But Only In Red Ink || #Wattys2017

Epilogue

Six years later..

"Oly, get in the car," I demanded my five year old daughter as her dark auburn locks bounced in its ponytail. "We can't be late!"

She climbed in the car and sat in her seat, getting buckled and ready to go. I closed her door before getting into mine and sighing.

Here come the questions in 3..2..1...

"Mommy?" I could see from my rear view that she maintained a curious look in her eyes.

"Yes, Oly?"

"Is Bessie gonna be there? And Mickie?"

Chuckling, I nodded remembering how long ago that Olyvette was learning names. "Bessie" was Becky. It took me ages to figure out why she couldn't say the 'ck' in her sister's name. "Yes, ma'am. Bessie and Micky will be there."

She sat quiet. "Is Davie going to be there?"

Everyone in their immediate family had to have an "ie" in their name. Oly's orders.

I shook my head. "No," I answered. "Dave has to work."

"How much money does he make?"

"Uh, I'm not so sure, Oly. How much do you think mechanics should make?"

She paused. "What do mechanics do?"

I turned on my Apple Music and turned up the speakers. "Let's listen to music, Olyvette!"

She sighed and listened out for the next song. Partition by Beyoncé played through the speakers, making the both of us sing along.

I glanced in the mirror again to see her doing the choreography that we both made up on her birthday. We had many small dances for the songs that we listened to. We had so much free time together off of her soccer season. During the summer, I signed her up for camps and musical lessons while I took care of my cafe, Red Ink Cafe. Which held various events every day of every week. My favorite night being the Friday night poetry slams.

After Carlisle's arrest five years ago, we all spoke to a lawyer about Michael's will. It was revealed that he wrote his will the week before we ran from the police. It were almost as if he knew that something would happen to him.

In his will he left fifteen thousand dollars to me and Becky. He also left the house in the mountains to me and the house he lived in to the both of us. It was big enough for both of our small families, but she soon left it to me after she married David.

Michael's company, on the other hand, was left to his right hand man, Boris Esposito. I had never met Boris but I trusted Michael to have picked the right man to take care of his precious company. Since then the company has continued to be one of the best architectural companies in America.

Life turned out fine and I continued to have to tell myself that I could not be happier. Lying to myself got me through the nights in his home, in his room, in his bed. In all honesty, I could be happier had he been there to share it all with me.

What made it all worse was seeing him in her eyes. Olyvette had so many of Michael's features which were slowly changing. She always asked about her daddy. Was he funny? Was he smart? Was he tall? What did he sound like? Was he romantic? I answered those often, of course, even if I was on the verge of tears. It broke my heart that she wouldn't be able to experience her father the way her sister did.

I parked in the parking lot and got out, opening the door for little Olyvette. She hopped out and waited for me to say that she could go out and play. I grabbed my purse then closed the door, almost bumping into the twirling little girl. "I love this dress, mommy," she smiled up at me. "Thank you for it!" She played with the hems of the gray skirt.

"You're welcome, baby. Now put your skirt down, you're flashing." I took her hand and walked her to the mulched playground.

"I'm wearing leggings," she looked down.

My eyes rolled back and nodded. "I know that. Just listen."

The playground was wood fenced and the equipment was large and castle themed. It was somewhat like a maze. If they weren't careful, your child could get lost easily.

"Alright," I said. "You go and play. I'll be sitting on this bench, waiting for Bessie and Mickie. When I call you, you come right back. Understand?"

She nodded quickly, obviously wanting me to just shut the hell up and let her go play. As soon as I nodded her on, she disappeared under the slides.

Thirty minutes had passed and Becky still hadn't gotten to the park. I called her once and she answered, telling me that Michaela (Mickie) had gotten sick and thrown up in the car. Of course.

I decided to give Oly fifteen more minutes to play before I called out to her. She didn't answer. I called her again, louder this time, assuming that she didn't hear me. Again, she didn't answer.

This is when I got up to search for her. I looked under slides, into slides, and in wooden cars. She wasn't in the jungle gyms neither.

As I traveled more, I could hear her giggles from the swing areas. I nearly forgot how much she loves the swings. "Daddy! Spin it faster!"

Daddy?

"Oly!" I called. "I thought I-"

I stopped dead in my tracks to see her spinning in the tire swing. Behind it grinning wide was a tall, ginger bearded man.

The tears burned my eyes as I was stunned, happy, confused, angry, in love all over again all at once.

He looked up to see me standing there and he smiled even more. "Hi," he spoke loud enough so I could hear him over the screaming and laughing children.

"Hey," I let out a cracked laugh.

I couldn't keep in my sobs as I found myself running into my husband's arms.

"She's beautiful," he said. "She's so beautiful. And you have no idea how much I've missed you." He held me tight. "I kept writing to you, hoping you would write back until they told me I was dead to you and they weren't sending shit. Hell, I was really surprised they let me out."

"I don't care, Michael," I laughed more. "You're here. That's all that matters to me."

He laughed along and kissed me deeply before saying what I missed hearing. "I love you so much."

I finally replied, "I love you too."

*************************

Hey, Inkies!

I just wanted to make this note to tell you all thank you so so much for the support you all put into this book. I know you all are looking at this thinking "bitch, I'm just tryna read!" Which I understand completely 😂 but when I started this book I really only hoped  that it would get so many reads and votes. But I also just really wanted to finish writing a book😂😂 I've finished some before, but there are so many stories of many genres that I've started and they have yet to have an ending. Thankfully, this is not one of them. Without you all this book would not have ended and Olyvette would not have a book of her own!

Again, thank you so so so much for your votes and your comments and your reads! I love each and every one of you!

~Shann

PS- if there's a second book, I will let you all know! And the announcement will start with

"Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttttttttttttttccccchhhh!!!!!!"