Page 85 of Cougar

I chuckle, thinking about Tilly chasing Turd and Dillon after they water balloon pranked the girls while they were having a tea party. I could have sworn that it was Yaya who returned to teach them some manners. I felt a tingle at the back of my head while watching that.

“Mallory left when she turned eighteen. She cried while telling us she needed to get away and find herself. Elvira was an absolute mess, but we wished her well. Let me tell you, she found something amazing out in Seattle.

“I wish I had the time to tell you about every detail of what happened with Knuckles and Whitley. It’s not my story to tell, though. What I will say, is I’ve never seen a couple more in love. Maybe next time Knuckles comes to see you, he’ll tell you. Also, Whitley came through to make sure none of us went to jail for what we did in regards to The Company. So there’s that.

“The director wasn’t happy, but in the end, we shut down the operation. They gave us a pardon so long as we never spoke a word and made the agreement that if anything comes from it, we contact them and don’t do a single thing. It was an easy agreement if it meant no prison time. Especially because they found Bonnie’s blood on Elvira. He didn’t stop fighting for us, until the deal was brokered to cover her as well. It helped that they never found her body.

“Your shop is doing great. Gears took over, and with a bit of a guiding hand from Elvira and AJ, he is making sure your legacy is standing strong. They’re still helping out the little guys as much as they can.

“Let’s see, what else?” I take a moment and look out to the surrounding area. The family plot is beautiful and well taken care of, but I will never not wish he was here. I wish I could rewind time and bring him back, but life doesn’t work that way. When I turn and see the barn, it sets off a light bulb.

“Oh! Robert fell in love. Remember when you said you think he’s seeing someone, and you told me who you thought that someone was? You were right,” I laugh. I walk up to his headstone and place my hand on top of it. “You were smarter than a lot of people gave you credit for and, without a doubt, the best man I’ve ever known. Life hasn’t been the same without you, but we’ve made it work.

“You and I, we created something amazing here, and even though you’re gone, it lives on.”

Taking a breath, I turn my head up to the sky when a tear falls down my cheek. After the tear’s gone, I look back at his tombstone. “I love you, Theo. Always. And remember….

“We are nameless. We are family.”

The End.

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