The Game of A Life Time

Epilogue

Three Years Later...

The local grocery store closes in twenty minutes and the last parent hasn't picked up their child yet. The daycare closed forty minutes ago, I need to get to the store before it closes.

Kylie wants to have rosemary pasta tonight and the rosemary is at the store. The organic kind is expensive but is well worth the money it costs.

My dad is away on a business trip, he started his own security company. His adventures around the Dakotas are often as every other week, but Kylie and I are left alone to our own vices.

At first, he was skeptical of leaving us alone with the crazy lunatic on the hunt for us, but nothing has happened since we got here. It's been three years and not one single sight or feeling from him.

A car comes down the road and heads into the parking lot where I and Jamie wait for his dad to arrive. The person driving the car pulls over and steps out of the vehicle.

"I am so sorry I am late, my meeting went later than expected," Mr.Hayes says to me.

I grab Jamie's backpack and turn it over to his father, "It's no problem, just try to notify us beforehand if you are going to be late."

"Of course, I am sorry again." He reaches for Jamie's hand and they both get in the car to leave.

I wave goodbye and reach my car. Unlocking it, I get inside and speed down the road to get to the store. There is light traffic on the way, and ten minutes until the store closes.

Pulling into the small parking lot, I get a parking spot towards the back. I am not too worried since I am only getting one thing. My car is pretty run down, so no one would ever want to steal it.

I walk down the aisle looking for the spices, there are three different jar sizes on the shelf. Fifteen dollars for a small jar, twenty for a medium jar, and twenty-five dollars for a large jar. We don't have any at home, so I decide on the large jar. It will keep us sane for a few months.

Paying for the rosemary, I walk out with the receipt to my car. The sun is setting beautifully across the flat plains, orange and pink light up the sky.

"Why didn't you get the large, Carter?" I hear arguing from the other side of the parking lot, "there wasn't any left, only medium."

I turn my head not being able to stop myself and I see the people I have ignored for years. The two of them fight over the medium size jar before turning in my direction, shocked I am standing there.

Belle looks at me with her big eyes, mouth hangs slightly open. Carter stares with his jaw tightened, it makes me feel small.

We stare at each other in silence, the awkwardness making this heavy. There is a slight mumble on his lips when he tears his eyes off of me.

I take this as my chance to get in my car and speed off.

Tears blur my eyes and vile rises up. I've been doing so well without vomiting, it has been six months since the last time. I can't believe this could happen.

I don't know why I feel the way I do. Is it because this is the first time I have seen him in three years or is it because that should be me arguing with him about the size of a jar?

I can't help the sob that escapes me when I make it into the driveway. Hurling my arms forward onto the wheel, I let all of the tears come out of my eyes. All of this built-up pain and victimization I have put myself through comes back at the rate of a hurricane.

The only thought crossing my mind is that Belle is nine months pregnant and Carter is the father.

There it is, the end.... of this book. Book three will be in the works shortly, hopefully, sooner rather than later. Thank you all who are ready or have read this, I am excited for the new and last book of the trilogy coming soon. 

See you, soon!

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