Chapter 21: Epilogue

Andrea Malone and Lucy Malone were officially Camerons. She had walked down the aisle to her husband alone, but that was okay.

Neither one of them had a best man or maid of honor in honor of those they’d lost. Her bakery was officially painted powder blue.

Belle had managed to tell everyone how Andie had saved her. People had changed a little bit, but no one would ever be able to replace Candice. She was four months along now.

As the girls played on the blanket she’d spread out on the front porch, she was in the swing, rubbing her bump.

They had found out they were going to have a baby boy, and they’d picked out the name Joseph Caleb Cameron. She smiled as she rubbed her bump, and the girls played.

So much had changed over the last five months: two daughters, one very amazing, devoted husband, a son on the way, an uncle and aunt gone, and a mother and father.

But she and Eli were moving on with their lives. Their love was growing stronger by the day. The trust and security she had never had in her life before were overflowing from her life now.

Eli tended to be overprotective; her sore bottom could attest to that, but she had never felt so safe and loved ever.

They’d made the change to the doorway in the master bedroom that Eli had wanted and to the guest room and bathroom. But they’d kept the other bedroom the same to keep Candice and Caleb’s memory alive.

She glanced up when she saw the black, tinted-windowed car coming up the driveway. She almost panicked, but she knew she was safe now.

The car parked closer to the house than was probably necessary. She slowly got out of the swing and walked to the porch steps, wrapping her hands around the banister.

She looked back to the girls who were still playing. Then she turned back to the car just as Caleb and Candice’s lawyer got out.

“Mrs. Cameron.” He held a hand out to her when he got closer. She shook it, and then he handed her a manila envelope. She took it as her eyebrows raised.

“I was instructed to hold on to those until your wedding day to Eli. There’s one for you and one for him as well. Congratulations, Andrea, on the marriage and another baby.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Well, I’ll leave you to read your letter.” He turned to walk back to his car as Eli came up over the hill on his horse, Lightning.

The lawyer left, and Eli approached the house. He pulled Lightning to a stop and quickly dismounted. He raced up the steps, wrapping his strong, comforting arms around Andie.

“What’s going on? Everything okay?”

She opened the envelope and pulled out the two regular envelopes. One was addressed to her, the other to Eli. She looked up at him. “This is Candice’s writing,” she whispered.

“That’s Caleb’s,” he said and took the other envelope addressed to him. “Hey, you’re supposed to be resting. Come on.” He picked her up and took her over to the swing.

Lucy stood up and held her little hands up to Eli. He picked both girls up and sat them on the swing between them.

Andie glanced at Eli. “They wrote us letters?”

“I guess so.” He breathed out.

Andie opened hers first.

~If you’re reading this, Andie, then something happened to me and Caleb, but it also means you and Eli are happy together and finally married. I’m so sorry we missed it, but we love you so much. ~

~I’m sorry if he was mad at you when he first found out about our arrangement for Lily. But we did it because we knew that would probably be the only way he’d open his eyes and shirk the stubbornness he has. ~

~The other reason was we knew you’d protect Lily so well because you never had that protection. We also knew how much Lily meant to you. ~

~I don’t know when or what age you have her, but just make a promise to love her forever, no matter how hard things get.~

~Tell her how much we loved her and that we hate everything that we’ve missed and will continue to miss. She can call you Mom and call Eli Dad because, of course, she’ll need those in her life.~

~You know how cruel this world can be, and you’ll know what not to do when it comes to loving her, protecting her, and how to care for her. I’m so happy you are finally a part of a family again. ~

~You always were my sister, and now Lily will have a sister in Lucy. Caleb and I love you so much and appreciate everything you’ve done for our little girl. ~

~I hope you didn’t have to wait too long for Eli to come around. I’m sorry you had to go it alone, but you did fine, I’m sure. ~

~There may be some fights along the way, but now you’ll have the love and protection you deserve.~

~Love always,~

~Candice.~

Andie took a deep breath as she looked from her best friend’s signature to the girls, then to Eli. She fought the tears as they switched letters, and she began to read Caleb’s letter to Eli.

~Hey, bonehead,~

~Congratulations on the family and the marriage. Sorry I couldn’t be there, and sorry it was such a drastic measure to get you to finally realize you could love and be the best for Andie.~

~I tried so many times to get you to wake up and see how good you two would be for each other.~

~She was ready to be yours at our wedding, but you being the stubborn man that you are, wouldn’t open your eyes and wouldn’t do it.~

~I’m glad you finally have. I hope you realize how much she’s gone through already and how strong she is. She will love you to the ends of the earth, and don’t ever take advantage of that.~

~Worship her every day and never be harsh with her. I don’t know how much she’s told you, but she deserves to be cared for, loved gently, and made happy every day.~

~I’m sorry Candice and I are gone, but please keep our memory alive for Lily Pad. I love you, little brother, even if you needed this hard push to fall for Andie, but I’m glad you did.~

~Caleb.~

“So they totally had this planned, huh?” Eli whispered.

“I guess so.”

“Well, I’m glad they did. I love you, Andie, and both our girls and our little boy.” He laid his hand on her baby bump and leaned forward to kiss her.

Too bad Candice and Caleb were gone. But they would do right by them where Lily was concerned.

It still wasn’t fair, but they’d keep their memory going just for her. And they would always make sure their girls and boy knew how much they were loved.

Always and forever.

^The End^