Safe Place

Epilogue

Sienna

Three Years Later

"Happy Thanksgiving!" Lizzy exclaimed running inside and jumping in Ryan's arms. "Hi, grandpa. Did you miss me?" He kissed her cheeks.

"Hi, cutie. I did miss you." He affirmed and she giggled as he set her down.

Ollie ran after her as she ran to the kitchen to say hi to her grandma.

"Hey, dad." Dominic walked in and hugged his dad who hugged him back.

After pulling away, he hauled our suitcases by the door, and I went to hug Ryan.

"Hey, sweetheart." He said warmly as he hugged me.

"Hey, Ryan. Happy Thanksgiving." I smiled.

I walked inside, the savory and sweet smells of Jane cooking filling the house and I saw Lizzy sitting on the counter as her grandma fed her mini marshmallows.

"Jane, Happy Thanksgiving. How are you?" I asked, coming around and pulling her in for a hug.

She squeezed me tightly and pulled away to shove a marshmallow in my mouth.

"You guys are late." She quipped, scolding lightly.

"Blame your son," I said and swallowed the marshmallow. "He's a slow driver."

"I am a careful driver." Dominic corrected as he came to kiss and hug his mother. "Did you make pumpkin pie?"

"I did." She said, not being able to stay mad for long. "Set the table. Your father was this close to eating said table earlier."

She waved her wooden spoon around and Lizzy jumped off the counter to help us set the table. Ryan helped us put the assortment of Thanksgiving foods on the table. He then plopped Lizzy between Jane and him so they could help feed her and I saw Dominic pour some food for Ollie in his bowls before coming to sit next to me.

The turkey looked delicious, the sides appetizing, and the smell of the variety of foods had my stomach growling. We held hands as Jane said grace and thanks to the food on the table, to the company we shared, and to the love we had and prayed for more joy and love, and then we were digging in.

Ryan cut the turkey and Dominic grabbed each plate and helped him place a piece then sat back down after fixing my plate. We ate the delicious food Jane cooked and caught each other up with our lives.

We thanked Jane for the food and after stuffing ourselves with the food, we barely had the energy to get up.

After cleaning up, and everyone helping out, so we finished in half the time, we sat down in the living room drinking coffee and hot cocoa while Jane sliced the pumpkin pie for us to enjoy. It turned out I love pumpkin, and it wasn't mush like how I told Dominic once.

The way his mother baked the pie was different, with love, and I enjoyed it every year she made it.

It's been a hectic three years. Dominic proposed right after I moved in with him. He went all out with the proposal as well. Flower petals, candles, heart-shaped balloons, and a heartfelt promise to always love me and be my safe place until the last breath leaves his lungs.

After I screamed yes, he kissed me, and we made love right there over the petals. It didn't feel fast or rushed. It felt perfect. We were in love, and we know we'd never feel like this for anyone ever.

He was the perfect father figure to Lizzy, and I love seeing him interact with her, and how gentle and caring he is with her. Lizzy still calls him Dominic, but he says he doesn't care what she calls him as long as she knows how much he loves her.

After a few months of us being engaged, he even sat down with me and told me he found Scarlet's ashes, and that he could get me her urn if I wanted to. I remember the emotional rollercoaster we went through together with him by my side as we talked about her, about her death, and how he held my hand through it all.

It brought me closure in a way I never thought existed. It made me feel like I was finally forgiving myself for what happened to her, for how I never saw her when they asked me if I wanted to. The guilt left with every toss of her ashes in the air, and I felt like for the first time in a long time I felt light.

We stayed on the beach that night for hours, the three of us, and we didn't talk. We sat there and even though my crying was on and off, Dominic was a constant shoulder and rock for me to lean on.

Even after all these years, and all time we spent together, Dominic and I have been solid. Our love was neverending and I still craved and desired him, and he was the same way with me. He truly was my sanctuary and the only man I would ever love.

As crazy as my life is, and as rushed as it may seem to be with someone I barely knew, I wouldn't have wanted it to happen in any other way. I was his safe place, and he was mine. I was his love, and he was mine.

Looking up at him smiling and laughing at something his parents said, I felt my heart do that same flutter it always did whenever I saw him happy. He squeezed my waist and looked down at me.

"I love you, too." He murmured kissing the side of my head.

"Me more," I promised and felt his finger go over my ring and he traced the diamond.

"My pretty little wife..." He whispered. He leaned down so his lips were by my ear. "is gonna get so fucked tonight." 

"She better," I whispered back, and he laughed.

Authors note: I've been stuck on writing this chapter. I didn't know if I wanted to add more chapters or fully do an epilogue. It's short but sweet and gets to the point. I've had writers block, hence why it took so long to write anything.

I might do a few bonus chapters for Sienna and Dominic when I find my inspiration again. I just can't promise anything!

Again, thank you for reading and loving Safe Place. ❤️❤️