Epilogue

Two Years Later...

Rory was sitting under the tree at Laughton College. It was a small institution on the outskirts of Red Hills, and she was a sophomore there. She was deeply involved with a project for class, but she'd have to leave soon to meet Carson. It was nearly lunchtime.

Because of the pin in her leg, Rory had been forced to give up dancing. She hadn't ever firmly planned to make dancing her career, but she'd been cast adrift when she'd found out she couldn't dance anymore.

During her long re-cooperative period Rory had started committing to paper the events with Dalen in her private journal. Writing had proven cathartic, so she had tentatively decided on a double major of English and psychology. When she'd finished high school, in Los Angeles, she'd applied to Laughton and was accepted.

They'd taken an apartment in Red Hills, and Rory had started attending classes. Carson was still close to Los Angeles, where he went nearly every day. The band was starting to take off, but he still had a day job working at Armitage RPC. Once they signed a recording contract and released their first album, he would quit.

Today was a special day, and he'd taken the afternoon off. It was her parents’ twentieth anniversary, and Carson was meeting her at the hotel where the party was being held. She was so glad the breach between her parents had healed, and they were both more loving and approachable since the events with Dalen.

Looking at her watch, Rory closed her laptop computer and stuffed it into her backpack. She stood up, dusting off the blue dress, and walked across the quads. She resisted the urge to look behind her. For the longest time after she'd been released from the hospital, she'd looked over her shoulder constantly. She'd refused to make plans, having trouble believing they would actually happen. She had been convinced Dalen would return to take her.

Over a period of months, with the support of friends, families, a therapist, and especially Carson, she'd stopped watching for Dalen. She knew there was a chance he might materialize someday, but she refused to let him rule her life again through fear. If she did, he would still be controlling her, which she found unacceptable.

During the last year she'd lived up to that vow. She and Carson had married six months ago in a small ceremony. Three weeks before that, her new baby brother had been christened in the same church. For their honeymoon, they'd gone to Chicago and gotten better acquainted with Chris's family. Carson and Chris had grown closer, and he seemed to get along with Rita now.

His two younger stepbrothers and his half-sister Emily adored Carson, and they were excited Rory and Carson would be flying in for a few days over the Thanksgiving break. Carson claimed he was dreading it, but Rory knew better. He was looking forward to seeing his family again.

When Rory got to her car, there was a single red rose tucked under the windshield wiper, and she laughed delightedly when she sniffed it. It was just like Carson to drive all the way out to Laughton to leave her a rose and not even look for her. He was so romantic.

Rory got in her bright yellow Mustang, a replacement for the other one, and drove into the city. She used valet parking at the hotel and walked into the lobby. Leigh and Dan were already waiting for her, standing with Ricky and Moriah, who'd taken the day off from school. “Where's Michael?” she asked as they took turns hugging her.

“He's fussy today,” Dan explained. “We thought a sitter would be better since he still has that ear infection.” Dan had taken a very active role in Michael's life and while Rory was a bit envious, she was happy to see her dad was finally involved with his family, no matter how late.

“Have you seen Carson?” Rory asked as she turned to survey the crowd. She caught sight of a tall dark-haired man, and for a moment, her heart leapt in her throat. She tried to focus better, but the crowd shifted and she lost sight of him. Rory took a deep breath, dismissing it. Every once in awhile, she still had panic attacks, but they were rare now.

Carson came toward them and swept Rory into his arms, kissing her as he twirled her around. Their love was as strong today as it had been two years ago. “I missed you,” he whispered.

Rory smiled. “I missed you too. When you dropped off the rose, you should have tried to find me. You have my schedule.” She poked him playfully in the chest.

“What rose?” he asked, puzzled.

“Ahh,” she sighed. “Waxing mysterious, are we?” Rory handed him the red rose, which she'd carried into the hotel. “I found this on my car, but I suppose you don't know anything about it?” she teased.

Carson took the rose and frowned. “Nope, I don't.”

Rory giggled before realizing Carson was serious. “Really?” she asked, and he nodded. “I wonder where it came from?” Fear coiled in her stomach.

Carson knew her so well. “Don't panic, baby. I'm sure it was meant for someone else. Don't go reading omens and looking for signs.”

Rory smiled tremulously. “You’re right,” she agreed and took the rose from him, stuffing it in the nearest receptacle. Carson put his arm around her waist, and surrounded by her family, they walked into the banquet room where the anniversary luncheon was being held.

If Rory had looked behind her, she would have seen a man take the rose from the trash and caress the petals. She would have seen him bury his nose in the fragile bloom, and she would have seen Dalen Hudson shed a tear.

******