Page 424 of On A Manhunt: Complete Series

ASPEN

I worked the tea tin from the hole I dug two years ago. As I held it aloft, everyone cheered. When I put the ring in the ground, I’d been alone with a bottle of wine.

Now, I was with friends. And family.

God, I couldn’t believe it. I turned my head and smiled at everyone.

Mrs. Waddle was in a folding camp chair beside the bulldog rock she led us to.

Sierra, Jackson, and Johnny stood on top of it.

Mallory and Theo sat on the ground next to Mrs. Waddle.

Janet and Tom were a few feet away staring out at the view of Hunter Valley through the trees.

From what they said, there weren’t many pines or hills in Peckers Cutoff, where Sierra and I were headed the next day.

With Luke. To spend a week and have a picnic with his siblings and nieces and nephews.

For Sierra to herd cattle and become a cowgirl and play in a sprinkler. Where Luke and I could just… be.

First, I had to get this ring. Luke knelt beside me, watched as I opened the tin and pulled out the ring box. Cracking it open, I showed him the diamond ring.

“I don’t blame you for burying it. It’s pretty ugly,” he deadpanned, then cracked a smile.

I swatted him and laughed.

“I know just the ring I’m going to give you.”

My smile fell. “What?”

“When I ask you to marry me. Don’t give me that look. It’s not happening today.” He leaned in and kissed me. “Momma, you got Nana’s ring ready?” he called.

“Whenever you are!” she called back.

“See? Whenever we’re ready,” he murmured. “Later.”

“Kissing. Gross!” Jackson said.

“Later,” I agreed. I wanted to marry him, but someday. I needed to get used to loving. To being loved. To allowing it into my life. Accepting that I deserve it. That there were people around me who deserved it from me in return.

“I did a lot more than kissing on that rock, young man,” Granny Waddle said.

I put the ring away, closed the lid on the tea tin, then stood.

“I’ll give it to Nathan to pass on to your ex’s lawyer,” Theo said, holding his hand out. I passed it to him. Gratefully. “Not that he’ll need the ring anytime soon. I doubt he’s marrying anyone from behind bars. Too bad he and your mother won’t be housed together.”

From what I was told–since I didn’t have a TV and refused to watch one to hear about my mother–she’d resigned from the Senate. She and Duncan were in jail and would most likely take plea deals that involved jail time.

What did that have to do with me?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

I’d been done with my parents years ago, but seeing them again, knowing Luke met them and knew my past, brought closure to that part of my life. Finding the ring, I was now officially done with Duncan, too.

I came full circle in front of the bulldog rock.

“It really does look like a bulldog,” Luke said, pulling me into his arms and staring at the boulder. “Let’s get a picture of everyone in front of it.”

“You putting it on your social media?” Mallory asked. “Everyone will want to find it.”

“Then we’ll have to keep the location a secret,” Luke countered. “Sierra, can you keep this place a secret? Johnny? Jackson?”

“What bulldog rock?” Sierra asked, grinning.

“That’s my girl,” Luke said, putting his arm up so she could lean down from atop the boulder and give him a fist bump.

My cell rang and I pulled it from my shorts pocket. “It’s Georgia,” I told everyone.

“I know you’re going to some penis-named place in Nebraska tomorrow,” she said. “I think you’re going to want to hold off.”

“What? Why?”

“Because I just got a call from your ballet company in Spain. They saw Luke’s social media clip of you dancing and recognized you. Then I guess they saw the show and figured out you have a new name. Anyway, they want you to come dance with them. A special performance.”

Luke must’ve seen the surprise on my face. “What’s the matter?”

I shook my head. “Nothing. Um… my old ballet company wants me to do a special performance, Georgia said.”

Mallory hopped up from the ground, came over and threw her arms around me. “That’s amazing! You’re doing it!”

I looked at Luke over Mallory’s shoulder. “You’re doing it, tiger.”

I nodded. I was doing it. I thanked Georgia and ended the call, promising to get details later.

Life. Friends. Love. I had it all.

“Let’s get a picture with the superstar,” Tom said, taking Luke’s phone from him.

“That’s right. Luke, get in the middle,” I said.

“Not Luke,” Tom corrected.

“Yeah, Mom,” Sierra said. “You.”

“You’re the superstar, honey,” Mrs. Waddle said, patting my arm.

Luke kissed me, not caring that Johnny and Jackson were making fake gagging sounds. “They’re right. YOU are the superstar.”

“And yours?” I asked.

“And mine.”