Epilogue
TWO MONTHS LATER
Martin stood beside the mayor in the lobby of city hall. A journalist and photographer from The Miami Metropolis were at the front of the room along with Josephine’s family, a contingent of politicians, and several Pinkerton staff including Martin’s boss. Rake and his family had chosen to skip the event, trying to avoid any additional connection of the Solvino name with the infamous Sin Sombra.
Josephine watched with pride as the mayor raised the ribbon of the medal over Martin’s head and her husband—her husband!—bent to make it easier for the shorter man. With the ribbon draped around his neck, the gold medal sat squarely in the center of his chest above his heart. A heart that she knew beat for her!
“The city of Miami owes you an immense debt of gratitude for your heroic actions in capturing the crime boss Sin Sombra and ridding our city of such evil,” the mayor intoned ceremoniously.
“That is our hero up there,” she said to baby Marcos and rocked him in her arms.
“And a wonderful man!” Alberta said with glee.
“Yes, he is. A wonderful man and my friend,” Ronaldo said and clapped loudly before facing Zara. “Isn’t he wonderful?” he said again.
“Yes, he is, Ronaldo, but so are you,” Zara said and rose on tiptoes to kiss him.
Josephine’s heart soared at their growing affection and hoped it would lead to more and soon.
Martin walked over to them a second later, slipped his arm around her waist, and drew her close for a kiss. “I missed you so, my darling.”
Josephine laughed and playfully pushed him away. “We’ve only been apart for about an hour.”
“Way too long,” he teased and leaned down to brush a kiss on Marcos’s forehead. “How are you doing, little one?” he said and took the baby from her arms with the ease of a man who had been doing it his whole life.
She wasn’t sure if there was anything more touching—and enticing—than a powerful man holding an innocent baby so tenderly.
“We should get going,” she said. With winter having arrived, night came earlier, but on top of that, she wanted to be alone with Martin and savor the freedom that the long winter night provided to be together. And although they’d been careful after their wedding night, it might be time to soon discuss adding to their family.
“Before you go,” Zara said and reached into her purse. She drew out an envelope and handed it to her. “The postman delivered it this morning to the cottage.”
Josephine peered at the envelope emblazoned with the name Crimson Romance, the publisher to whom she had sent her story so many months earlier.
“What is it, my darling?” Martin asked, peering over her shoulder at the envelope.
“I don’t know,” she said, not daring to guess at what it might say. Hands trembling, she tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter. The words jumped at her, and she had to read it several times to make sure she had not misunderstood. Glancing first at Martin and then at the rest of her family, she softly said, “They want to publish my story.”
As her family reacted with jubilee, Martin hugged her and twirled her around, and she threw back her head and shouted this time, “They want to publish my story!”
Even after the congratulations were over and Martin, the baby, and she were in the carriage and heading home, she kept on repeating it. “They want to publish my story!”
“They most certainly do.” Martin smiled happily and tucked the blanket tighter around her and the baby. It was an unseasonably cold winter day and the sky hung heavy with dark gray clouds that promised a storm was on the way.
Martin pushed the horses as fast as he could to avoid being caught in bad weather. The wind that whipped into the carriage had a bite to it, and Josephine huddled tight against him, tucking Marcos between them. Drawing comfort from Martin’s presence and the heat of his body.
They arrived at their homestead in less than half an hour, and Josephine smiled as she took note of all the progress that had been made in the last few months. Catching Sin Sombra had come with an unexpected blessing—a monetary reward from the city that had allowed them to accelerate the work on their house. In another week or so, the rooms for Alberta and Zara, as well as a separate nursery for Marcos and her writing room, would soon be ready.
She sighed with happiness and with the peace that being with Martin had brought her the last few months. Peace and passion, an unexpected mix. Even now her body awoke with desire as Martin pulled the carriage up to the door of the cottage.
He helped her down and as she set foot on the ground, she noticed the fat, white flake that settled on the dark brown of Martin’s sack suit. Peering upward, the cold kiss of another snowflake landed on her cheek and was quickly followed by several more.
Snow falling in Miami? She laughed, wrapped an arm around Martin’s waist, and faced him. “Do you remember what you told me once?”
From the lopsided grin on Martin’s lips, it was obvious he did. “I said I would love you until snow falls in Miami. Only I hate to disappoint you, Josephine.”
He pulled her close, mindful of the baby caught between them. Tenderly cupping her cheek, he said, “I’m not going anywhere.”
They came together, laughing and kissing. Grateful for the miracle they’d been given… Each other.
Ta-da! Now that’s a happily ever after, my friends. What started so well and got so complicated has ended much as we all wanted… Well, except possibly Rake. But while one story is complete, there are still so many others waiting to be told. You just must be patient—always patient—and see what will happen next.