“It’s hard to believe it’s been over a year since everything changed,” Dani said quietly. “I mean, time’s gone by really fast, and I guess, really slow.”
I nodded, thinking the same thing. “And all the people we’ve lost. It’s hard to believe that, too.” I was still trying to accept the fact that despite my family’s role in their deaths, it had all seemed inevitable from the beginning. Fate had a funny way of taking choice away from you, no matter how in control of your life you thought you were.
“Hey, Zo?”
“Yeah, D?”
Dani paused from etching her and Jason’s initials in the tree. “Do you think it’s true what people used to say, that those that die are up there, looking down on us right now?” She pointed to the sky.
I couldn’t help but smile. “I’ve thought about that so many times. You have no idea.”
“And? What have you decided?” Dani readjusted the blanket around her and faced me.
Looking at her, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight, I nodded. “I think that life isn’t what we thought it was. Everything seems predetermined, and everyone has a destiny.” I thought about it for a minute.
“Maybe your mom and Sarah and Grams are sitting around a campfire,” she said, and I wondered if Alice and Tavis might be together, too. “And they’re listening to Ky and Ben retelling stories of their mischievous childhoods.” Dani laughed. “I can picture it perfectly.”
I laughed softly, and then we fell silent again, Cooper and Jack still scouring the hillside, following the scents of critters burrowed underground for the night.
“And we’re here, home on our little farm, spending New Year’s Eve celebrating their lives and all that’s happened,” Dani said, and she unfurled herself and scooted off the bench down onto the grass. Lying on her back, she stared up at the stars through the metal branches above her.
Needing no invitation, I joined her, wiggling close for warmth as we stared up at the bright, silvery pinpricks in the sky. “Yes, we are.” I felt an unexpected sense of happiness. Tonight was bigger than celebrating the closing and start of a new year. It was still hard to fathom all that we’d lost leading up to the General’s death. And I wasn’t just thinking about my mom. Everything that had happened, our friends who had died, had all been in the name of freedom…it had all been about fighting for the right to survive, to live. And we’d done it. Things would be different for all of us now.
“So, does that mean it really does feel like home to you now, Zo—and not in a bad way?” Dani peered over at me, her fire-red curls fanning out around her porcelain-white face. “Like home-home?”
“Yeah, D,” I said, deciding that for as much as she’d changed, Dani was still Dani. That it would always be us, and that’s all I needed. “It feels like home-home.” I stared up at the twinkling stars, trying to remember any of the constellations I used to know. “I think that’s Ursa Major,” I said, pointing as if Dani could see which star out of the millions I meant.
“Yep, it sure is. And that’s Orion’s—”
A thin, glowing white comet trail shot through the sky, and we both squealed, “A shooting star!”
After a few giggles and the novelty had worn off, I thought about the last time we’d gone stargazing. It must’ve been four or five years ago, whenever I was last home before she’d moved to Washington. Then I thought about all the close calls and how many times we almost lost each other, almost never had this moment. “But here we are,” I whispered.
“What’s that, Zo?”
I rolled onto my side to face her. “I was just thinking about how long we’ve been friends, almost our entire lives.”
“And we have another eighty years with each other, too,” Dani sang happily.
I snorted. “Wow, we’re going to be really old.”
“That’s right, so you better not get tired of me too soon, otherwise you’re screwed.”
I stared at my best friend, newly sister-in-law, as she rested her open hand on her slightly protruding belly. “Never, D.”
“Oh, hey!” Dani chirped and rolled toward me. “Did Chris tell you about her and Vanessa’s new project?” Dani waved her hand. “Well, it’s not like they’ve started anything, but—”
I laughed. “What it is, D?”
She grinned from ear to ear. “They want to figure out a way to help other Crazies.”
“Really?”
“Yep. They’re still working out the specifics, but these Abilities of ours have gotta be good for something, right?”
I nodded, having thought the same thing many times. “Yeah. That’s great—”
“You ladies planning on joining us?” Sanchez’s voice echoed in my mind. “Daniel says it’s almost time.” Dani and I exchanged fretful glances.
“I guess we should head back,” I said, climbing to my feet, then helping Dani up. I tightened the blanket around her.
“How long have we been up here, anyway?” she asked, but I wasn’t sure.
I shrugged. “All I know is we don’t want to miss Grayson’s fireside speech.” Wanting to join the others before the sun rose, we clomped our way down the hill, back toward the farm.
“Come on, boys,” Dani said, calling to the dogs who bounded past us.
Dani and I trudged across the farm, headed toward the flames that danced by the pond. The closer we drew, the louder the chattering voices became. On special occasions like this, it wasn’t just our group that huddled around a bonfire—or bonfires, tonight—but dozens of Re-gens had come to join us, as well—those who wanted to celebrate their new lives free from Herodson. Those who had hope for a second chance at life, an actual future.
When we finally reached the group, Dani and Jason shared a silent exchange, and Jake offered me a full, heart-stopping smile, one that I hoped was a promise of unspeakable things to come before we resurfaced from bed tomorrow. His eyes were gleaming, and I wondered how much he’d had to drink. I couldn’t resist returning his smile, and I leaned down for a kiss.
“Yum,” I said, licking my lips. “Spicy. Sweet. Rum?” I asked, glancing down at his empty glass.
“Harper’s concoction,” he nearly purred, and I kissed him again. “Oh boy, we’re in trouble.” I shed my blanket, already getting warm so near to the fire’s blaze. “I’ll grab a drink and get you a refill,” I offered and took his glass before I headed over to the cart we’d set up as a mobile bar. Grayson was studying the liquor bottles lined up along the edge of the cart, his reading glasses on the tip of his nose. “Need some help, Mr. G?”
He startled and looked over his shoulder at me. “Well, actually, yes.” I knew he was nervous about the speech. Not the act of speaking, but its importance tonight.
“Here, let me help,” I said and looked at his empty glass. “What do you like to drink?”
“I generally prefer something smooth, but I’m not too picky.”
Opening a bottle of Scotch, I motioned for him to hold his glass out. “A few sips of this should do the trick.” I winked at him, knowing he wasn’t a big drinker.
Grayson held his glass out and nodded in thanks, then he headed back to his seat near the fire.
“Uh-oh! The bartender’s back!” Dani called as she wiggled into the seat beside Jason.
I presented a mock bow to the onlookers. “That’s right, Mrs. Cartwright,” I said. “And what can I get for you this fine celebratory evening? I can make the best cocktails in all the land.” I gestured to the plethora of options lined up behind me. “Something refreshing? Something sweet? Something that fizzes and pops?”
“How about something nonalcoholic,” Jason grumbled, his gaze cutting to Dani’s stomach.
I glared at him. “Thanks for stating the obvious, Jason.”
Dani squinted, pursing her lips as she thought. “How about something warm?”
“You got it,” I said, and I nodded to Harper, who sat closest to the kettle. “H, a hot toddy for the pretty lady, please. Hold the rum.” I glanced around at
the faces around me. “Any other takers?”
Peter and Sam were leaning back in their chairs, chatting between themselves and paying not an iota of attention to me. Carlos met my eyes and shook his head, Annie curled up in his lap as she stared into the flames, her eyes heavy with sleep, and Vanessa, who was wrapped in a blanket in the chair beside him, was content to stare into the fire, too.
Chris sat up and stuck her mug out for Harper to refill. “Rum in mine though, please,” she said.
Harper stared at her mug.
“What?” Chris said. “What’s wrong with you? Pour,” she demanded. I tried not to react as Harper considered his options.
Finally, he said, “Are you sure? Have you been feeling alright?”
Chris’s brow furrowed, and she shoved her drink at him. “Of course, I feel fine. Fill ’er up,” she insisted. As Harper slowly poured what looked like only a drop into her drink, Chris reached out and tipped the butt of the bottle up a tad more. “Keep going,” she said. “It’s been a long week.” Finally, she put her palm out for him to stop, and Harper looked more than relieved.
I glanced at Dani. Her eyes were fixed on me, questioning.
“What’s the smile for?” she asked me silently.
I smiled again and turned around so no one would see it—though Jake caught my eye, and I shied away. “I’m not supposed to say anything,” I admitted, but I couldn’t help it. I told Dani my secret—Harper’s secret. “Harper saw a vision…of Chris pregnant.”
“Whaaaaaaat!” Dani squealed in my head, but when I looked back at her, her face was still, save for the small twitch at the corner of her mouth.
“Not now, but sometime in the future, and he’s freaking out. He’s not sure how she’s going to react. And you know how he is about the dangers of pregnancies as it is.”
“Understandable.” She glanced at Harper. “And you know this how? Did he tell you?” Dani asked, her face a perfect mask of indifference.
“Jake told me,” I explained, “but Harper confided in him, so don’t say anything, D. But can you believe it! Harper, a dad? Chris, another baby?”
“No, I can’t. But I’m so happy if it’s true!”
“There’s going to be a lot more drinking if there’s going to be a lot more babies,” I silently mumbled, making Dani laugh.
After pouring myself some of Harper’s tincture and refilling Jake’s glass with the same, I turned around, winked at Dani, and headed back over to Jake; his eyes were on me, unmoving, like he could hear the conversation Dani and I were having. I flashed him a bright smile of reassurance and nestled in beside him.
It was soon after that when I watched Grayson down what was left of his Scotch and wipe his whiskered mouth with the back of his hand. He cleared his throat. “Attention, everyone!” he called from beside the cart. “I’d like to share a few thoughts with you, before dawn.”
I peered out at the mass of people and bonfires stretching along the edge of the pond. Heads, young and old, “normal” and Re-gen alike, turned in Grayson’s direction. Conversations quieted.
Out amidst the shadows, I noticed three figures moving toward us. Becca, Mase, and Camille. The three of them sat in the grass nearby. Becca smiled at her brother, then at me before she turned her full attention to our orator.
My old history teacher stepped up to the cart, poured himself another gulp of Scotch, and righted himself before taking a deep breath. “Now,” he started, “for those of you who don’t know me, my name is Daniel Grayson. I’ve lived in this area all my life, taught history and told stories to Jason, Zoe, and Danielle since they were wee ones.” He smiled in our direction, then took a swig of his Scotch. He coughed. “Boy,” he said, “that’s strong stuff.” There were quiet chuckles in the crowd.
Grayson cleared his throat dramatically. “The people of New Bodega know me for my storytelling, because when you get to be my age, you have a lot of stories to tell. So, I guess that’s why I was elected to speak tonight. But I’m not here to tell you a story.” He paused for a moment, and I saw images of his life flash through his mind. “I’ve seen a lot throughout my life; I’ve lost loved ones and had my share of struggles. But nothing remotely close to what the last year has brought us.
“We’ve been stripped of everything we once had and who we once were. We’ve been thrust into a world we’re only just beginning to understand. We’ve done things against our will and made decisions we wish we could unmake. We’ve had to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and adapt and change to everything that’s been thrown our way. We have new Abilities to embrace and explore and, with them, new dangers to look out for. We’ve lost friends and have made new ones, but we’ve also made enemies. We’ve experienced raw, unfathomable heartache, loneliness, and desperation. And we’ve lost hope a time or two.” He held up his index finger. “But…” He let the word trail off as he assessed us all.
“But, we’ve overcome all of it. Sitting here, tonight, together—this is a testament to our strength.” Grayson’s eyes skirted over to the horizon, and I noticed the purples and blues of dawn beginning to break beyond the hillside. “Tonight—no, today,” he continued, “is about celebrating a year of survival and newfound hope. It’s about being with our friends and loved ones and remembering those that are no longer with us—their sacrifices and their footprints left in our lives. Today is about taking time to appreciate life, which, as you all know far too well, is unpredictable and can be far too fleeting. So please,” Grayson continued, holding up his Scotch, “raise your glasses to a year past and a new year to come. I wouldn’t want to be stuck here with anyone else.”
Collectively, we all raised our glasses, the sound of sniffles and crackling fire all I could hear. “Happy New Year, everyone,” Grayson said, and there was an encore of cheers and Happy New Year wishes as the sky came to life, radiating a promise of hope and life and new beginnings. We toasted to our pasts and celebrated our futures.
I took a drink, then another, before I looked to Jake. His eyes were shimmering, just as I knew mine were, and he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against him. “Happy New Year, Zoe,” he whispered.
“Happy New Year,” I whispered back. I kissed him, letting the promise it held linger a moment before I rose to my feet. Becca was standing beside us, her eyes bleary, which made my chest tighten. I gave her a hug while Jake shook Mase’s hand. “Happy New Year, Becca,” I said, squeezing her tightly as I remembered who she’d been when she’d first joined us in Colorado.
“Happy New Year, Zoe,” she rasped.
We all moved around the campfire, hugging each other and sniffling, wishing each other a prosperous new year, minus the drama and danger of the year past. I gave Sam and Annie each a giant hug, and Annie jumped up into Jake’s arm, flirting with him like she did with all the boys. Sanchez and Biggs, each holding a sleeping twin in their arms, gave us awkward hugs. And I laughed as Harper nearly lifted me off the ground, his hug all Harper-enthusiasm. I couldn’t imagine a hug from him being any other way. My dad and Peter were standing beside Grayson, the men laughing about something, old times maybe, though my dad’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.
I leaned in and gave Peter a big squeeze. “I’m happy you decided to stay with us,” I said, meaning every word of it.
Peter stepped away from me and shrugged. “You’re all the family I have left now,” he said, but despite the ache I still felt in his heart, I knew he was happy to be with us.
“Hey, sweetheart,” my dad said, coming up to me. He wrapped his arms around me, his hold solid and comforting. I hugged him back, more than happy we were together, that I had my dad, my brothers, Dani, and Jake to start the next chapter of my life with.
But when I reached Jason and Dani, I couldn’t will the tears back any longer.
Dani’s arms were around me so fast I nearly lost my balance. “Love you, Zo,” she cried into my shoulder.
I squeezed her tighter, laughing and sobbing at the same time. “Love you, too, D. Ha
ppy New Year.”
When I tried to pull away, her embrace tightened. “I’m not ready to let go,” she sniveled.
“That’s okay, D. Me neither,” I halfheartedly joked, then something occurred to me. “Next year, this time, you’ll have a little one in your arms, D. Can you believe it?”
That made her step back, and she beamed at me. “No, not really.” Laughing under her breath, she shook her head.
I nudged her. “You know we’ll need to plan a girl’s night every now and again, right? Make time for your old friend Zoe.” I winked at her.
Dani laughed. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
I kissed her cheek. “To next year, then,” I said. “To families and babies and copious amounts of drinking.”
“To next year,” Dani laughed, and her arms tightened around me again. “Happy New Year, Zo.”
The end.
Thank you for reading!
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THE ENDING SERIES
After The Ending
Into The Fire
Out Of The Ashes
Before The Dawn
The Ending Series: World Before (TBR)
The Ending Series: World After (TBR)
THE ENDING BEGINNINGS
Omnibus
I: Carlos
II: Mandy
III: Vanessa
IV: Jake
The Ending Series: The Complete Series Page 172