About two months had gone by. Lewis was packing a suitcase into his car as Karissa watched, hand on her belly. The sun had just risen, and the clouds were scattered. A cold breeze was in the air.
He walked up to his wife and gave her a hug and a kiss. “You sure you’re going to be okay without me for a couple of days?”
“I’ll be fine, Lewy,” she said, smiling. “A few of the girls are coming over to keep me company.”
“I can stay if you want,” he said with a concerned look.
“No, baby. You need to go,” she replied. “They need this.”
Lewis nodded and got in his car. As he was backing out of the driveway, he rolled down the window and yelled, “Better not get famous while I’m gone!”
She waved him off and then blew him a kiss. Lewis watched in the rearview mirror as she walked back inside.
He then headed to the airport.
Once he got there, he checked his bags and went through security. He was checking his emails at the gate when he opened one that said “Congratulations!” from the University of Seattle.
*
When he exited the airport, Lewis could feel the heat and humidity in the air—much different from Seattle’s cool and rainy climate. The professor made his way to the rental car area and proceeded to get a nice large black truck. He thanked the nice old lady who stood behind the counter, and she replied with, “You’re welcome, honey,” in a Southern twang.
Lewis began his journey by hopping on the highway and thinking about his life. About how he was going to be a father. About how had Karissa scored the story of the century, which without a doubt would get her the recognition she had always wanted. About how he’d be teaching criminology at the University of Seattle. He continued to think about how good things were going as he headed down the highway until he reached an exit that led to a small town.
The town was at the bottom of a mountain and only had one main street. The rest of the streets led to houses that sat on the outskirts or in the hills. As he drove though, almost every single person he passed, whether they were in a car or walking down the street, greeted him with a smile and a wave.
Lewis got to the other side of town and made a left toward a wooded area. Trees with red and yellow leaves began to take the place of old buildings, and Lewis could feel a slight breeze in the air. He continued down this road until he reached a nice red suburban house.
He parked out front and took in the details. It had a well-kept front yard and featured a great big tree that was standing strong like a guardian. Lewis noticed the tree had some swings hanging from it, and two little girls were playing. He also noticed the beginnings of a treehouse on one of the branches.
When the two little girls noticed Lewis, they went inside to inform their mom. He started to get out of the car as a thin blonde woman walked out the front door. She was dressed in a sweater and had a look of curiosity on her face.
“Can I help you?” she said, standing close to her house.
“Mrs. Bolton?” Lewis asked with a clinched jaw. His throat was tightening.
“Yes?” she replied.
Lewis walked up and introduced himself. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small gold ring. Once she saw it, she broke down crying and hugged Lewis.
Back on that cliff at Blackgate, he’d realized that that ring would be the only piece of her husband she could get back. The FBI had contacted the Boltons about three days after Lewis and Karissa got back from Iceland. They wouldn’t be able to return Andrew’s body. Once Lewis heard that news, he knew he needed to give his wife some form of peace.
Lewis held her in his arms and said, “I know I can’t give you much, but I want you to know that your husband saved my life. He will always be remembered as a hero and a friend.”
Mrs. Bolton wiped her eyes and said, “Thank you.” Then she invited him inside for some tea and dinner.
That night, Lewis and the Boltons shared stories of Andrew while the sun went down over a kind and beautiful Tennessee sky. Lewis said he was going to help finish building the treehouse for Bolton’s daughters. The evil had been defeated, and all that was left to do was rebuild and keep going north.