Epilogue
Four years later
Chloe decided right at the start of the Halloween party that she was trick-or-treating with Rafe. He and Deacon had become sort of honorary uncles to the little girl, and friends with Anna. Dressed as a cowboy, Deacon was at the back of the small group of kids, all of whom were in Rafe’s class this semester. Chloe was dressed as a ballerina, and that was her entire focus since she’d joined the dance school a town over. Rafe took her and Michael, and interestingly enough Billy, who refused to let his family stop him from dancing. Rafe thought Billy was the kind of kid who would live through anything thrown at him and always come out on top. Turned out he’d been right about him and Michael being best friends. Inseparable friends, actually.
He drove them, along with a few other kids from the school. All belted in on the school minibus, which had been a donation from an anonymous benefactor.
Rafe had decided it was Deacon, but his partner, lover and friend had never actually admitted it.
“You don’t look much like anything,” Chloe informed Rafe when he picked her up.
“I’m a zombie,” he said, and threw his hands wide. He hadn’t had time to do what he’d really wanted to, because Deacon, the bastard, had been dressed as a cowboy when Rafe had got home and they’d lost track of time in bed; too late to pick up his outfit.
So Rafe was not Jack Sparrow this year, but, with the addition of quick white face paint, he’d become a zombie teacher. Looked as if it wasn’t that convincing, though, because little Chloe just frowned at him.
“Uncle Craig?”
Rafe crouched down to talk to her, his mouth already tilted in a smile. “Wassup, Nina ballerina?”
“I decided I’m gonna marry someone,” she said, “like you and Deacon.”
Awkward. He and Deacon weren’t officially married, although they could be, but they’d never thought much past the whole “my name isn’t Craig even though I have all kinds of documentation” thing. They still lived in the apartment over the bakery, had adopted two cats and one three-legged dog. They had Danish for breakfast, so much coffee they kept the shop open single-handed, and loved each other every day. That was enough.
Deacon was happy in his career; he worked freelance with Mac, and was at home more than he was away. The last four years had been a blur, and only when the news had some update on the serial killer case did the memories stir from where Rafe had hidden them away. He still had scars on his back, and his wrist had never quite healed, but he was used to both of those things.
They were nothing compared to being alive.
“That’s a really good idea,” he said. “Can I come to your wedding?”
“Uh-huh.” She leaned in close. “I’m going to marry Billy, or Michael – I haven’t decided yet.”
Michael must have heard, and from his lofty nearly-ten-year-old height, he looked aghast at the thought. He nudged Billy and whispered something, but Billy didn’t look as aghast. He ruffled Chloe’s hair, then the two boys ran on to the next house, Chloe flying after them.
The rest of the kids ran to catch up, and Rafe stopped at the beginning of the path to the house, Deacon walking into him, gripping him at the last minute so they didn’t both end up on the ground.
“You okay there, hoss?” he asked, drawling the words like some kind of John Wayne; all he was missing was his horse and a six-shooter.
“I love you,” Rafe said, clearly but softly.
Deacon’s wry smile gave way to a full grin. “I love you too.”
“I’d like a Christmas wedding,” Rafe murmured, leaning close so this marvelous new plan of his wasn’t one he was sharing with the whole town, because what if Deacon stepped back horrified, then maybe laughed at him?
Deacon did neither of those things. He gathered Rafe in and held him close. “A Christmas wedding sounds good.”
“Here, in town.”
“Yep.”
“With Mac and Sam, and everyone here, and the guys you work with at Sanctuary, and the teachers.”
“Everyone.”
As simply as that, Rafe and Deacon were getting married.
Everyone knew him as Craig in town. No one knew who he really was, only that he was the lucky one who’d escaped a murderer. But that had been a long time ago now.
When the town gathered for the wedding, it was the biggest celebration since last year’s Christmas lights switch-on. Sam stood up for Rafe, and Mac was there for Deacon. Chloe got to wear a bridesmaid’s dress, and that year’s Apple class, along with plenty of other students who had been taught their ABCs by Mr. Jenkins, wore variations on the colors of the rainbow.
The weather was warm, and Rafe was blown away by the love from this town, this place that had been his place to hide out. The wedding was beautiful, the cake delicious, the vows solemn, and the kisses heated.
Rafe knew one thing as Deacon dipped him on the dance floor, laughing like an idiot, with Mac encouraging him from the sidelines.
Craig Jenkins and Deacon Shepherd were going to live happily ever after.
THE END