Losing Adina had broken off pieces of his heart, creating permanent cracks.However, he was a better person for having loved her.He’d heard about the Japanese craft of kintsugi, where broken pottery was mended with gold, highlighting the breaks and cracks instead of hiding them.He and Cassie, together, formed one of those rare broken vases.Their love was the gold.And those cracks made them hold onto each other a little bit tighter and love each other a little bit better.
Because that’s what soulmates did for each other, they filled in the broken bits and created beauty out of imperfections.
“I will love you until I no longer have breath in this body,” he said to her.“And then I’ll find you again for whatever happens next.”
19
EPILOGUE
Beau checked his shoulder wound, and decided he’d give it one more day to heal.Besides, other than a last known address, he had no idea where to begin searching for his mother.The other day, he’d been prepared to run off half-cocked.Now that he’d had time to think, it became obvious he needed a plan.Speaking of his mother, he checked his cell to see if she’d replied to one of his many texts.
Goose egg.
Cassie walked into the kitchen.The side of her mouth twitched when she smiled at him.“Morning,” she said.
“Good morning.”Beau appreciated that Cassie didn’t treat him like an outsider from the get-go like most of the others had.Did she know what it was like to be an outsider?An outcast?“What has you up so early?”
“Hudson and I are heading to Oklahoma.”
His eyebrow must’ve shot up because she added, “I had a child and was forced to give him up for adoption.But I’ve never stopped missing him or wanting to find him.”The smile, the twitch, was back.“Now is my chance.”
Beau couldn’t help but smile back at the face that practically beamed.He understood the nerves since she was meeting her kid.
“How old is he?”
“Fifteen years and a few months,” she said, her gaze shifting to the large bouquet of flowers on the kitchen table.“Wow, who do those belong to?”
He’d checked the name on the sealed card earlier.“You, apparently.”
“Me?”She genuinely seemed taken aback.
“Now, I want to know who they’re from.”He poured a cup of coffee and handed it over.“Black okay?”
“Good coffee doesn’t need anything else in it, right?”The question was rhetorical.She thanked him and took the offering before walking over to the table.She pulled the card, and then opened it.A wide smile spread across her lips.“Do you remember the person who helped Nikki escape?”
“Someone named Enzo, she said,” he offered.
“That’s right.”She tapped the card on the table.“He sent these flowers to tell me that he would never have given up my secrets to Jarek and that he’s proud of me for getting out.Said he found a way out, too, and took it.Then, he wished me luck and told me goodbye.”
“Good for him,” Beau said.
“Sometimes, the good guys do really win,” she said with an even bigger smile.“I never would have believed those words if you’d said them to me a few days ago.But now, here we are, living in our own version of a fairy tale on a beautiful ranch.My son wants to meet me.And the one deserving and decent person from my past is getting a second chance.”She shrugged before taking a sip of coffee.“I guess miracles really are possible.”
He hoped that was true.He might need one to locate his mother.“If you have any luck to spare, I could sure use some.”
“Your mother?”Kind green eyes stared at him with empathy.
Beau wasn’t used to it, but he liked the idea of having Cassie as a sister-in-law.It never hurt to have someone in your corner.Plus, Hudson was a good person.He deserved to find happiness with someone like her.
Beau’s cell buzzed.He fished it out of his pocket and checked the screen.
The text read:thr will b blood.
“I know where she is.”