Page 103 of Forget Me Not

Epilogue

RHEA

Six Months Later

“Hey, Rhea, need a hand with those?”Tyler asks as he sees me walking to Gladys’s with a plate.

“I’ve got it, thanks for asking, though. Still need me to cover tomorrow night for you to take Chloe out?” His cheeks pinken as he approaches and I love it.

“Yeah, actually, I wanted to talk to you about that.” He puts his hands in his pockets, acting shy.

“What is it? Oh God, you’re not breaking up with her, right?” My eyes are wide as he grins at me.

“No, I was actually thinking about asking her to move in with me. My brother moved out a few weeks ago and I feel like it’s time. But I needed your opinion first. Is it too fast?”

My heart bursts with happiness for him. “It’s been six months, Tyler. I guarantee you, as much as I loved living with Gladys, Chloe would love to move in with you. In fact, she was talking about saving up for her own place the other week when we had coffee.”

His boyish smile makes me want to laugh. “Yeah, she mentioned that. I thought it was crazy for her to spend that money, but my brother wasn’t gone yet, so I didn’t want to ask, and you’ve been too busy to talk to since then with the new house and all.”

“Sorry about that,” I say honestly. “Speaking of the new house, I meant to text you about the house-warming party. I’ll tell you more about it at our weekly brunch.” Tyler and I usually meet up for brunch once a week, and the past two weeks, Alaric and I have been trying to decide between houses. “My treat.”

“Don’t you mean your sugar daddy’s treat?” Tyler teases and I nearly throw my plate at him. He laughs, backing away like he knows it too.

“Just kidding, Rhea. See you Sunday.” He jogs back to the other side of the street with a wave and I wave back. His friendship has meant the world to me these past six months. It’s so crazy to think I have friends now. A whole life to call my own.

Since I’m no longer a guest at Gladys’s, I knock on the door with my free hand, the other holding a plate of homemade cookies—cookiesIbaked. They actually turned out better than I expected, considering I’ve never baked anything before. Oatmeal raisin with chocolate chips. Gladys gave me the recipe, so it’s only right that I bring her some. Besides, I’ve sort of missed our little chats.

The door swings open and the smile on her face instantly warms me.

“Rhea, darling. Why on earth are you knocking?” She steps aside and waves her arm. “Come in. Come in.”

I walk inside and I’m immediately embraced in a hug. Gladys’s hugs always feel like home.

The house smells delicious as always, like homemade apple pie. It’s a scent I’ve missed as much as I’ve missed this place. In a weird way, this house built me. In my short time here, I learned so much about myself.My whole existence I felt like I was standing still while life went on around me. It turns out, I was never standing still, but simply taking the small steps I needed to at the time. Some days I barely moved, while others I jumped.

I lost so much during those years, felt so much deep pain, some of which I continue to feel and probably always will. But it’s that pain that reminds me how far I’ve come, and how far I still have to go. I’m learning to embrace the past, live in the present, and look forward to the future.

“These are for you and your guests,” I tell Gladys as I hand her the plate of cookies.

“You baked the cookies.” Gladys beams. “They look tasty. I can’t wait to try one, I just know our new guests will love them, too.”

We walk into the kitchen and Gladys sets the plate down, returning to a pot of boiling pasta on the stove. “I was just preparing dinner. Would you and Alaric like to join us? Chloe invited Tyler over before they go out tonight.”

“Oh no, but thank you for the offer. Unfortunately I can’t stay long because we have furniture arriving at the house today, but I actually wanted to invite you over for dinner this weekend. If you’re not busy.”

“That would be lovely, darling. How are you liking the new house?” Her wrinkly hands wrap around the spoon as she stirs the pasta.

I rest my arms on the kitchen counter, grinning like a teenager. “It’s amazing. It’s right on Meyers Lake with the most beautiful view. Alaric and I have been sitting on the back porch every night since we’ve moved in, watching the sunset.”

Gladys claps her hands together, a twinkle in her eye. “I’m so happy for you. You deserve all the happiness in the world.”

“Well, I don’t know if I’m deserving of it, but I am pretty happy.”

Taking my face in her hands, she looks me in the eye. “Youaredeserving. You’re a good person, Rhea. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. But I’ve seen the growth in you since you arrived in Lockhaven. Your strength is admirable and you should be very proud of how far you’ve come.”

Gladys doesn’t know about my past, but even if she did, I don’t doubt her words would be the same.

“Thank you. That truly means a lot.”

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