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“Are you still with us? Things might get… Complicated.”

His soft hazel eyes meet mine, unwavering. “I’m always with you, Boss.”

“Good. I want you to be my partner in the Medical Authority.”

Epilogue 1. Two months later.

Cain

It’s still cold, windy, and overall wintry. But the times changed this week, so it feels like the right time.

Aria clings to me as I carry her down the dirt road to our new home. Her black hair is finally growing past her ears and peeks out from under her knit hat. Her brown eyes turn warm in the glow of the sunset through the trees. Only a quarter mile later, the cottage breaks into view.

It’s a closed concept layout with five bedrooms, an art studio, and a music room. A small barn out back for a couple of horses and sheep. Space for us to build a garden this spring. Bonnie has settled in well since moving her from the forge, and we’ve added two more home defense dogs.

Can’t be too careful.

“Are you ready to see mommy?”

“Mommy! Mommy!” She bounces in my arms.

I hadn’t referred to us as her parents until I discovered that Cora had been doing so all along. The chances of her finding an adoptive family were low, and of course I told Cora we were coming back for her. And it turns out she didn’t believe us when we said she wasn’t ours. While Violet’s been recovering and turning this cottage into a home, I’ve continued to visit Aria along with a few pictures of Violet.

She has no idea why I left this evening.

Walking into the boot room, I set Aria down, remove her mittens, hat, winter coat, and snowpants, and hang them up.

“Papa, up! Up!” She throws her arms in the air, and I scoop her back into my arms after hanging my own coat.

“No, no, no. Dean, you’ve made dinner for us every night you’ve been here.” Violet’s voice comes from the kitchen. “You’re our guests; let us take care of you.” Dean and Dahlia have been staying with us while Dean and I finish mapping out the plans to build their home on the same property. We offered to build a full compound for Pru and Cal to come along, but she wants to stay at the manor with Lu.

“Tonight’s different. I’m setting everything up to teach Cain something other than the basics.” Pots clang around in the cupboard. “Man needs to learn how to cook real food.”

“Cain cooks just fine.”

“Yeah, peasant food over a fire. Have you seen him in a kitchen?”

“Well, I happen to like that peasant food.”

“Didn’t you say you were making some sort of casserole?” Cal’s lip twitches up at the side in a small smile. “Aren’t casseroles peasant food?”

“Pshh. Not the way I do it.”

“Oh come on, let Dean cook us another killer meal.” Pru chimes in on the conversation.

Violet’s warm laugh fills my heart. I walk through the door, and she looks up at us. Her eyes go wide for a beat as she takes in the sight of little Aria.

It’s crazy to think that it was nearly two years ago when we carried this little girl through the woods.

Violet runs her fingers through her hair, now styled in what she calls a ‘pixie’ cut. Then walks over, stopping a couple of feet away.

“Hi.” Her voice quivers, and she gives Aria a little wave. “I know, I look different.” She swallows, fighting the urge to reach out and take our daughter.

“Let’s go in the family room until she warms up.” I nod to our friends sitting around the bar, and we go to the family room, settling in on the couch.

“I really missed you, baby.” Aria grips my shirt with her tiny fingers and hides her head, only peeking at Violet from the corner of her eyes.

“It’s mommy, Aria.”