Page 31

EPILOGUE: STONE

I stood to the side of the stage, waiting for them to call my name. The award was not my first during my time with the FBI, but somehow, this one meant so much more.

This award was not just mine. It belonged to Blythe, who had pushed me to be the type of agent who didn’t let up. It also belonged to the woman I still could not get out of my head.

She wanted to travel the world, to see beyond Briarport, and who was I to stop her?

After everything she’d gone through, the pain she’d suffered, I couldn’t ask her to stay, to tie her down further.

Everything inside me had wanted to ask her to come to Virginia with me, to choose a quiet life, living in my trailer on the plot of land I’d bought, until some day, we could build a house together.

One Len designed herself to be everything she ever dreamed.

But that was my dream, not hers, and I had to let her go.

Maybe in another life, it would have worked, but not this one.

I almost didn’t hear when they called my name, distracted by my thoughts.

I walked onto the stage, oblivious to the crowd cheering me on. There were several agents and their family members in the crowd, watching the FBI’s most prestigious award ceremony.

I built myself back up from scratch, dragged myself from a pit of despair to solve a cold case, but my heart ached a bit knowing I couldn’t have done it myself. Not only did Agent Grey, who stood before me now to present the award, help, but so did the kind hearted woman I left behind in Briarport. It had been months since I’d seen her.

We exchanged letters like a couple out of one of the romance classics, but that wasn’t enough for my heart.

The last update I received was that Len was visiting the west coast. I’d sent her recommendations for places she had to try. I even made sure to mention Don’s in there, in case she found herself in my hometown.

I forced myself to walk forward, holding out my hand to shake Grey’s. He handed over the plaque and whispered his congratulations.

Grey pointed me toward a photographer right beneath the stage. We turned and stood side-by-side, smiling for the photo. Every single person who’d gone up before me had done the same.

A waving behind the camera caught my attention, and I saw my little sister frantically tossing her arms in the air.

My heart almost stopped in my chest when I saw the person sitting beside her. On her left was my mother, smiling ear-to-ear, proud of the son she raised. On her other side was a woman, her dark brown curls perfectly rippling over her shoulders, her warm, light brown skin complimenting the dark blue sundress she wore.

I felt myself grinning like a madman. I had to get off stage, fast.

I hurried through the photo op and quickly walked down the steps of the stage.

I looked at the seats but saw my family and Len missing from where they sat only moments before.

Before I could glance around, arms wrapped around me, almost knocking me over. I turned and quickly embraced whoever it was who had hugged me. I found Len’s head already buried in my chest and rested my head on top of her curls.

“How did you know?” I asked, never once mentioning this in my letters.

“You really thought I’d visit your hometown and not stop at Don’s?” Lenny said.

“How did you find my family?” I asked.

“I went to Don‘s on Tuesday like you said, and I spotted a girl who happened to look just like you. I was willing to take a bet.”

“You told her?” I said to Lyla.

My sister giggled.

“I like her,” Lyla whispered in a not-so-discreet fashion.

I spotted my mother beaming, watching us all. When Len pulled away, I walked over and gave her a hug.

“Thank you for being here,” I said. “Thank you all for being here.”

“We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Len said, and before I could help myself, I grabbed her waist, pulling her close.

My lips were instantly on hers, soft and gentle, and the second they touched, she relaxed. I inhaledand was instantly transported back to Briarport. Somehow, she always smelt like sea salt and sage.

I heard some clapping behind me and broke away, only to see Agent Grey and the rest of my team cheering me on, but I didn’t care. Let them watch.

“I think I’m ready for something new,” Len said gently, her hands on my chest.

“What would that be?” I asked.

“I met Mags,” Len stated, and my brows raised. “She told me she plans to retire soon, so there will be an opening for her spot. I thought maybe the FBI Academy sounded like the perfect new adventure.”

“You mean move to Quantico?” I asked.

“Well, only if I get that teacher everyone talks about. He’s incredibly handsome but a little bit of a hard ass with his expectations.”

I chuckled. “I think I can put in a good word.”

“I know I’m not meant to be a field agent, but you once said I could do so much more with my knowledge. Plus, analyzing and organizing is kind of my specialty.”

“You’d be perfect,” I assured her.

“Good, because I’ve already been accepted to start at the academy this fall.”

“I guess I’m staying in Quantico,” I said and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.