In a life filled with monsters, their love was a survivor.
Epilogue
One Year Later
“I’m cured?”
Dr. Harper looked over her red-framed reading glasses. Bangs of gunmetal gray streaked with white fell across her forehead as Jessica spun in the desk chair, dark hair flowing behind her.
“You’re functional.” Dr. Harper closed her laptop and slid it onto the desk.
“And Luke?”
“You know I can’t discuss my other patients with you.”
“Why didn’t you ever suggest counseling us together?”
“Neither one of you did anything wrong. This hasn’t been about apologies and reconciliation. It’s about acceptance, but not of each other. It’s accepting the past … the things you can’t change.”
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Jessica nodded. “The Serenity Prayer. I think it’s become my mantra.”
Dr. Harper set her glasses on her computer. A grin played with the corner of her mouth. “You’re not the most troubled person I’ve worked with in my career, but you are unequivocally the strongest. There are some things that can’t be taught. Either you have it or you don’t.” She nodded slowly. “You have it.”
Jessica planted her feet on the ground and crossed her arms on the desk. “Have what?”
“A will to live that goes beyond circumstance and possibly even reason. You find something from nothing and feed off it. You’re that flower that sprouts through a crack in the barren granite face of a mountain. You feel what everyone else has to see to believe. You sense the sun before you see its light, and you do it subconsciously. That’s a gift. That’s why you’re still here—alive—with me today.”
A smile grew on Jessica’s face. “You shrinks have a way with words. Luke has said the most profound things to me over the years and I don’t even think he expects his words to affect me the way they do. What you just said? It’s haunting yet flattering and …”
Dr. Harper stood. “The truth.”
Jessica grabbed her purse and walked around the desk. “The men in my life have been that something I’ve found from nothing.”
Dr. Harper pulled Jessica in for a final goodbye hug. “Hold on to them and the memories. Happiness moves you forward, but pain keeps you balanced.” She held her at arms’ length. “Okay?”
“AJ will keep me balanced?”
Dr. Harper shook her head. “His memory is a promise. A promise that should anything ever happen to your beloved Luke, you will survive. Life will go on.” Narrowing one eye, she held up her index finger. “Mickey and Sunny … those memories will keep you balanced.”
Jessica frowned. “Mickey and Sunny …” She sighed. What could she say? So many lives had been affected because one day, many years ago, little Knox McGraw met a giggling angel in red Mary Janes on the playground.
“My mother once said, ‘Love is reckless because true emotions are immune to logic. The most beautiful love stories are often the most tragic.’”
“Mmm …” Dr. Harper smiled. “Your mother told you the story of her life in just two sentences.”
*
A handsome—albeit cocky bastard—stood at the entrance to Samovar Tea with the most beautiful baby girl nestled to his chest in a red Ergo carrier.
“Give her to me.” Jessica held out her hands and wiggled her greedy fingers.
“No way.” He opened the door.
Jessica shot him a glare as she walked inside the restaurant.
“Two?” the waiter asked.
“Yes.” Jessica pointed to a booth in the corner. “Over there please.”
After she shrugged off her coat, she held her hands out again. “I mean it. Give her to me.”
The cocky bastard’s chuckle accompanied his smile as he shook his head. “No. Sorry. If you wake her we’re both screwed.”
She plunked down into the booth. “You’ve always sucked at sharing.”
Tatted arms hugged the little bundle tightly as he eased to sitting. “Ryn ran a few errands. She took her breasts with her so I’ve got nothing if Livy wakes up.”
“She should have left a bottle.”
“We’re not using a bottle for another three weeks. Nipple confusion.”
Jessica laughed. “Never thought I’d live to see the day where my brother was an expert on nipple confusion.”
Jackson pressed his lips to Livy’s tiny head. She had his dark hair and lots of it. “You’ll understand soon enough.” His eyes, the ones that matched hers, looked up. A smile pulled at his lips still pressed to Livy’s head.
“We’ll see. Dr. Overprotective insists on no babies until my doctor gives me the okay. Apparently the whole starvation then dying thing, followed by six months of no menstrual cycles makes me a poor candidate for getting pregnant or having a healthy pregnancy.”
They gave the waiter their order. Jessica’s gaze stayed glued to Livy. She adored her.
“San Francisco.” She smiled, shaking her head. “I still can’t believe you sold Ryn’s place after everything you did to it, but I’m glad you did. I love having you living here again.”