Harley
Epilogue - One month later
“Atthisrate,Iwill be one hundred and eight by the time we get there! Not twenty-eight,” I call after Reed, who’s gone back upstairs again.
“One second,” he shouts back down.
I flop into the chair in the hallway and look over at Bruce and Beryl.
“You two were made for mansion life. Look at you both, loving your little sunny spot.” I smile and get up, grabbing the mist bottle from the drawer, and begin misting them generously.
“You both look wonderful. So healthy. I’m glad you like it here. So do I. Although…” I lower my voice. “Has Reed seemed distracted to you?” I glance up the stairs to make sure he isn’t coming. “Because he has to me. Ever since…”
My shoulders sag as I continue spraying. Detective Field paid us a visit two days ago to tell Reed that they had been able to identify the woman in the video. The woman they believe is also responsible for drugging and assaulting Reed. They didn’t know a lot about her, apart from she had no family they were aware of. And had a clean record.
No one knows why she did what she did. And now she can never be asked. She was found dead in her home the week after she assaulted Reed all those years ago. An accidental painkiller overdose.
All those years Reed could have perhaps had some kind of closure, knowing she was gone and wasn’t hurting anyone else.
My enthusiasm for spraying wanes and I put the bottle away with a sigh.
Reed has been more pre-occupied ever since Detective Field’s visit. He’s been on his phone even more. And I swear I heard a woman’s voice on the other end when he went into his office to take a call before breakfast yesterday.
“Ready, Angel?” Warm lips press into my neck, making me jump. “Hey, it’s just me.” He spins me in his arms, smiling at me as I face him. “You ready to go see everyone before we come back and I give you your birthday present?”
I smile back at him. My birthday is tomorrow, so we are going to see Mom, Brett, and Rose, and stay in the guesthouse tonight. It’ll be the last time we do. I’ve been using the money from letting out my apartment to help Mom pay for the final renovations. What we were short by, Reed has added. Brett will have his own space again soon. Not that he ever complains. But he’s a grown man living with his mom and sister. It might only be down the driveway, but it’s still his.
He needs this.
And hopefully, Rose will find what she needs soon too. Something that will bring her back to us. Bring back the sister I love and miss.
“Are you okay?” I look up at Reed, and I know emotion must be swimming in my eyes because the corners of his eyes pinch and his smile drops as he looks back at me.
“Harls? What’s wrong? I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t know.” I sniff, feeling hot suddenly, and wiping at my cheeks. “Since Detective Field visited, you’ve been acting odd. And you went out of the room to take a phone call yesterday. You never do that.”
“Angel.” His eyes flutter closed, and he rests his forehead against mine. “I’m so sorry if I’ve worried you.” He takes a deep breath and opens his eyes. They burn into mine. “Honestly, what Detective Field told me was a shock at first. But afterward, it was a relief. I know she stopped hurting people. Did you think that was bothering me?”
“Maybe,” I whisper.
His lips curl into a small smile. “Do you want to know what the phone call was about?” I look at him as he pulls his cell phone out of his pocket and brings up a photograph. “She was meant to be a surprise for tomorrow.”
I stare at the picture of a small, copper curled bundle of fluff with two round, shiny black eyes.
“She’s—”
“A Cavapoo puppy. And she’s ours.” Reed tips the screen and smiles at the photograph. “We pick her up tomorrow. Natalia helped me find her.”
“You did all this as a surprise?” I take the phone from his hand and stare at her. She’s tiny with paws that look far too big for her, and a bright pink tongue that’s poking out.
She’s adorable.
“I did.”
A grin plasters over my face. We’re going to be a little family. I can even get her those cute doggy sweaters to wear when it’s cold. And she’ll be able to cuddle up with us on the couch at night, and we can take her for walks, and take photos of her and fill the house with them, and…
“What are we going to call her?” I look up at Reed, beaming.