Leave a Trace: Book Three

Chapter Seventeen: Epilogue

Chapter Seventeen: Epilogue

Alice flips expertly through the air on the uneven bars and lands perfectly.

Her routine was flawless and I couldn't be more proud. She's done. She did all parts at the Olympics. The crowd is screaming and since I'm her coach, she runs to me and hugs me.

"You did it!" I say with a grin. "That was incredible!"

She has a huge smile on her face and tears in her eyes.

And then she grasps my shoulders and says, "Thank you."

I laugh. "For what?"

"You came into my life at nine years old. You were there when Zane freed me from the abuse of Alicia. You have been teaching me gymnastics basically since you met me. You saved me and baby Kyle. If you weren't wit me when I tried to get that abortion, I would have done it, but you telling me I had other options kept running through my head. You guys took me in, paid for appointments...you guys have helped me through so much, and I know this wouldn't have been possible without you, so thank you."

"You're welcome, Alice." I smile. She hugs me again and then we're escorted back to our seats

_____

I sit at the table in the food court, anxiously letting my leg bounce up and down as I wait for her to meet me. My phone vibrates and I glance down at it.

Hubby: what are you going to the mall for?

Me: to see someone

Hubby: okay. Can you see if they have that shirt I've been wanting? You know, the one that you said brings out my eyes?

I glance down at the bag next to my chair and smile.

Me: okay I'll look for it

Hubby: thank you baby girl

Hubby: you're so pretty, just so you know

Hubby: I love you

Me: I love you too handsome

The sound of the chair in front of me scraping against the white tiles of the food court makes my eyes snap up.

I haven't seen her in years. Her blonde hair looks lighters and her blue eyes look duller.

She looks...sad.

"So why did you want to meet me?" I get straight to the point.

"To fix things." Vanessa says strongly.

"After nine years?" I ask.

She sighs.

"I know you never told me I could have the house." She says softly. "But I got so caught up in the thought of having a bigger house for the kids and Finn and I. I was so excited to be next door, and then you said you weren't giving it to me and I just...I got mad. Everyone was believing you over me, which they were right to do, but Finn didn't want to rent and I needed something bigger. I was stir crazy every time I was in the house. Anyways, I'm sorry for lying and everything..." she trails off.

"Vanessa, I would have forgiven you after a week." I whisper. "All I wanted was for you to admit the truth, and the next thing I knew, Finn was coming to stay with us because you had filed for divorce. I mean, what the hell were you thinking? You guys were together for fourteen years before you even got engaged!"

"I know." She mumbles. "I was stupid. The whole thing was stupid."

"I lost my best friend. You were by my side through everything and then one day you just...weren't."

"Well you had Emma." She says.

"Emma and I..." I sigh. "We were friends. We still are, but it's not the same. She was there for me in my very darkest time and I have trouble communicating with her when I'm not depressed. I don't know how to explain it. She gets me on a very personal...spiritual level. Or she did. Now though, not so much. I've grown up a lot. I've changed. The only person who has understood me consistently is Zane. He's the only person I can rely on."

"I know." She says.

We fall into an awkward silence and I start regretting not buying a drink or something so I can have something to mess with instead of just sitting here.

"Look, I know we're not going to be friends again. It's too awkward after I divorced Finn, but I need you to know that I'm sorry. It's been eating me up for a long time."

"It's okay Vanessa. I forgive you."

She looks down at the table.

"Alright. I'm going to go. I have to go pick up the kids from Finn's house."

"Where did you park?" I ask.

"By Macy's." She says.

"Me too. Do you want to walk together?"

"I guess so."

_____

I shut the engine off outside of the garage and get out, walking around to the front door, which is where we basically never come in because we usually go in through the garage.

I go put my purse down on the kitchen counter and walk into the living room.

All eight kids are playing in the backyard and Zane is playing with them.

I set the bag with Zane's shirt down next to my purse and wander outside.

"Mom!" Liam calls.

"Come play with us!" Brandon hollers.

They're playing football. I'm talking full fletched tackle football.

I hesitate and then agree, jogging out into the field.

I'm throw onto the team opposite Zane with the girls and Nick and Noah.

Of course Zane gets Liam, Logan, Brandon, and Ben.

Whatever.

"Just because we're weaker doesn't mean we're going to lose!" Valentina shouts over to them.

"Yeah!" Vivienne yells.

Zane better go easy on us.

But as the ball soars through the air, I jump up and catch it and book it to their end zone.

But I'm caught and I feel bodies pile on top of us.

I groan under the weight of all of my kids.

"Alright guys, get off of her." I hear Zane chuckling.

One by one, the weight gets lighter until it's gone, and then I feel hands gripping my shoulders from behind and pulling me to my feet.

My husband grins down at me as I stand before him with the ball clutched to my chest. He reaches out and pulls a strand of grass from my hair.

"I love you Rosie."

"I love you too, butt head."

"Come on guys! Let's keep going!" Noah shouts impatiently from back in his position.

Zane plants and loving kiss on my cheek and takes my hand, walking with me back to where the kids are waiting.

"Who did you go see today?" He wonders.

"Vanessa."

At that, he stops in his tracks.

"Vanessa?" He repeats.

"Yeah. It's alright. We can talk about it later."

He shrugs and kisses my lips, and then we take our positions and start again, and I know that I don't need a best friend to be happy.

I have everything I need right here.

_____

The end