Chapter 20
One year later.
The sun was shining through the kitchen window as I made pancakes.
Poppy sat at the table, coloring a picture for school. Matthew was in his high chair, banging his spoon and yelling for food.
Lena walked in, yawning. She had worked late the night before.
"Morning," she said, pouring herself a cup of coffee.
"Morning," I said. "Pancakes?"
"God, yes."
I put a plate of pancakes in front of her. She ate like she was starving.
"Any plans today?" she asked.
"David is coming over later," I said. "To finalize the estate papers."
After Margaret was convicted, the courts had unfrozen all of Grant's assets. The new will was found to be valid. The trust fund for Matthew was set up. And everything else was mine.
I had used some of the money to fix up the house. To buy new furniture. To set up college funds for both kids.
But I had kept the office. Exactly as it was.
Sometimes I would go in there and sit in Grant's chair. Not to be sad. But to remember. To tell him about the kids. About how we were doing.
I think he would have been happy.
The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," Lena said, standing up.
A minute later, David walked into the kitchen. He was smiling.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Uncle David!" Poppy yelled, jumping up and running to him.
David laughed and picked her up.
"Hey, squirt. How's my favorite artist?"
"I drew a picture of you!" she said, holding up her coloring page.
"It's beautiful," David said, looking at it seriously. "I'm going to hang it on my wall at work."
He put Poppy down and looked at me.
"Ready to sign?"
I nodded.
We sat at the table. David laid out the papers.
"Everything is finalized," he said. "The estate is settled. The trust funds are set up. Margaret's appeal was denied last week. She's in prison for life. It's really over, Audrey."
I took a deep breath.
I picked up the pen and signed my name on the last line.
It was done.
David packed up his papers.
"I should get going. But I'll see you all at Sarah's barbecue this weekend, right?"
"Wouldn't miss it," Lena said.
David left.
I sat there at the table, looking at my family.
Poppy, now six years old, smart and brave and so full of love.
Matthew, one year old, already walking and getting into everything.
Lena, my friend, my partner, the mother of my husband's son.
We had been through so much. Pain. Betrayal. Fear. Loss.
But we had come through it. Stronger. Together.
I stood up and walked to the window. The sun was shining. The birds were singing. The grass was green.
It was a beautiful day.
Poppy came over and stood beside me, taking my hand.
"Mommy?"
"Yes, baby?"
"Are we happy now?"
I looked down at her. At her bright, smiling face.
I looked over at Lena, who was now holding Matthew, making him laugh.
I looked around the house that was mine. That was ours.
And I smiled.
"Yes, baby," I said. "We're very happy now."
I picked Poppy up and held her. She wrapped her arms around my neck.
Lena brought Matthew over. He reached out and grabbed Poppy's hair. She laughed and kissed his cheek.
We stood there together. The four of us.
A family.
Not perfect. Not what I had planned.
But ours.
And we were safe. And we were loved. And we were finally, completely at peace.
May you like
Outside, the sun continued to shine.
And for the first time in a very long time, I knew everything was going to be okay.
