by Harlow Stone
“Humgy, mummum,” Jackson mumbles around his cup.
“C’mon beautiful, looks like everything’s set up.”
Ryder helps me up and I glance across the street to the park. Jimmy, Laura, Brad and the kids have gathered around one of the picnic tables. This is our last night in Ontario, and our farewell picnic will be the last time we eat together for a while once the baby gets here.
I press my fingers to my lips, and then lay them on the stone.
Lilly Jayne O’Connor
I’ll always miss my baby girl, that will never go away and I don’t want it to. I need to remember and talk about her often to keep those memories alive. She deserves that and so much more. It’s therapeutic to me now, sharing silly stories about her with Ryder. It’s also heartwarming the way Jackson mixes his potatoes and veggies and naps on Norma’s belly just like Lilly used to.
Small miracles.
“Buh bye, Wiwy,” Jackson says, blowing wet kisses to the lonely stones.
We don’t visit often, not just because we live so far away, but because I don’t feel the need to be here all the time like I did when my family was killed. It took a while, but I know that I carry them with me wherever I go. I don’t need to see the stone to remind me what I lost, or where they are now.
I could never forget.
A warm breeze floats through the maze of marble and stone, lifting the flower petals Jackson dropped and twirling them in the air. His giggle echoes through the cemetery and only when he quiets do the petals resume their resting place.
Ryder’s arms surround me, providing the support I love and the strength I don’t need at the moment because I know.
I know that this farewell isn’t to remind me of loss and death, or the nightmares of my past.
This farewell is a reminder for what I have, not what I’m missing.
Not what I’ve lost.
The warm breeze is a blanket to my soul, the following calm a reassurance to my heart that heaven is taking care of my loves, and they’re okay.
I can move on.
Move forward with my beautiful new family and focus on now, not four years ago or yesterday.
Because now is Ryder’s arm around me, his large hand resting on the side of my belly where mini Callaghan number two is kicking.
Now is his strong hand, holding a tiny little chubby one as we exit the land of the lost but never forgotten.
Now is this moment, when his handsome face turns and his lips touch mine.
“I love you, Elle Callaghan.”
This right here, the moment, the memory, the pain no longer present and the nightmares long since vanished—is living.
“Everybody needs to live girl, life ain’t just about survivin’ ‘cause ya ain’t got a life until you live.” Tiny said.
Don’t just survive.
Live.
No truer words were spoken.
Author Notes
Well it’s over Ugly Roses fans!
Thank you so much for supporting Ryder and Elle and reading this series! I would love to hear from you so please connect with me using one of the links below. We need to decide who gets the next book. Will it be Denny? Cabe? Maverick? Lets chat and see where the next book will take us!
In the meantime if you have a moment please visit on Goodreads or Amazon to leave a review.
For more releases and all things Harlow Stone use the following links:
www.facebook.com/harlow.stone.author
www.amazon.com/author/harlowstone
[email protected]
www.harlowstone.com
Acknowledgments
So many people to thank here so I’m going to start with my ‘firsts’; because we all know you never forget your first.
Sutter Home wine, no words can express how much you helped me complete this journey.
Erin, my die hard Harlow supporter and the first to ever read my book. You’re more than just my beta reader and I appreciate you putting up with my non-demanding ass at book signings.
Maryse’s blog, because you were the first person to ever make a post about my book and I’ll always be grateful for that.
Chelsea Barnes, you’re a doll and gave me the support I needed when I didn’t know who to turn to for a crash course on how to get my book out there. Hugs to you.
Freya Barker, you are an incredibly talented woman and the first to put up with my ridiculous questions regarding being a new author. Your support and wisdom has been truly appreciated and not forgotten.
Rachel Green, as per usual your peepers are the first to notice what’s missing and I thank you for that. You’re also my biggest backdoor-book-bootlegger so keep up the great work!
Christine Stanley from The Hype PR, first to dive in and declare your support to make The Ugly Roses know because ‘people need to read this series’. You are a book of knowledge my friend and I thank you for sharing that because I would probably be eating ramen and not chicken right now if it weren’t for your hard work and the most priceless of all- friendship. You rock!
Tricia Daniels, you were the first woman to respond ‘yes’ to my request to attend an author event. It’s not the author event I remember you for though it’s the filthy rotten meme’s and teasers you share that will ensure that I never forget you. You truly brighten my facebook wall.
My family, first people to get behind me and no matter what happens they will still be there in the end.
Thank you!