Epilogue
His love roared louder
than her demons
-Unknown-
Six Months Later
“We did it.” I whisper. Holding the bouquet of yellow and white daisies in my hand, I try my hardest not to break down and cry as I kneel at my mom’s grave. I haven’t been here since the day before I left for Texas a year ago, and it’s just as hard now as it was then.
“Your mom would be so proud of you.” Lacy squeezes my hand as I try to hold the tears at bay.
“Thanks.” Placing the flowers in the vase that sits on the side of my mom’s headstone, I take a moment to look around at all the other graves.
“I’ve met someone, mom. I think you would have loved him. His name is Austin, and he treats me good; really good.” Pausing to wipe my eyes, I continue. “I’ve made some really amazing new friends, too. Bobby is a lot like Lacy, and Beau…well you’d have to meet him. He’s hilarious and so much fun. He reminds me of you in how he is always making me laugh.”
Thinking back to the last few months, I feel a new-found peace envelope my soul. Tragedy struck our school and yet we prospered. My friends and I became closer than ever, and we made plans to stick together no matter where life takes us.
“I’m going to the University of Texas. I’m going to be a Longhorn. Well, Lacy, Austin, and I are going to be Longhorns. We just couldn’t part from each other.” Lacy squeezes my hand again and I know if I looked over to her, I’d see her crying, too, and I need to keep it together. “I hope you’re proud of my decisions.” Sniffling, I try to keep it together just a little longer. “I know I promised I would always stay close, but I need to do this for me. Besides, I know you will always be with me in my heart.”
Kissing my fingers, I place them on my mom’s headstone before rising to my feet.
“I love you, mom. You’ll always be my best friend.”
Turning away, Lacy and I make our way back to the rental car that awaits us a few yards away.
“You okay, beautiful?” Austin pulls me in close.
“Yeah. I just had to say goodbye.” Austin nods his head and places a soft kiss to my forehead as he brings me in close to his chest while I cry silent tears.
“Give me a moment?” Austin asks. Nodding my head, Lacy and I slip into the back seat of her car while Austin makes his way to my mom’s grave. Kneeling, I can see his mouth move as touches the top of the headstone. I have no idea what he’s telling my mom, but whatever it is, I am grateful. I know she’s not here, but the fact he is taking the moment to pay his respects warms my heart.
“He’s perfect.” Lacy says dreamily.
“He is.”
“Are Beau, Bobby, and Andrew waiting for us?” Lacy asks.
“Yeah. They are picking us up when we arrive in Austin tomorrow. Bobby and Beau will stay for a week to help us settle in to our apartment before they have to head off to their school in Tennessee. Andrew will be leaving a few days later to Florida.”
Lacy and Andrew haven’t stopped talking since they met last year during Thanksgiving break. They’ve stayed friends, but I can see in Lacy’s eyes that she wants more. Even with the events that happened over New Years with him bringing his girlfriend, I can still see the hope in her eyes.
“I am so excited we will all be living together like one big happy family.” Lacy bounces in her seat causing me to laugh. “Just keep the hanky panky quiet please.”
Blushing, I don’t say anything. I haven’t been ready to take that step, but I know eventually we will get there. For now, we are content just being together.
“Ready?” Austin asks as he slips into the driver’s seat.
“More than ready.”
I smile easily, ready for my life and our future to begin.
Austin
“I knew Kayla was it for me from the first moment I set eyes on her. She captivated me in a way I didn’t think was possible. I had to have her. I needed her in my life. Somehow, I knew she would be more important to me than any other girl before her.
Watching her from afar was hard at first. Seeing her date my best friend had me feeling murderous. Beau knew what he was doing. He wanted to rile me up. Well, it worked. When Beau and Kayla agreed to stay friends, I felt instant relief.
Then when she said yes to me, my world exploded. I could see the future and she was in it. I could see falling in love with her as easily as it was to breathe. She was everything to me and we were just getting started. Then it all ended just as fast as it began.
The day she broke up with me, I was planning to make this huge speech. I was going to declare my love for this beautiful girl. I was going to ask her to follow me to University of Texas in Austin. Then she ended things and I didn’t have a clue as to how we reached that point. I was shattered. I should have made her listen to me. There was no excuse as to why I let her continue. But I did, and we lost out on our time together.
I thought I was going to lose her when I found Timothy standing over her with a gun and my best friend Beau lying in a pool of his own blood. The two people who meant the most to me were bleeding out and dying right before my eyes. I knew from that day on that if Kayla made it out of this, I would never let her go.
I knew she felt ugly when they had to shave her head to stitch up the wound where the bullet grazed her. But to me, she was even more beautiful because of it. Kayla survived, and her beauty shined inside and out.
I plan to ask her to marry me. Not now. Not even in sixth months. But one day, she will be Mrs. Austin James. For now, though, Kayla is my girl. And nothing or nobody will ever take her away from me again. I just hope you approve.”
Looking back at Kayla waiting for me at the car, I can’t help but feel at peace. I have no doubt we will grow old together.
“Thank you for sending our girl back to me that day I almost lost her.”
Now our future waits.
Extras
Note from the Author
Thank you for reading Counting Daisies. If you would like to ask questions about the story or find out about more information on future books you can find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or by email. Thank you again for taking the time to read about these diverse characters.
Twitter: @ashtonsmom2012
Facebook: Whitney Cannavina or my author page Author Whitney Cannavina
Instagram: wlcannavina
Email: [email protected]
I hope you enjoyed Kayla and Austin’s story. Lacy and Andrew are next.
Burning Roses
(Release date to be announced)
He was unexpected. It was supposed to be just fun. Then he shattered my world into oblivion with just one kiss.
There is no future where he and I are concerned. But that doesn’t stop the one night that changes our futures irrevocably.
One night of passion.
One night of regret.
One night that changes everything.
We went up in flames and there was nothing we could do to stop the inferno that lay ahead.
My mother always said not to touch the fire, or I’d get burnt. I just hadn’t realized she meant more than just the candle that burned on the mantle.
Counting Goodbyes Page 25
