Page 128 of Stay With Me
This. This is what I left for. To fight for my own future and to find a love that I knew was out there for me.
I squeeze his hand. “Yeah. Can we grab pizza for dinner tonight?”
“Anything you guys want. Just put the order in, and we can grab it on our way home.”
Epilouge
Luna- Seven Weeks Later
Laughterfillsthedineras we help Abby redecorate.
She’s officially the owner and has updated the name and had the local construction company come in and change the layout a little. I look over at Am helping Jess with a book she’s reading, and I smile.
It’s been almost three months since everything that happened with The Family, and every day, we take a step forward, even if it’s a baby step. Jess and I were in therapy three times a week for about a month, and even with that, it took me two months to be able to go to a store.
The first time I went with Amelia, I panicked when she turned the corner without me.
Jess is still battling the guilt of what happened.
We’re helping her work through it and making sure she knows that while she might have given them information, if it wasn’t her, it would have been someone else.
She started school officially and is excelling in every subject. She even had a friend over the other day, and I’m so proud of the progress she’s made.
“This place looks great! You made just enough changes to update it but kept the bones so that it doesn’t look completely different,” Pam says as she finishes painting her section.
Abby wipes her brow, careful not to get paint on her face. “That was my goal. I love Ken, but this place needed a refresh, and this is the best time to do it.” She looks around us. “I couldn’t have done any of this without all of your guys’ help.”
“There is nowhere we would rather be. Are you feeling any better?” I ask.
We had to reschedule girls’ night this past weekend because she wasn’t feeling well.
“Yeah, it seems to come and go. I think it’s stress from everything with the diner,” she says.
“I believe it. I thought I was sick when I signed up to take my GED classes,” I admit.
I feel arms wrap around my waist. “You are going to do great,” Noah says and kisses the side of my head.
“We shall see. I’ve never had a formal education, and with my birth certificate, I can do things I’ve always wanted to do.” I squeeze his arms that are across my stomach.
“Speaking of things you want to do. Are we still on for continuing your driving lessons?” Abs says.
“Yeah. I’m kind of excited.” I grin.
“Perfect. It’ll be a blast. Also, thank you so much for helping me with my website. I’m excited to be able to offer catering and order pickups when we reopen.”
“That is going to open a revenue option a lot don’t offer here. We might be a small town still, but we’re growing. I heard a former MMA fighter is opening a huge training facility on the border of the tri-county area. Which will bring huge crowds down this way,” Am says.
“Really? That’s going to be a huge hit,” Pam adds.
“When do you start your GED classes, Luna?” Carter asks, coming in the front door with more paint for the bathrooms.
“I’ll be doing it in a hybrid format and start next week online,” I tell him.
“She’s going to knock it out of the park,” Noah says.
“You have to say that.” I roll my eyes.
“I don’t have to say anything. I’m just speaking the truth.” He turns my head and gives me a quick kiss. “I’m going to go help Luke hang some of the art now.”
