Epilogue

The phone rang at 1:08 P.M.

“Convicted of four counts of rape,” the DA told Bree. “He’ll be serving three consecutive sentences totaling ten years.”

Bree sank to the bed, her hand so tight around the cordless phone, she accidentally switched the channel.

“You there?” the woman asked.

“I’m here,” Bree said softly, her lids tightly closed as words repeated themselves over and over in her head.

Finally. Finally he was going to pay.

“You happy?”

Was she? Bree didn’t know. Relieved, yes. Thrilled he was going to jail, yes. But she’d long since moved on with her life. It had taken nearly two years to bring John to trial, and in that time she’d done a lot of healing—both emotionally and mentally.

“I’m happy,” she answered at last, but she referred to her new life, not John’s conviction.

They hung up, a gentle hand landing on her shoulder. Bree turned into Trent’s arms, his big hands resting flat against her back as she laid her head against his heart.

“Well?” he asked.

“Ten years,” she said.

He tightened his grip. “He should have gotten twenty.”

“He didn’t have a record.”

“And the electric chair.”

Which made Bree smile. She’d long since gotten over her rage. She couldn’t be angry when what had happened had ultimately brought her and Trent together.

“I’m just happy he’ll never be able to do that to someone again.”

“You want to go out and celebrate?” Trent asked.

Bree leaned back. “Actually, I was thinking of another kind of celebration.”

He smiled, tipped down his head and kissed her, and as Bree felt his lips gently nudge apart her own, she marveled at how lucky she’d been. Things could have turned out so differently. Instead she was whole again.

“I love you,” she said, pulling back to stare up at him.

“I love you too,” he answered, grabbing her hand and kissing the engagement ring he’d placed there a few months back. “And I’ll love you even more when we’re finally married.”

“Oh?” she teased. “Does that mean I don’t have all your love now?”

He scooped her up in his arms. “I’ll give you all my love, baby.”

Which made her laugh, the teasing glint in his eyes causing her spirit to soar. And a few minutes later he did give her all his love, that and so much more, because while sex with Trent was always great, it was what he gave her emotionally that most mattered. He gave her love and hope and a joy she’d never had before. He gave of himself—and Bree would go on taking that for the rest of her life.