Coming Home (35 page)

“Only that no matter how devastating it was to lose you, I was
never happier to learn that they were who you eventually ended up with.”

~*~

Ryan was a little upset that I moved back in with Vicki
and Matt. I agreed with my parents—all of them—that it was too soon for Ryan
and me to be living together. That didn’t mean I didn’t spend a lot of time
there. It just took the pressure off of the relationship a little.

However, Ryan was very happy I went back to work. It was a little
strange to go back after everything that happened there, but it still felt good
to be back. I was glad Charlie didn’t take us to a conference room that my team
used. I still had a hard time walking by the back patio doors.

Ashley was a trooper during the trial. She didn’t kill him, even
though she still says to this day that she wishes she would have. I wasn’t
really sure I believed that, but I understood what she meant. I wanted him
dead, too. He received a lengthy sentence, and even though he was going to be
eligible for parole sooner than I liked him to be, I wasn’t going to live in
fear that he’d come back.

Mandy quit and broke up with Wade. She felt guilty for everything
and couldn’t face it daily with us. The entire office heard everything that her
half-brother, Charlie, had done. Matt hired Stan to investigate the things that
were happening to me, and it was already stacking up against Charlie well
before I had my own suspicions. Matt just wanted to keep it quiet until they
had enough evidence against Charlie.

I heard Charlie was behind the episode Wade had at the
restaurant. He thought Mandy deserved better than what Wade was offering. When
she couldn’t see that, he decided to get rid of the problem. Charlie paid the
line cook to grind up some peanuts to put in Wade’s meal. It turned out that
guy was Louis, the same guy Charlie paid to drive the limo.

I couldn’t say I wouldn’t be just as upset as she was or that she
should feel guilty for what her brother did, but I was still happy to see her
go. I didn’t think either of us could have had a fresh start with the other
around.

Epilogue

It’s been two years since the trial. Vicki and I have
grown as close as Hillary and I still are. I’ve even started calling her mom,
too. I mean that’s who she is after all. It gets a little confusing sometimes
with two moms and two dads, but they all know who they are talking about
whether they call me Avery or Rebecca. I answer to both. I think Ryan is the
one who struggles with that the most. He just doesn’t know what to call me.

He’ll soon have something else to call me. I’m headed to Ashley’s
apartment to tell her my news and I’m smiling. What I love the most out of all
of this is the fact I have a sister. I’d always had a mom and a dad, so adding
one more of each was great, but nothing new. I knew how those relationships
work. They told me what to do and I decided whether or not to do it. What I
didn’t know was how much a sister would mean to me.

I take a breath before I knock on the door to Ashley and
Heather’s apartment. They decided to share an apartment close to college
instead of living on campus this year. Neither one liked dorm life. Vicki and I
thought it was because they couldn’t be roommates in the dorm.

Heather answers and I smile at her. She’s kind of like a sister
to me now, too. Her mom didn’t take to the rehab her father put her in, and he made
good on his threat to kick her out. It was a rough couple of years for Heather,
but Ashley and I managed to keep her head above water.

“Hey, Ravery.” Heather combined my two names until she came up
with Ravery. I have to say it is better than Abecca.

“Hey, yourself.” I looked around. “Is Ashley here? I want to talk
to you guys.”

“She’s getting out of the shower.”

Just then, Ashley came out with a towel wrapped around her. “Hi.
I didn’t know you were here. What’s up?” She starts drying her hair with
another towel.

“I just thought I’d say hi.” I shrug. “I was in the
neighborhood.”

Ashley and Heather look at each other before sitting on either
side of me. “Okay, what’s going on?” Heather looks straight into my eyes and
then follows my hand as I lift my left hand out in front of me.

“Oh my God.” Heather grabs my hand to look at the ring. “He did
it. I can’t believe he finally did it.”

“It’s about time.” Ashley gets up and starts towards her room.
“He’s only had that ring since before I graduated high school.”

“What?” I look at the ring again. “Why did he wait so long?”

“He’s a dude.” That’s Heather’s answer for everything when
someone male does something she doesn’t understand.

Ashley comes back dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. She sits next
to me again. “Now, Rebecca. There’s a long overdue conversation we need to
have. I thought we would have had this discussion way before now, but sadly,
no. I won’t do to you what you did to me because that was almost unforgiveable,
but I love you, so I forgive you.”

“Ashley, what are you talking about?”

“Ryan is going to expect certain things now, and you’ll be scared
at first, but it’ll be okay. I promise you.” She put her hand on my knee. “I’ve
never led you wrong before, have I?”

I shake my head, completely confused. Heather got up snickering
and left the room in full-out laughter. I narrow my eyes at her even though she
shut her bedroom door. I look back at Ashley. “What did I do that was
unforgiveable? And what the hell are you talking about?”

“Your wedding night. I thought you and Ryan had sex before, but
since you made mom have the discussion with me about sex, maybe you haven’t had
it yet.” She pats my knee again. “It’s okay. We’ll talk through all of your
fears.”

I smirk, trying and failing not to smile. She’s right. It was
unforgiveable as her big sister to send our mother to her to discuss sex. “Had
I known you were my sister, maybe I would have talked to you about it myself.”

Ashley looks down. I didn’t mean to rub it in that she kept it
from me again. This is the one thing she can’t forgive herself for and I could
kick myself for bringing it up again even though I was teasing her.

I take a deep breath and tilt her chin to look at me. “I’m sorry.
That’s not how I meant it.” I hug her. “I came here to ask you a question.”

She briefly hugs me back and let go. “What’s your question?”

“Will you be my maid of honor?” I didn’t think she would say no,
but the look in her eyes filled me with such relief. I hope she now knows I
truly forgive her for anything she thinks she did wrong.

“Really?” She hugs me hard and almost doesn’t let go this time.
“I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks. Hey, I haven’t told mom and dad yet—either set. Please
keep it to yourself for now.”

“Sure. Um, who are you going to get to walk you down the aisle?”

I shake my head. “I have no idea. Would it be weird for both of
them to?”

Acknowledgments

“Have you ever thought how it would be to write a book?” One
innocent question started this amazing journey for me. Laurie Fay, if you
hadn’t asked me that question and stumbled onto the fact that I actually wrote
a book for myself, none of this would have ever happened. Without your
encouragement, any book I had written would have stayed on my laptop, hidden
from the world. Thank you just doesn’t seem enough.

Janine Howard, you are my constant cheerleader. You have
enough excitement for the both of us to help push me along when things get
really overwhelming. Thank you for keeping me going.

Jerri Rush, to my longtime friend, you’ve always believed I
could do this even when I didn’t. Thanks for not giving up on me.

Thanks to Robin Harper of
Wicked by
Design
for an awesome cover. It looks so much better than I had ever
envisioned it. You took exactly what I wanted and multiplied it times ten!

Very special thanks to
Theresa
Wegand
. Without your skills in editing, proofreading, and formatting, this
book wouldn’t be readable. But without your suggestions, advice, and honesty, I
wouldn’t be half as proud as I am today of what this book has become. I’m
amazed at all of the little details you’ve caught that I never would have given
a second thought. It’s outstanding!

Finally, thank you to my readers. I hope you enjoyed
Coming
Home
as much as I enjoyed writing it
.

About the Author

B.L. Mooney started writing when the voices and storylines
in her head ran out of room. They were getting too cramped and neither B.L. nor
the characters could take it anymore, so she did the only thing she could
do—she made room. She always knew she wanted to write, but vowed to make time
for it later. Now that she’s made time for writing, most everything else falls
to the wayside. That seems to suit the characters that keep popping up just
fine.

B.L. lives in the Midwest and her other talents include
in-demand cookies, a very dry sense of humor, and stealth eavesdropping. Some
mannerisms, attitudes, or twists come from random sentences picked up while
passing by strangers. So speak up the next time you have something to gossip
about. You never know, it may just end up on the pages of the next book you
read.

She loves to hear from her readers.

Email:
[email protected]

Facebook:
BL Mooney