Chapter 33
They pulled up to the pet clinic, met by Dr. Bain and his staff at the entrance. He quickly looked at Duke’s injury before a sullen look dropped across his face. He turned to the couple, patted Duke’s head and said, “We’ll do everything we can for our hero, here…everything, okay?”
Not a he’ll be fine,
or we can fix this
. A vague promise to help without a guaranteed outcome.
Evie called in a favor, asking Doc Charles to meet them at the animal clinic. Megan and Colton needed to be seen but refused to leave Duke and go to the hospital. He was happy to oblige, having just finished closing down the Gala and dismantling his band’s equipment.
Using a free exam room – sterile is sterile – he dressed the wounds needing attention. Plenty of stitches, bruising, and cracked ribs later, they were back in the waiting area, hoping for good news. Declan arrived hours later to find everyone there, including Doc Charles, who insisted on waiting in the event he was needed for anything.
Tom Boyd sang like a bird, giving up more info than they had expected. Turned out, he was in need of a fast payday…sick kid. Valdez swooped in with the dangling carrot that Tom needed to save his child. Understandable to some degree…a desperate parent will sacrifice anything for their ailing child. Unfortunately, this sacrifice was going to cost him life in federal prison.
Dr. Bain interrupted the random chatter that had erupted when the heaviness of conversation had become too heavy and they needed a change of subject to maintain sanity.
“Well, we never found the bullet. He was a mess…”
TWO WEEKS LATER
The first snow of the season finally fell. Late, but beautiful. The tragedies of the past few weeks were fading, although they would never be forgotten. Routines were resuming, and life was finally feeling a sense of normalcy settle in. Lydia had been staying with Colton and Megan, getting reacquainted with her son.
Megan’s house was nearly done with repairs from the fire. Lydia and Jax would stay there, wanting to remain in McKenzie Ridge. She had fallen in love with McKenzie, just as Meg had, and quickly became part of the tight-knit group.
Everyone had gathered at Colton and Megan’s to celebrate their engagement, something that had been overlooked, given the events that immediately followed the proposal. Declan arrived but only for a quick goodbye. He had wrapped up in McKenzie and was off to his next adventure, whatever that meant.
“Are you sure you have to leave, Dec boy? It’s nearly Christmas!” Cari pleaded, sounding just like their Irish mother.
He wrapped an arm around her while she wiped a lone tear. “Sorry, Cari, duty calls. I’ve a lot to follow up on. Valdez is out of the picture but not his operation. I’ll be back,” he said, making eye contact with Lydia, whose cheeks blushed. “It may be time I start to slow down a bit, find some roots. We’ll see.”
Of course, the women in the room didn’t miss her shyness and the desire-laced look Declan passed her. “Interesting!” Evie said, sipping her drink. Sam nudged her, causing her to spill.
Jessie leaned in to Everly and whispered. “Don’t worry. We’ll get that out of Princess 2.0 later.” She motioned between Lydia and Declan.
Granny had pulled together quite the feast and called them all to the table for grace and their hearty meal, insisting on a plate for Declan to take with him since he couldn’t stay.
Finding his way through the small crowd of kids and animals littering the floor, Colton made it to the front porch where Megan was sitting on the swing, Duke’s head in her lap and a blanket over him, covering the bandages that wrapped his shoulders. Boss sat at her feet, his head still bandaged to protect his wounded ear, or what was left of it.
“Are you okay?” Colton asked.
She smiled. “I am…just taking a breather.” Her bruises had faded to yellow, cuts and scrapes healed, swelling gone. It seemed healing physically was easier than emotionally.
The door opened, Dec crossing through, offering a hand shake and a “bro hug” to Colton.
“Taking off, bro?”
“Yeah, duty calls, man.”
Dec reached down and patted Duke and then Boss goodbye. Megan stood to bid him farewell, her eyes full. He hugged her tight and said, “Take care of yourself and that sister of yours. She’s a handful – good luck!”
She laughed at the humor he used to break up the overwhelming emotion surrounding them. “Seriously, if you guys need anything, anything at all, you call me!”
“Okay,” she said with a nod, wiping the tears that insisted on falling. His leaving was the final chapter of her old life and the beginning of her freedom to be who she was meant to be.
Colton held Meg close while they waved their friend goodbye.
“He’ll be back. Did you notice how he looks at Lydee?” Colton laughed.
A bewildered look crossed her face, “Really?”
“Really. So tell me what’s dancing around in that pretty head of yours?”
“It’s all good things. I promise. Just so many changes the past few weeks. I’m so glad to have Lydee back. Glad Jax has his mama, but I’m going to miss being his temporary mama,” she admitted. “Who knew, I’d want to be a mom!” she laughed at herself, as if her admission was an odd desire.
“Oh, baby. They’ll be next door. He’ll be here all the time. Maybe we need to think babies…” Colton wiggled his eyebrows and gave her a naughty grin and wink.
“Maybe.” She laughed. “Let’s start with those animals you promised.”
He kissed her sweetly and said, “I love you, Meg, with everything that I am.”
“I love you, too, forever.”
He turned her around, hands on her shoulders and led her to the door.
“Now, let’s get in there, eat, and get rid of everyone so we can start practicing for those babies!” He smacked her ass, earning a joyful laugh that settled in his heart.
“There you are!” someone called out, and the room erupted in cheers.
He finally had his Hallmark moment. Colton just began his happily ever after…
THE END