Page 108 of Firefly Effect

On the opposite end of the spectrum—confinement, which is Lilith Thornefield’s new reality. Locked away for life for twelve counts of murder as the Firefly Man. And the attempted murders of Billy and Lincoln. It’s safe to say, Lilith will never dim the light of another innocent soul again.

Lilith’s daughter, Willow, was placed into the care of her grandmother. Not the most ideal of situations, but it’s the best one she’s got. At least Willow will have family and friends in town looking out for her as she tries to deal with her new life. As young as she is, Lincoln believes Willow can learn to accept who her mother is, what she’s done, and find a way to live a good life, unlike her mother.

As for why Lilith chose to murder under the Firefly Man alias—she gave no finite reason other than that she was inspired by the campfire tale and made it her own.

A shiver shoots through my body just thinking about the deceit of a woman so many trusted with their children.

Kyle hands me a glass of water from his tray with a wink and I smile back, grateful to him for choosing to work the event today when he was invited to attend as a guest. He, Armando, and Janessa decided to tag team the event so that they could enjoy the best of both worlds.

I slip through the crowd to get to Lincoln, then slide my arm through his, not wanting to interrupt his conversation. He tugs me closer and trails off mid-sentence anyway. “Evie, I want to introduce you to the man I’ve spoken so highly about. This is Doctor Rohls, my mentor from back in my Duke days.”

The surprise in my gasp is completely genuine. While I knew Dr. Rohls had been given an invitation, he never RSVP’d. We weren’t expecting him. “It’s so nice to meet you, Doctor. I suppose I should thank you for inspiring my husband.”

His weathered smile reveals deep lines on his face, especially beside his eyes. “Oh, he was already putting in the work, my dear. I just encouraged him a little, I suppose. But I hear it’s you who’s the true inspiration.”

My cheeks heat. “I wish I could take credit for such a brilliant mind, but I just provide the drinks.” I grin and gesture around the bar.

Dr. Rohls lifts his glass. “Cheers to that.”

Lincoln leans down to kiss my head. “Dr. Rohls brought a friend with him today, too. Meet Aurora June.”

It takes everything in my being not to gasp at the familiarity of the woman’s name. The woman is practically a celebrity in the Appalachians thanks to her abduction in a string of serial murders. Lincoln had told me that Dr. Rohls was once her therapist, helping her through the trauma. His published work, Waterfall Effect, was inspired by her.

“From Balsam Grove,” I say, extending my hand out to shake hers. “I recognize the name.”

She nods, her gray eyes even more stunning from up close. “The one and only.”

“I hear you lived to tell your own tale,” I say.

She smiles. “As did you.”

“Hey now,” Lincoln says, lifting his own glass of Tennessee Whiskey. “Let’s cheers to that. To those who live to tell the tale.”

We all grin and lift our glasses, and I catch the look in Aurora’s eyes when she sees my water. I wink at her, answering the question I know she wants to ask. Yes, I’m pregnant, my wink tells her, but since I’m only two months into my pregnancy, no one besides Lincoln and I know.

We’re so excited to tell Lucy and Francine next month, and we’re already thinking of all the adorable ways we can spill the news that Lucy will be a big sister. She’ll be an amazing one too, considering her new favorite thing to do is carry her own plastic baby around with her.

“We’ll let you mingle,” Dr. Rohls says after setting down his glass. “Enjoy your moment, Linc. You deserve it.” He wraps Lincoln in a hug, causing a new lump to form in my throat. “I’m proud of you, son.”

Geez, we’re only an hour into this event and my eyes have watered more than they did when I found out we were pregnant.

“How are you feeling,” Lincoln asks as soon as Dr. Rohls and Aurora walk away.

Poor Lincoln has had to hold my hair back too many times during morning sickness that, funnily, is not just contained to morning hours. Everything makes me nauseous lately. But I smile up at him, not wanting him to worry about me for a second. “I’m perfect. How are you?”

He looks around nodding. “Besides the awkward elephants in the room, namely your parents and the Pruitts who look to be in deep conversation, I’m doing good.”

I snap my head to another corner of the room where my mom and dad are, in fact, engaged in what looks to be an engrossing conversation with Lincoln’s former adoptive family.

My parents managed to slip back into my life when they found out about the wedding. They came to town and all but demanded to meet my fiancé, the doctor. I allowed it, knowing that it didn’t matter if they approved or not. Their opinions can’t affect me anymore. So, we deal with them in small doses.

The Pruitts were deeply apologetic to Lincoln after Lilith’s arrest and the facts of her case were made public. Lincoln, too, was able to accept an apology and make a little bit of room for their presence in our lives.

The relationships aren’t perfect, and they are far from ever being repaired. That simply isn’t possible. But we are more than okay with moving on from the darkness that came with our past in every way we possibly can.

We’re still watching the Vaughns and Pruitts as they break into a fit of laughter, causing Lincoln and I to sigh together.

Lincoln turns his focus to me. “What do you say, Mrs. Reed?” He sticks out his elbow. “Ready to continue making our rounds?”

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