Page 83 of Valor (Long Hot Summer: Christian Romantic Suspense #2)
EPILOGUE
On the warm, sunlit morning of the ceremony, the air was filled with the sounds of the forest—the rustling leaves, the birdsong, and the soothing rush of the river. Twelve descendants of the Weiss family made their way from the clearing to the gravesite.
The polished stones glimmered in the sunlight, their surfaces reflecting the star of David and the names of the deceased. The sun felt warm on Meghan’s skin, and a gentle breeze tousled her hair, bringing a sense of peace. With a soft smile, Meghan extended her hand to Sarah, Hedvika’s granddaughter, who had traveled in with the family from Tel Aviv.
The air smelled of pine and fresh grass, and for a brief moment, it felt as if the whole forest was holding its breath in respect for this solemn yet beautiful occasion.
When the family decided to purchase Meghan’s inheritance instead of disturbing the graves of their ancestors, it brought her much-needed relief. Oliver had been a tremendous help in sorting through the paperwork on Meghan’s behalf.
As the rabbi approached the headstones, Meghan’s fingers gently brushed over the pendants she wore around her neck. Her hand instinctively found the heart-shaped piece of gold, a gift from her parents on her graduation day. She then touched the cross that had been included in the letter her grandfather had left with the notary. Meghan recalled her tears as she read the confession of his heart. His love for Hedvika lasted a lifetime, and so did his search for forgiveness. But it was the star of David, the only reward she had accepted for the recovery of the cache of Weiss family jewelry, that captured her attention. It was set with tiny pink diamonds, and Meghan hoped that it had once belonged to Hedvika. Wearing it today seemed so appropriate as they gathered to honor the memory of her parents and baby brother. Meghan’s fingers closed around all three pendants, holding them together, a silent vow of never again .
The rabbi’s prayers echoed softly in the air, blending with the gentle sound of the river’s flow. Meghan rested her head against Oliver’s shoulder, comforted by the warmth of his presence. Their wedding was just days away, and with Sarah’s family attending, there was much to discuss. The sun bathed the moment in a golden hue, and Meghan felt a deep sense of peace. She smiled softly as she thought of how Oliver had come to her with his own restless heart, yearning for a new adventure, one that would include her.
The quest for justice was far from over. Oliver had already contacted a recovered art depository in Germany with information about the discovered notebook listing the missing items. He was tracking down the descendants of families who owned the priceless pieces.
Meghan had immersed herself in her postgraduate studies, becoming a forensic accountant, determined to make a difference. After their wedding, they planned to visit Israel, where Sarah promised to introduce her to an Israeli investigative team working with Swiss banks.
They had long since stopped looking over their shoulder. Once Yarda and the backup arrived at the scene, the Russian mercenaries vanished, leaving the rented SUVs in the clearing.
When the German police raided Robert’s villa near Berlin, they recovered several pieces of art that his father had stolen during the war and an array of listening devices, trackers, and other illegal surveillance equipment. Robert Eisenhart was charged, sentenced, and locked away for good.
Oliver’s arm slipped around her shoulders, pulling her closer in a warm embrace. Meghan couldn’t help but smile when she caught the wink from his mom. The sweet woman insisted on baking the traditional Czech wedding pastries called kolace in her own kitchen . Thankfully, Meghan’s parents were here to lend a hand, and she felt a deep well of gratitude toward them. It was they who had chosen to live a life guided by faith, breaking the generational curse that had once hung over her family.
Oliver kissed her hair softly, and Meghan whispered a prayer of thanks—for the sun, for the river, for the gentle breeze, and for the love that surrounded her. She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the gratitude for all that had finally come together—both the lost and the found, the truth and the forgiveness. She looked up at her husband-to-be.
“God is good,” she whispered.
“That He is.” Oliver smiled and kissed her again.