Three and a half years had created a lot of growth inside Cape Falls. It wasn’t all clear, but the animosity, the old-fashioned values that was once so rife within the streets, had begaun to fade.
She no longer heard whispers, or gossip. Everyone was moving forward, and trying to build a new reputation for Cape Falls, one that was taking the town’s artisanal flair, and building toward a better future.
It had been four and a half years since she had cut herself. The last cut on her thigh had been the one that Edward had chained her up for when he had completely felt helpless. In the beginning, the desire had been so strong, and at times it had frightened her how strong that grip had been. Over the years, it had faded. When Mia came, Isabel was so scared that she had made sure her focus was on their little girl. She had started to think less and less about the pressures, and more about enjoying what she had.
She didn’t need the cutting anymore, and even though it was a long process, she was done. Staring at the tin that had held what seemed like every single key to her life, she saw it was now empty.
Placing a hand on her stomach, she found that she breathed so much easier, and if it wasn’t for Edward showing her what strength she had, she didn’t know what would have become of her.
All of her life she’d thought she was weak, and yet, she had been strong. She just hadn’t seen it yet.
Leaving the bedroom, she made her way downstairs, smiling at the guests. They were loving the food that she and Sophie had prepared.
Glancing toward her sister, she saw Sohpie had Mia on her hip as she spoke to Ryan. Those two had started to get close. She didn’t know if anything was going to come of it. Her sister was a big ball of energy.
“Hey, sweetie,” she said, standing close to Edward.
“Where have you been?” he asked. “I’ve been completely swamped. I think I saved you a juicy piece of chicken.”
“You’re a star, thank you. Can we have a minute?”
“Sure, sure. William, come man the grill please.”
She took his hand, and they headed out toward a private spot.
“Is everything okay, babe?”
“Yeah, it is.” She held out the tin. “I wanted to give this to you.” Edward stared at the tin for several seconds. “Go ahead, take it. It’s not going to bite.”
He took the tin, and then he opened it up. “It’s empty.”
“I know. I knew where it was this whole time. I saw where you put it, and I got rid of the contents. That was my journey to take. That was what I had to do.” She rubbed her arms. The scars had faded to almost nothing, but they were still there. A distant memory of the past she once embraced. “I love you, Edward, more than anything in the world. You saw so much, and I love you for it. I really do.”
She stepped up toward, and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Besides our babies, you have just given me the greatest gift in the world. How can I equal that?”
She smiled. “Simple. All you’ve got to do is love me for the rest of our lives.”
“Done.” He slammed his lips down on hers, sealing the rest of their lives.
The End