Page 118 of Sneak Attack

Next to me, Cole picked up the piece of paper, but I was so focused on memorizing every single one of Marley’s features, every softened wrinkle, every strand of hair, and every age spot I didn’t notice until I heard him chuckling.

“Sorry,” he said, but there was a smile on his face, and he handed me the paper. “You should read this.”

“I don’t want to.”

“It’ll help.”

Nothing would, but with wet fingers and shaking hands, I took the paper.

Tears blurred the faint, jilted writing, and I wiped my tears off on my arm so I could see them better.

The box is for your running shoes. Put them away and never look at them again.

Marry him. Start a family. Have all the adventures you ever dreamed of.

Live with no regrets and a lot of laughter.

Love with all of your heart. It’s large enough for everyone—I’ve seen it.

Most of all, be happy.

Love you-

Marley

PS. Told you I’m always right.

I couldn’t help it. Like Cole, I barked out a laugh and wiped more snot from my nose. “She said she wanted me with you, and I told her she was wrong, that there never was an us. She told me not to lie to her. Then I called her stubborn. She said it wasn’t stubbornness if she was right.”

“Marley was the smartest woman alive.”

“Yeah.” I smiled up at Cole, and then bent down and gave her a kiss.

We stayed in her room until the ambulance came and then we joined Jasper out back, so he didn’t have to see them remove her body, but even then, as much as it hurt, there was also quiet laughter, stories we shared with him, and stories Kate and Dave joined in on.

In the end, our pain was replaced with a quiet, soothing peace.

We all hurt now that she was gone, but we were all better than we’d been because we had a chance to have her in our lives.

Me, especially.

“Come on,” Cole said to me, taking my hand in his once the ambulance was gone and the nurses had left. “Let’s go home.”

Home.

I smiled down at Jasper, up at Cole. “Sounds perfect.”

EPILOGUE

EDEN

“Jasper! Your mom is here! Come on, buddy!”

“Coming, Eden!”

He trampled down the stairs as loud as a herd of elephants, and almost knocked me off my feet as he threw his arms around me. “Have a good weekend, okay?”

“Will do! Bye, Dad!”

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