.”
I am so grateful for my friends. It hadn’t even crossed my mind that I hadn’t finished packing before I was attacked.
“What’s going to happen to my house?” I ask.
Tucking me beneath the covers, West asks, “What do you mean?”
“Surely Mabel doesn’t want to live there now. I left blood in the carpet and a man was shot in that house.”
“Do you mean Mabel Golding?” West asks through furrowed brows.
“I think her name is Mabel Porter now, but yes. She was the one that bought my house.”
“Well, I’ll be damned. From my understanding, the buyer still wanted the house. My dad and brothers changed out the flooring.”
“Oh,” is all I can say. I’m both shocked and relieved she still wanted the house. And I can’t believe West’s family did that for me.
“Now, why don’t you get some rest.” He kisses my forehead, and before I even hear the click of the bedroom door, I’m fast asleep.
2 months later
“Okay, Maysie daisy, what do you think?”
“It’s perfect!” My niece’s little body jumps up and down, barely containing her excitement.
I look down the path of my patio to the end of the dock, and my pulse races with nerves.
From my sliding glass doors, all the way down to the end of the dock, Maysie has left a trail of flower petals. Wren added candles along the way, and there, at the very end, is where I will stand.
Today, I’m asking Jade to marry me.
Fairy lights are strung in trees, and just like Maysie said, it’s perfect.
I make my way to the end of the dock and take a quick peek at the ring that’s hiding in my back pocket. Inside a velvet box sits a beautiful gold band with a big purple amethyst surrounded by diamonds on the sides. It’s not your typical engagement ring, but when I saw it, I knew it was the one. It’s a perfect match to the bracelet I gave to Jade all those months ago.
