Epilogue: Times Gone By

Who says true love is a fairy tale? Thanks to Disney the story of a handsome prince sweeping in to rescue the fair maiden or damsel in distress has become the ideal romance for many young girls. But me? I never thought it was possible nor did I expect that it would happen to me. I lived my life in a shell, hiding from the outside world, too afraid to open myself up because of past experiences. But six years ago one opportune New Year’s Eve party changed all that.

Jemma and Knox got engaged but it wasn’t for long. They opted for a Vegas wedding and hopped the next plane to Nevada. She had always talked about her dream wedding and the fancy church decorations she wanted for her big day. She’d even gone as far as to pick out the design for her gown, her bridesmaids and the groom’s side. But all that was forgotten 10 minutes after Knox popped the question. Zach and I joined them for the quick ceremony. It was a fun day. Elvis in a cheap suit in the back of a crowded casino, but I’d never seen Jemma happier. 

She graduated from West Valley Tech with a degree in Education. And after a few months of searching, she landed a job teaching fourth grade at a local elementary in Fremont. And her new husband, Knox Addison, realized his dreams as well. Barely graduating with a GPA of 2.2 with a degree in Physical Education, he became the assistant football coach for the West Valley Tech Devils. They have lunch together when he’s not busy yelling at his three-time state champions. I also hear they’re expecting a little girl in May. Knox is thrilled!

Remember Trina and Bridget? It turns out that old saying that money can’t buy you happiness is true. After college, they spent quite a bit of time traveling the world, visiting every European country and spending their hard earned trust funds. The last I heard, they made a stop in Amsterdam and were never heard from again. It’s rumored they were kidnapped and held hostage but when the kidnappers never received payment, they sent parts of the girls home in gift boxes. But that all seems a bit farfetched to me. I’m sure they’re holed up in some tropical paradise, sipping Mai Tai’s on the beach with their feet in the sand.

Sasha Madison, the queen bee and my old nemesis. I never understood why she hated me so much but at this point, she’s no concern of mine. After Zach and I made up, she tried her hand at blackmail. It would seem Detective Warren’s information was not free and she threatened to expose his tactics to his captain as well as the media. She made it as far as the parking lot before the cuffs were slapped on her. Apparently, the police department frowns on bribing government officials. And thanks to an anonymous phone call…well let’s just say Sasha had better invest in a decent soap on a rope. She was convicted on a § 201(b-1) offering a bribe to a public official which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The judge wanted to make an example of her and anyone else who thought they could use the police department to suit their needs. She was sentenced to 13 years of hard time and sent to the Fremont Correctional Institution, a maximum security facility. Detective Warren, on the other hand, was convicted of a § 201(b-2), accepting a bribe and fired from the department. He was fined $500 and sentenced to 4 years at a minimum security facility. 

In addition, Sasha’s blackmail scheme got her another 9 years for multiple counts of extortion and a $10,000 fine…the judge was being lenient in that case. For each of the four counts she was convicted of, she could have received up to 15 years per. Either way, by the time she gets out, that body she adored so much will be haggard and sagging. And that pretty, little face of hers? On her first day in she was attacked by three women much larger than her and one of them took a razor blade to her cheek. Although, Jemma tells me thanks to that winning personality she’s made a few ‘friends.’ ‘Big Bus’ Brandy and Tina ‘the Freight’…they call her that because when she hits you its like an oncoming train. They’ll help her acclimate to life on the inside…every single day.

And as for me? Well…

“Mommy! Mommy!” 

“I'm gonna get you, Jasper! Rawwrrr!” 

“Hurry, baby, Mommy will save you!” Abigail exclaimed as her squirmy, little toddler jumped into her arms. Pulling up his shirt, she blew kisses on his belly and listened to his infectious giggling before placing him back to the floor. “Mmm someone smells like strawberry ice cream. I know what you two have been doing!”

“Guilty as charged. But, I mean look at him, how can you say no to that handsome, little face,” Zach grinned, kneeling down to hug his son.

“I gotta admit, I’ve always been a sucker for it myself,” she smiled, leaning forward to press her lips against Zach’s. “Mmm, you taste like…”

“Green apples?” he smirked, yanking his wife hard against his chest. “I may or may not have dipped a finger in your sorbet. And yes, that is a double entendre,” he slow winked causing a pinkish hue to fill her cheeks. Even after all this time, he still knew how to make her blush.

“Quit it, Zach! Not in front of our son,” she swatted at him and picked Jasper up again.

“Why not? He’ll have to learn at some point. I gotta pass these sweet moves down to someone!” Zach took his son under his arms and pointed towards Abigail. “Hey, has Daddy ever told you how he and Mommy met?” Jasper shook his head furiously.

“No! That is not a story I want my 4-year-old to hear.”

“Aww, Mom!” Zach and Jasper both frowned. “Maybe I’ll save it for bedtime,” he whispered into Jasper’s ear and turned to Abigail with a sly grin.

“Alright, who wants to go horseback riding?” Abigail asked, poking Jasper’s little belly and watching his smile grow wider.

“I do!” Jasper yelled, reaching his arms out for her.

She took him into her arms and started for the door. “Don’t forget his bag,” she tossed over her shoulder. “You know how he gets without his favorite bear.”

“I got it, Babe,” Zach replied, turning out the lights as he followed her out the door.

I became the rising star at the Hylewood Herald for my photojournalism. I quickly gained a reputation as being one of the few reporters willing to go the distance. After graduation, Zach proposed and that summer I became his wife. It had always been his dream to design and build his own home out in the country and it didn’t take much convincing for me to pack up my bags and follow him. 

But no matter how far from Bell Haven I’ve traveled, I always make time to visit my Dad. 

Jasper has grown fond of hearing Dad’s old hunting stories and seeing ‘The Gray Man’ as he calls his grandfather every weekend. And I love watching them together. Dad’s face lights up whenever my son runs up to him for hugs or a piece of peppermint candy. And for those four hours of visitation, he’s alive. Nicola and I talked it over and both of us agreed to speak with the parole board on my dad’s behalf. And, after a very long process, they decided to look into his case. He was granted a provisional hearing where his actions that day were considered under duress. It’s not a total reprieve, but Franklin G. Carmichael was awarded a reduction in his sentence. And with time served, he’s looking at a release date of two years.

So. How is that for a fairy tale? Though it’s not your typical ‘Once Upon a Time’ good triumphs over evil, true love is real, I can attest to that. It may seem a bit trite and maybe even clichéd, but some loves are simply destined to last. Zach and I endured some heart ache and even some loss to get here but, there is no one else I have loved more…well, almost no one. And it was all thanks to a few, well-timed drops of rain.

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*Author's note: Because of the demand to see Sasha run over by a bus, the convicts were renamed to reflect modes of transportation. You're welcome!*