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Time speeds back up to normal as the officers converge on Cole’s fallen body.
Jake rolls from on top of me. “Are you all right?” He runs his hands over my body, checking for injuries. Then he pulls me up to stand next to him.
“I’m fine,” I rush to assure him. “I promise. Totally fine.”
“Oh my God.” Jake runs a frustrated hand through his hair. “I saw him raise that gun and I thought it was over.” Jake pulls me against him. “I thought I’d lost you.”
I watch as the EMTs work on Cole. But I already know he’s dead. And my name was the last word to cross his lips. A shiver crawls up my spine.
“It is over. Finally.” I allow myself to take a deep breath.
“Are you sure you’re all right” Jake whispers.
No. I’m not all right. “It’s over,” I whisper back.
He kisses my forehead and holds me close. “Yes, it’s over.”
48
Katie
A month has passed since Cole was caught and killed, and while I still mourn the loss of his life as I would that of any human being, I am glad that I no longer have to look over my shoulder every minute of every day. My family is safe.
I close my bedroom door and fall back onto the bed. I’m spending the night at Cabin 114, and tomorrow is the day I’ll marry Jake. I have no doubts in my mind that this is what I want, and Jake assures me he wants this too.
My Aunt Carole arrived today. She’s Adam’s twin sister and, technically, she’s my mother, if DNA is anything to go by. She and Gabby spent the evening arranging my hair in preparation for tomorrow, and they practiced my makeup. We all had manicures and pedicures, and now I’m tired. I just fed Hank one last time and he’s sleeping in a portable crib in the room with Gabby, presumably so that I can get some rest. Aunt Carole is with her, and she’s supervising the care of my youngest child. Laura is sleeping on the pullout couch and her daughter is with Freddy.
Freddy had surgery to remove the bullet from his shoulder and he has been here all summer, along with Laura, recuperating. I thought it would be strange having my husband’s ex-wife, his best friend who cheated with his ex-wife, and their love child around, but it really hasn’t been. The ten years that Laura and Jake spent together made them really close friends who share some memories that Jake and I don’t share, but aside from that, there’s nothing there except fondness.
I reach back to adjust my pillow so I can crawl under the covers, and I hear a tap on my window. Immediately, my mind goes to Cole, but then I remind myself that he can’t hurt me anymore. There’s no way he could be tapping on my window.
Someone raps on the window again. I open it and Jake looks up at me. “Come outside with me,” he whispers. His green eyes gleam in the moonlight, and he smiles at me. My belly drops just like it did when I was sixteen years old.
“It’s two in the morning,” I whisper back.
“I know, but I miss you.” He motions for me to come out.
“I’m not dressed,” I protest.
He waggles his brow at me. “Even better.”
Jake’s standing in the dark with a tiny flashlight in his hand, and he shines it at his own face. He hasn’t shaved since this morning, and beard stubble shadows his jaw.
“This is bad luck,” I remind him. “Go away.” I start to lower the window, but he reaches out and grabs it.
“We’ve already had our share of bad luck,” he says quietly. “Come out and play with me.”
I look toward the door.
“I’ll bring you back before Hank gets hungry. I promise. I just want you for a little while.” He puts his hands together like he’s praying and the flashlight shines up toward the heavens. “Please?”
I huff out a breath and raise the window all the way up.
“Lean toward me. I’ll pull you out,” Jake says.
I reach for him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders with my weight resting on him. He eases me out the window until my legs are free, and then he stands me up.
“See?” he says. “I got you.”
