Page 88 of A Curse On Black Lake (Black Lake Gothic Cowboys #1)

Coming up on both of my parents’ graves, set side by side, with matching Bible verses inscribed in the granite, I take my hat off and kneel in front of them. “Mama, I’m a husband now, and you’d love my wife.” I chuckle to myself.

“I love calling her my wife. She’s everything you wanted for me. And I’m going to be a father. We want to fill the house with kids. I know that’s what you and Dad had dreamed for me. Well, it’s coming true.”

I take a deep breath, resting my hand on her grave.

“I wanted to be mad at you for not telling me who my birth mother was, but I understand why you didn’t.

If I know Dad, he was well aware of the past regarding the Radcliffes.

It doesn’t matter now though, I know you’re happy and with Dad.

Neither of you is in pain anymore. You can rest easy now. ”

I check on Eliana, and she’s walking up the hill towards me.

“Dad? I’m sorry I was lost for a little while and so …

angry. God sent her to anchor me in the storm.

I see that now, and I’m grateful for it.

I wish both of you could have been there to see us get married.

But I could feel you. I miss both of you so much.

Though maybe you were spared from what happened the past few months. It wasn’t easy, but I had her.”

Eliana comes up next to me and drops onto her knees. “When the kids come, we’ll come and visit you. I want them to know who you are.”

“It’s nice to meet y’all,” Eliana says and places her hand on Mama’s grave.

“Thank you for raising a son like Killian. He’s so special, and I promise to cherish him until I’m dust in the earth.”

I smile and kiss her on the temple.

She looks up at me while tears flow freely from her eyes. I wipe them away with my thumb.

“Darlin’, I think it’s finally time to let ourselves grow.”