Epilogue—Candace, Eight months later

It’s Friday night, and Billie Holiday’s beautiful voice carries through the air.

I’m in Stormy Creek at the D’Agostinos old home, dancing on the porch with my husband.

I’m sure the ghosts of the past who this time and this song belong to are watching us too, the way we did when we watched them.

We do this once a month. We have date night anyway, but once a month, we come back here to keep the beautiful memory alive.

Stars speckle the night sky like diamonds splashed over the smooth velvet surface, and the moon shines down on the lake.

This is what you call a beautiful night.

Over the hill at the Riccis old house, the place no longer feels haunted. The dark memories will still be there, but the girl is no longer trapped by the window wishing someone could help her.

She finally got her prince, after all.

She got him… Dominic D’Agostino, and there’s still no day that has passed when she didn’t feel the way she always did about him.

“I could do this with you forever,” Dominic says, twirling me around.

“I’m tempted to make you try.” I giggle.

“I’m going to do it as much as possible before our little one comes,” he says, and we stop dancing so he can crouch down and kiss my stomach.

I’m four months pregnant. Me. I went from Candace, the single friend, to fitting right in with everyone. Helen will join the club soon, I’m sure, because she and Adam are engaged.

Dominic rests his head on my stomach and starts stroking.

“You are so crazy.”

“Making sure I give my son the love he needs from now.”

“What if it’s a girl?” this is how we always argue.

“Then I’m doing the same. Makes no difference.”

I laugh, and he cups my face.

“Candace D’Agostino, I love you. Doesn’t matter if we have a boy or girl; they will be a treasure to me. Just like you are to me.”

I slip my arms around him. “You too, my angel.”

Sometimes I can’t believe my life. It all worked out in the end. Everything did, and I feel like I found myself when I found him.

He pulls me in for a kiss that speaks of never-ending love, and I savor him the way I will forever.