Chapter 15
It was a warm summer evening.
Five years to the day since I had come home early.
Since I had found Celeste standing over Ilaria.
Since the truth had been revealed.
Since our lives had changed forever.
We were in our backyard.
The sun was setting.
Painting the sky in shades of orange and pink and purple.
Ilaria was playing with Sunny.
He was older now.
Gray around the muzzle.
But still full of energy.
They were chasing each other around the yard.
Ilaria laughing.
Sunny barking.
Elena stood beside me.
She leaned her head on my shoulder.
I put my arm around her.
"Can you believe it's been five years?" she said.
I shook my head.
"No," I said. "It feels like yesterday. And it feels like a lifetime ago."
She nodded.
"I was thinking," she said. "About that day. When you found me in the cabin. I thought my life was over. I thought I would never be happy again."
She looked up at me.
Her eyes were full of tears.
But they were happy tears.
"I was wrong," she said. "This is the happiest I've ever been. This is the safest I've ever felt. This is the most loved I've ever known."
I kissed the top of her head.
"Me too," I said.
Ilaria wheeled herself over to us.
Her face was flushed from playing.
"Mommy? Daddy?" she said.
"Yes, baby?" Elena said.
"I was just thinking," Ilaria said. "About the bad lady. And the cabin. And the ice water."
Elena and I exchanged a look.
We braced ourselves.
But Ilaria smiled.
"I don't remember the bad parts as much anymore," she said. "I remember the good parts. I remember when Daddy found me. I remember when Mommy came home. I remember our wedding. I remember Sunny. I remember the beach. I remember Disneyland."
She paused.
"I know bad things happened," she said. "But good things happened too. And there are more good things coming. Right?"
Elena knelt down in front of her.
She took Ilaria's hands.
"Right," she said. "So many more good things."
Ilaria smiled.
Then she looked at both of us.
"I love you," she said.
"We love you too," we said together.
The sun dipped below the horizon.
The first stars began to appear.
I looked at my family.
My beautiful wife.
My amazing daughter.
Our loyal dog.
Our home.
Our life.
We had been through so much.
We had lost so much.
But we had gained so much more.
We had learned the true meaning of love.
Of strength.
Of resilience.
Of family.
Justice had been served.
Celeste was where she belonged.
And we were where we belonged.
Together.
Safe.
Loved.
Whole.
Elena stood up.
She took my hand.
Ilaria took my other hand.
We stood there.
The three of us.
Watching the stars come out.
Ready for whatever came next.
Because we knew.
As long as we were together.
We could face anything.
And we would always come out stronger.
May you like
Always.
The end.
