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EPILOGUE – THE WEDDING

SINCLAIR

Five months later

The sunlight sinks into the diamond, picking up the golden hue and making it glow like the dying embers of a fire.

I smile at the irony.

Warm hands skate down my bare upper arms from behind and I shiver, leaning back against his solid chest, my eyes never leaving the small stone as it spins on the end of its chain.

“You okay?” Denver breathes softly, pressing a kiss to my shoulder.

“Yeah,” I say back softly, wiping another stray tear from my cheek.

We came to watch the sunrise at the marina, on my request. Something about being back here for my father and Halliday’s wedding told me that this was the right thing to do.

That this was the right place.

“All these years and I thought I had a part of him still with me.” I sniff.

“You’ll always have a part of him, Sinclair. You don’t need to be able to touch it or hold it. You just need to be able to feel it. In here.” Denver taps two fingers over my heart, and I sniff again as more tears fall.

“Who do you think he was?” I ask, staring at the diamond Sullivan made for me.

We know the ashes used to make it aren’t my brother’s.

But we weren’t able to find out who they really belong to.

The morgue in Cape Town where my brother and mother’s bodies were sent were unable to explain the mix up.

They apologized profusely, likely worried of the huge court case that my family could fund against them, should we wish.

But we’re all so tired. And it wouldn’t bring either of them back. Nothing can.

Uncle Mal and Jenson spent weeks over here trying to find out more about what happened that day after Neil’s claims. But it’s been almost three years now.

People here have moved on. Recollections have faded.

Our family’s story is just a tragic accident that is recounted by the locals from time to time.

Maybe it’s time we accepted that asking questions that might never give answers isn’t any way to live.

“I don’t know, Princess,” Denver says, kissing my temple. “But whoever he was, you gave a home to someone’s loved one, and you cherished their memory for them.”

“Who knew such a Brute would have such a beautiful way with words?” I say, turning to gaze up at him.

His green eyes soften. “I have a reputation to uphold, Princess. My romantic side is strictly for your eyes only.”

“I like that.” I smile and tilt my chin up so that he’ll press a kiss to my lips.

I sigh as we break apart, and Denver nods in understanding. “It’s time.”

“It is,” I agree.

I turn around and step out of his embrace. My toes stay one inch in from the edge of the old, weathered, wooden boards that are the farthest point of the marina. In front of us is wide open ocean, stretching out to the horizon.

I smile as Denver grunts and his large hand slides onto my hip, securing me in place so I don’t slip. The grumpy look on his face when I pulled on a pair of high, wedged sandals to come here was priceless.

I knew he’d worry about me falling in.

I take a deep breath, curling my fingers around the necklace so that the diamond sits inside my palm. Then I bring my hand to my lips and kiss it.

“It’s time to say goodbye. I hope you have someone who loved you as much as we loved him,” I whisper.

Then I pull back my arm and throw it as far as I can, watching as it sinks beneath the crystal water.