Here’s the Thing (Seddledowne #4)

Epilogue

TALLY

The wanderer has returned home at last, and the family gathers round with tears of gladness.

— MARY SHELLEY

Fifteen Months Later

“ A ll right, guys.” Ashton glanced at the kids in the rearview mirror. “Remember the plan.”

“Be chill,” Theo said, straightening his tie.

“That’s right,” Ashton said. “We don’t want to give Granny a heart attack. We’re all walking in together like regular wedding guests.” I smiled at the nickname the kids had practiced for Jenny. They hadn’t had the chance to have her as a grandma yet like the rest of the Dupree grandkids. “She’s been dreaming about this day for a long time. But?” He cocked a brow.

“It’s Brooklyn and Jonah’s big day,” Charlie said next. “No making a scene when we walk in. Just whispers and hugs. And we’ll be quiet during the ceremony. ”

Theo reached over and clapped Jane’s little hands together. “You get to meet our cousins, finally. They’re the best.”

“The best!” Charlie thrust her fists in the air.

“Bes!” Jane, our one-year-old mimicked her, kicking her tiny feet against her car seat.

I smiled over at Ashton who looked so handsome in his suit. His shoulder had long since healed. The only lasting evidence was a scar—which I promised made him look tough—and the memory of that night.

He turned the steering wheel of the rental Special Agent Moore had gotten us, and we rolled over a speed bump and into the parking lot of Brooklyn’s wedding venue—a fancy barn overlooking the James River. When the car was in park, everyone went quiet. Ashton and I turned to face the kids.

I looked at their excited faces. “Janie.” I wiggled her foot. “You’re just the splash of cream in our espresso.” I glanced at Ash. “You and Daddy.”

Ash shook his head. “I still can’t believe she came out blond.” He’d wanted her to look like me. But she was all Ash—blond and blue-eyed.

I pressed a kiss to his lips. “She looks like her daddy, and I couldn’t be happier.” It was true. I loved Theo and Charlie with all my heart—as equally as I loved our little Jane. But the fact that I’d been able to choose with Jane was a feeling and a freedom I’d never take for granted. “She’s going to be gorgeous.”

“She already is,” Ashton said.

Theo’s brow furrowed. “Charlie and I get to change our last names to Dupree too, right?”

“Absolutely,” Ashton said. “We’ll get the ball rolling as soon as I find Uncle Holden.”

“Then this is it,” Theo said. “We’re not the Aiken family anymore. ”

“Nope,” Ashton said, beaming. Having to go by Sam Aiken had been the hardest part of Witness Protection for him. Even if he had chosen the name Sam, not being a Dupree had eaten him up inside. He felt like he was betraying his family. I could see the guilt in his eyes at that moment.

“How about we toss out our fake names,” I said. “Right here, right now.”

“Yeah.” Charlie nodded. “Let’s take turns. We’ll say our names into our hands, ball them in our fists, and throw them out the window at the same time.”

“I like it.” Ashton grinned. “Charlie, you start us off.”

She lifted her shoulders and let them drop. “Ava,” she coughed into her palm and curled her fingers into a ball.

“Mason,” Theo said next.

Jane, who had no clue what we were doing, spit into her hand. She had the name we’d chosen for her in the hospital.

Ashton shook his head. “I still can’t believe you talked me into naming her after Jane Eyre.”

I winked. “Admit it. You’d do anything for me.”

“Clearly,” Ashton said and breathed the name, “Samuel,” into his fist.

I glanced at each of them, my heart breaking for the millionth time that they’d had to live a clandestine life all because of me.

Ashton pressed his unfisted hand against my face. “It’s not because of you.” His eyebrow flicked up. I swear the man could read my mind. “It’s because of them . It’s over now. No regrets.” It was the pep talk he always gave me.

I leaned into his touch and nodded. Then I lifted my hand and whispered, “Nora.”

Charlie held out her fist and we each laid ours one on top of the other.

“Hold up.” Ashton rolled all the windows down and the smell of home hit my nose with a punch that made me tear up. Honeysuckle and fresh cut grass. “We’re throwing them far out. Like as far as you can get them.” Then he turned back. “Ready.”

“All right.” Charlie grinned. “Dupree on three.” She bounced. “One, two, three.”

“Dupree!” We yelled, each throwing our names out into the Seddledowne air.

We rolled the windows up and got out of the car. Cello music greeted us, bringing a reverent calm over our group.

“No messing up your clothes,” I said in a warning.

“We won’t, Mom,” Charlie said.

Ashton lifted Jane into his arms. “And don’t forget to hug?—”

“Uncle Ford,” Theo and Charlie said, speed-walking ahead.

“I think we’ll be hugging Ford for weeks,” I said to Ash. “He’ll probably get sick of us.”

Ashton chuckled. “Not likely.”

We owed everything to Ford. The feds had offered to put Ford into Witness Protection after shooting Trevor but he’d declined. Instead, he’d spent an exorbitant amount of money to hire a high powered technical surveillance team who pinpointed my ex-step-father’s whereabouts and actions down to the centimeter. And they didn’t stop until they had enough evidence to put him away for two life sentences, making it possible for Witness Protection to become a distant memory. We’d only gotten word of the ruling late last night that my ex-step-father’s trial was over and we were free to go home. We’d packed our things, hopped straight in the car, and driven all night to get here. And we didn’t call the Duprees. We wanted to surprise them.

Once we came around the corner of the barn and the entire Dupree family, minus Anna, came into view, Theo and Charlie couldn’t hold back. I looked up at Ashton as he took them all in. His eyes glistened and the grin that spread across his face was the biggest I’d ever seen.

He glanced at me, the desire to rush to them apparent in every line of his face.

“Go.”

He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Do you want to take Jane or should I?”

I wanted to take our girl and introduce her to my two best friends. But I wanted to see the look on his family’s faces when they saw her for the first time.

“No. You go ahead.”

I stood back, my fingers pressed to my lips, waiting for them to realize.

Theo made it to James first. When Silas saw him, his eyes widened and his eyes darted, searching for us. He grabbed Lemon—who was holding a dark haired toddler in a pink dress that had to be one of Anna’s twins—and whispered in her ear. She scanned the crowd.

Holden and Christy were next, standing on tiptoes, searching. Then Ford. Then Blue, who was chasing the other twin, a brown haired boy wearing a blue jumpsuit.

Then, finally, Bo and Jenny noticed.

When Jenny saw Ashton, she gasped, her face crumpling into tears.

Ashton’s long legs worked in his favor, taking massive strides across the grass. And then it was the biggest huddle of hugs, kisses, and laughter that I’d ever seen.

I smiled, so happy.

Jenny was already reaching for Jane. But our shy toddler cowered against her daddy. Which only made Ashton laugh.

“She looks like you,” I heard Jenny say.

“You got tall,” James said to Theo.

Ashton glanced over his shoulder, somehow knowing that I was watching. Grinning, he tipped his head for me to hurry toward the barn.

I picked up my skirt and jogged to the entrance. I pulled the door open and stepped inside. It was the fanciest barn I’d ever seen, and it was fully decked out with twinkle lights, tulle, and gorgeous arrays of pale pink tulips—ready for a killer reception.

I heard talking coming from a room at the far end on the right. So I tiptoed over the boards until I came to the sliding barn door. It was cracked just barely, making it perfect to peek inside.

Anna stood behind Brooklyn, who was at a mirror, touching up her makeup. Anna picked up a bobby pin and slid it into Brooklyn’s updo. Brooklyn glanced off to the right at something I couldn’t see.

“It was an unrealistic hope, honey,” I heard Brooklyn’s mom say. “That trial could go on for years. Heck, she may never get to come home. Let’s put her dress away. It’s only making you sad.”

I shifted, trying to get a better view. And that’s when I saw it. A pale pink bridesmaid dress, the same color as the tulips, laid across a chair by the wall. My hand pressed over my heart. Brooklyn bought me a bridesmaid dress not knowing if I’d even be here?

I couldn’t wait another second. I grabbed the metal handle and slid the door open with a hard tug. It went flying, slamming into the stopper. Everyone gasped and turned.

Anna’s hand went to her mouth. Brooklyn jumped out of her chair. And then the three of us raced across the room, meeting in the middle in a three besties sandwich once again.

“Oh my gosh, you’re here!” Brooklyn squealed.

“I’m here.” I laughed.

“And you never have to leave again?” Anna asked.

“I never have to leave again.” I stepped back, one hand in each of theirs. “Oh, Brook,” I said, taking in her dress. “You’re stunning.”

She shrugged. “’Course I am. It’s my wedding day.” Her head gave a little shake. “Wait. Where’s your baby?”

I curled a finger and they followed me to the window. I pointed to Jenny who was holding Jane. Looked like she’d won her over after all. But then Jane’s lip trembled and she reached for Ashton. Okay, we had some work to do.

“She’s blond,” Anna gasped.

“And blue-eyed.” I smiled. “It’s my favorite.”

Anna pressed a hand to her heart, overwhelmed. “She looks like my mom.”

I grinned and I was pretty sure my cheeks were going to ache by the time this day was over. “You’ll have to show me some pictures when we get home.”

She looked over at me. “Home,” she said simply.

My nose crinkled. “Home.” I grabbed her hand. “You have a boy and a girl,” I said, smiling. “They’re beautiful.”

“Yeah. Blaze and Belle. They’re wonderful.” She grinned. “But I’m so exhausted.”

I wrapped her in a side hug and laughed.

She leaned her head on my shoulder for a second but then said, “I’ll be right back. I have to go hug Ashton.” Then she tore out of the room.

As she went out, a woman holding an iPad, wearing an earpiece and a power suit, came in. “What is happening in here?” Her gaze narrowed on me. “Are you Tally?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“The wedding starts in eleven.” She nodded at my dress. “Hop to it.”

Ten minutes later, the cello music quieted as the wedding march was being queued. I lined up behind Anna and Cooper, Jonah’s best friend from JRC. Anna hooked her arm through his, ready .

I smiled over at Tyree, another of our JRC friends, and looped my arm through his.

“Witness protection, huh?” he asked, clearly skeptical.

“Yes, Ty.” I gripped my bouquet. “I’m not making it up.”

A throat cleared behind us and I smiled without even looking. Ashton appeared to our right, towering over Tyree, wearing a hard expression. “Don’t get any ideas, Tyree.” His brows flicked in a warning. “Just remember, she’s my wife.”

I rolled my eyes and smiled.

“Yes, sir.” Tyree’s Adam’s apple dipped with a hard swallow.

Anna giggled, watching us over her shoulder.

Ashton leaned across him and placed a kiss on my lips. I let go of Ty, slid my free hand into Ash’s hair, and tugged him closer, really putting on a show. When he started to pull away, I caught his bottom lip between my teeth, just to make Tyree extra uncomfortable. Tyree sucked in a breath and I had to let go of Ash because I couldn't stop laughing.

Ashton smoothed his hair, turned, and walked away.

When Tyree found his air he said, “I can’t believe you married Professor Dupree.”

I grinned. “Believe it, Ty. Believe it.”