Running From The Big Bad Wolf

36. The Ending

Epilogue

10 years later.

I smiled widely as the bell rang to let everyone know that the school day has ended.

"Don't forget, chapter five on your book essay." I called out as the kids left the class room. "And I'll be testing you all on your spelling words!"

I was so happy and content as I left my grade six classroom that I teach in, walking hastily to the grade one section.

"Cate, good afternoon." Selina greeted as I knocked and walked in.

"Hi Selina, any mischief today?"

Selina laughed and shook her head. "No, Matteo is doing great, as always. Nothing compared to Rhys." She joked and I laughed at it. It was so true.

I turned to Matteo and smiled. "Right, you, come on." I said to him. "Lets go home."

I took Matteo's hand as we walked out off the classroom and towards the car. Matteo was the tender age of five. We went to my car and around it were a handful of kids.

We live in a small village town and I teach year six and plus drive a few kids home.

I saw my kids waiting and I smiled, unlocking the car.

After doing the loop in the town, I went home, our house a charming building. I will never let my kids know what happened before I arrived here with my child, pregnant and with Eli.

Eli lived across the road from me. He didn't want to leave me alone in New Zealand with a toddler while pregnant, despite me telling him to go.

He is now married to a wonderful woman, Savannah, and have two beautiful children,  Destiny and William.

I pulled up in the drive way to find my husband's car there. A smile grew on my face.

Eruera, or as I call him, Eddie, was already home. My loving and handsome Māori husband.

The last thing I wanted was to get involved with someone, bringing them down my dark path, but he was so supportive and caring. Eddie was brilliant with my kids and I soon found out why and it broke me. He had a son, Maaka, which is Māori for Mark. Not only didn't I want to drag someone with me in case I had to run, but I never wanted to add another child to that list.

But Eddie assured me that everything will be alright and eventually, Eddie, Savannah, Eli and myself put a plan forward in case it was ever needed to be used. So my family went from four to to six, then seven, now eight.

I changed Rhydian's name to Rhys, pronouncing it like rice and never called him Rhydian again.

Then I got a surprise of a lifetime through my second pregnancy. The whole time I prayed for it to be a girl, I got that wish, but doubled. Isla and Maia. My beautiful twin daughters.

Then I met Eddie one night, a couple years after the twins were born, while my father was in town. He offered to look after the kids while Savannah and I went out and Eli stayed with dad.

Then I met Eddie's son, Mark, as I call him. Shortly afterwards, I found out I was pregnant with Matteo, the Māori form of Matthew. Then Eddie and I got married and now, I'm pregnant again with another large baby.

My birth with Rhys was easy, same with the twins compared to Matt. I was petrified of this one.

Dad visits a couple times a year which is great, the kids love spending time with their grandpa.

But I know dad isn't stupid. He flies to New Zealand, home, Wales, home, Boston, home. Repeatedly in case he is being tracked.

So when I pulled in my drive way, the car emptied and kids screaming. Rhys, being twelve and the usual big brother, pushed past Maia to the front door as Isla screamed.

"Grandpa!" I heard as my head whipped up.

"Dad!" I smiled at the man by the front door.

I got out off the car and made my way to him.

"Look at you!" He smiled at me, my stomach protruding through, showing the world it was there.

"I know. I look like I'm going to have him any day now."

"I thought you were only six months -"

"I am!" I laughed. "Māori babies are big babies, Dad. Come on kids, inside."

Rhys who was twelve, the twins, Maia and Isla who were nine, Mark who was eleven, Destiny, Eli's daughter is seven, William, who is six and Matteo who was five all came inside, playing with their grandfather, all talking at the same time.

I went to the kitchen to greet Eddie, kissing him as his thick arms went around me. "Hello, my beautiful wife." He greeted me with kisses.

"Smells so good in here." I complimented Eddie. I loved when Eddie cooked. He was an amazing cook and I love his type of food.

After dinner with Eddie, Dad, Eli, Savannah and all the kids, they had calmed down and I sent them to bed at around eight, including my niece and nephew. Dad needed to talk to us and all the kids had to be asleep and away from the room.

A couple years ago, Dad told me that Axel was in rehab, court ordered and I told him the only information I actually want is his upcoming parole.

"Parole is coming up, Caity." Dad said flatly and my heart stopped.

"Already?" I whispered to him. I could feel my face pale.

Dad nodded. "I'm going in to retirement as well, so I won't be as well informed as I am now. He has been on good behaviour and his chances for parole are looking real good, for him."

I stayed silent. I was in a different country, but will I be found?

"So, what now?" Eddie asked my father.

Dad thought for a second. "I'm staying. I'll be back in three weeks, so the week before his hearing. I'll have everything transferred here. We will just have to lie it out, I think."

I nodded as Eddie took my hand with his, his other hand on my stomach. "It will be fine." Eddie told me and I nodded.

This town had a lot of his family here. His wife died in child birth with Maaka and he stayed with support of his family.

They were a large family and very kind and supportive towards me. Maybe because everyone that knows me except the adults in this room think my husband died shortly after I found out I was pregnant.

Even the kids think their biological father is dead. I will never have my older three and myself branded as a Wolf again.

"Let him come." Eddie said with a deep voice. "If he does, he will soon learn this whānau is protected. No one messes with my family."

I smiled proudly at Eddie.

But my reality was simple and I said it clearly too, looking straight into my father's eyes, sending him the subtle message.

Dad nodded on it as he recieved the message.

"As long as Axel is alive, I'll always be running from the big bad wolf."