Ginny laid a bundle of sunflowers on top of her sister’s grave and sank down beside it.
“It’s really over, Tess,” she whispered. “Robert Bouldercrest is in prison and according to the police, he’ll never be free again. They’ve charged him with four counts of murder, kidnapping, stalking and assault.” The gas can and the lighter Griff had found had Robert’s prints all over them. So did Ginny’s room at the inn. Robert confessed to setting the wildfires as a diversion.
Jade had called to report that the man who’d attacked her in the alley was a drifter who’d been passing through. They’d caught him assaulting another woman and trying to steal her purse outside a hotel on the edge of town and he was in jail.
As the news sank in, Ginny—Reese—had finally begun to relax again and had taken back her real identity. Although she’d probably always look over her shoulder and she fully intended to keep up her self-defense training, she’d started sleeping better and the nightmares were fewer and further between.
She’d stowed her gun in a safe and hoped she never felt the need to pull it out again.
“I’m so sorry I let you down.” Tears fell freely from her face, but she didn’t bother to wipe them away. She pressed her hand over her mother’s grave. “I’m sorry I didn’t take care of her, Mother. I...wish I could turn back time. Be smarter.”
Forgive herself. She was still struggling with that.
Suddenly sunshine burst through the dark storm clouds, and a rainbow streaked the sky, the colors dancing across her sister’s grave.
Reese’s breath stuttered. Then she looked down at the ground and saw flower buds beginning to push through the ground.
Flower buds in all different colors.
Emotions overcame her, and she pressed a kiss to her fingers then to Tess’s tombstone.
Beloved Sister, Best Friend and Wonderful Artist.
Tess had brought so much life into the world, had loved and lived in the moment, had painted landscapes full of joy and beauty.
The rainbow, the flowers...was her sister trying to send her a message?
Looking up at the rainbow again, she felt a burst of hope for the future. She whispered that she’d be back, then hurried toward her car.
An hour later, she studied the mountains in the distance as she drove toward Whistler. She’d dreamed of Griff every night and wanted to talk to him again.
To see if a future for them might be possible.
The temperature warmed with each passing hour, and she noticed tiny flower buds on the trees dotting the mountainside.
Griff’s words about honoring her sister by living her life were going to be her new mantra. Now that she’d decided what that path would be, she wanted to tell Griff about it.
Her car chugged around the winding mountain road, and she slowed as she approached Griff’s cabin. It looked even more picturesque now with the wildflowers blooming on the mountain and the sun slanting off the dark green foliage.
Nerves gathered in her belly as she parked, climbed out and walked up to the front door. What if Griff didn’t feel the same way about her? What if he didn’t love her?
She almost turned around but stopped herself. She’d overcome her worst fears by facing down the man who’d terrorized her. That had taken courage.
She had to summon her courage now. Still, her heart was on the line.
But instead of running away, she wanted to run toward her future. She only hoped Griff would be in it.
She’d started by changing her hair back to its natural color. No more colored contacts either. No more Ginny Bagwell.
Feeling more like herself, she rang the doorbell and twisted her hands together as she waited. A minute later, the door opened, and Griff stood on the other side, looking so sexy and handsome that her stomach fluttered. Surprise flickered in his eyes, then a smile, bolstering her courage.
“I missed you,” she said, then mentally kicked herself. That wasn’t how she’d planned to start the conversation.
His smile widened. “I missed you, too.”
Relief whooshed through her, and she offered him her hand. “I have things to tell you, but first I want to introduce myself. My name is Reese Taggart.”
His gaze met hers, and he nodded. “Hello, Reese.” Then he cocked his head to the side. “You remind me of someone.”
“I do?”
He nodded. “Yes, someone I fell in love with.”
“That girl, the one who wanted revenge and lied to you...she’s gone.”
“I hope she’s found peace,” he murmured.
“She has. I mean I have.”
A smile glittered in his dark eyes.
“As a matter of fact, I’ve decided to use my story to help others. I’ve been working on a series of articles about domestic violence.” She licked her suddenly dry lips. “I’m also studying counseling so I can become a victim’s advocate for domestic violence victims.”
“Really?”
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I talked to your sister-in-law Jade about it when she called to update me on Robert’s case.”
“I think that’s a great idea, Ginny—I mean, Reese.”
“I just wanted to tell you.” She hesitated a minute. Her courage faltered, and she started to leave.
“Wait,” he said. “Don’t go.”
She looked into his eyes and felt a connection that rocked her back on her heels.
“I fell in love with Ginny,” he said, “and that girl was part of you. I think I’m going to love Reese even more.”
Then he pulled her into his arms, closed his mouth over hers and kissed her.
Six weeks later, she said I Do to the man she loved in the gazebo Griff built for their wedding behind the home they would share together.
As she kissed her husband, she heard her sister’s angelic voice singing to her from the heavens.
* * * * *