Page 134 of Axe Backwards
Debbie stood on Noah’s other side, holding Tess.
Father Renee joined us, along with Mrs. Dupont, Chip, and Mr. Moran, who’d driven the school bus when I was a kid.
They were all standing with me.
Avoiding eye contact, Graham took Alex by the arm and led her out. My mother sniffed, then followed.
Once the door closed behind them, the whole shop erupted in applause.
Noah looped his arms around my waist and spun me around.
“I’m so proud of you.” He pressed a loud kiss to my cheek.
One by one, the people around me patted my back. All I could do was beam up at the man I loved. I felt lighter than ever. I’d pushed through a big barrier today. My mother’s voice had lived rent-free in my head my entire life, constantly putting me down and convincing me I wasn’t good enough.
But no longer.
“Did you mean what you said?” I whispered. “About getting married.”
“Fuck yeah, I did. When you’re ready, of course. I want you to be my wife. And I want you to be Tess’s mom.”
As a tidal wave of emotion hit me, I buried my face in his chest and held on tight.
Falling in love with Noah hadn’t been easy or convenient. But it was inevitable. We’d forged a bond that went so much deeper than anything I knew was possible.
In the deepest recesses of my soul, I knew he was my person. My endgame. The life we built together would be messy and imperfect, but it would be full of love.
Epilogue
One Month Later
Noah
“Ican teach you axe-throwing,” Adele told Vic. “It’s excellent for stress relief. Come over. I set up a shipping container for training.”
Vic grinned. “I’ve always wanted to try.”
“It’s easier than it looks. You just need a good coach.”
Finn dropped a kiss to the top of his wife’s head. “She’s dangerously good with an axe.”
Vic shot me a wink. I was still getting used to family dinners and spending so much time with my brothers. Waking up next to Vic every morning had been the easiest adjustment.
We were still staying at the cabin. It had turned into a fun escape for us. Most nights I strapped Tess into the carrier and walked the trails around the property until she conked out. We were considering what to do from here, but one thing was certain: the three of us would be together, as a family.
Tonight we were at Jude’s for pizza night. Denis Huxley had finally been arrested this week, so we were celebrating. Duringan extensive investigation, two sets of video footage and one eyewitness connecting him to the fire were discovered.
The wait had felt endless, but he was finally behind bars. He’d been denied bail, and according to Parker, he’d likely face several other charges. Vic and I could finally breathe, knowing that he would be brought to justice.
Jude had insisted on hosting our celebration. He’d fired up his fancy oven and was wowing everyone with his handmade dough. With glasses of wine in hand, we sat out on his patio, watching the sunset over the mountains while stuffing ourselves silly.
Thor and Tess toddled around the yard with Ripley the wolf-dog anxiously following them, on guard at all times. My daughter and my nephew were becoming best friends. Next week, Tess would join Thor at daycare while I began training for my new position with the Department of Emergency Management.
I’d been out of the game a long time, so I was apprehensive. My skills were rusty and I wasn’t in the shape I’d been in before I took custody of Tess. These days it felt like the only thing I was good at was cutting blueberries into tiny pieces and singing the Baby Shark song. But I was excited to try something new and to feel useful again.
Normally, I’d spend my days spiraling and stressed about the process, but with Vic by my side, cheering for me every step of the way, I felt more at ease than I ever had. We’d been through a lot in the short time we’d been together. That alone filled me with hope for the future.
I had plenty more work to do on myself, but knowing that Tess and I belonged here, in Lovewell, eased many of my fears. We’d build a future right here, close to our family. I’d always live with guilt relating to Jack’s and Emily’s deaths, but I could give Tess a beautiful, loving childhood.
