Giuliana is still single, as is Zthane. Both devote their lives to the Guard, which has been running more efficiently than it has in almost a hundred years. Iolani finally found her Prince Charming in a really shy Elf that has nothing to do with the Guard or the Council. He took his sweet time getting around to asking her to marry him, but their wedding, appropriately set in Hawaii, was beautiful.
As for me and Jonah ... marriage is good. Like, really good. There’s not a day that goes by in which I am not infinitely grateful for having this wonderful man in my life. I didn’t think it was possible, but marriage has intensified the feelings we have for one another. Everything between us has grown and flourished over the years until it’s now made of indestructible titanium; everything is much more beautiful and meaningful for the time spent together.
That’s not to say that I don’t think of his brother; in fact, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about him every single day. For years, I’ve wondered what he’s doing, if he’s happy or married or if he’s got a child that looks like mine. Is he a psychiatrist like he thought he’d be? Does he still prefer yellow cars? Does he ever take out his battered copy of On The Road and read it, wondering why he’d highlighted passage after passage?
Are there ever strong pangs of longing and missing for a brother he doesn’t remember? Does he ever look at girls with brown hair and green eyes and wonder why his heart might skip a beat?
But I’m okay with my questions because I believe they’ll be answered someday. The night after Kellan left us, Jonah came home and told me calmly, steadily, “We’ll see him again, Chloe.”
Momentary confusion and joy warred in my chest. Kellan had changed his mind? But no, Jonah told me. Kellan was somebody new, heading somewhere we’ve never been. But what he was confessing to me was that, when he entered his brother’s head that last time, Jonah found it impossible to follow Kellan’s wishes to the letter.
“Memories,” he told me, “can never be completely erased. They can only be masked and hidden, some better than others.”
What this means is, Kellan’s memories will most likely surface someday, because Jonah refused to ensure his efforts were permanent.
That’s not to say Jonah didn’t influence him in all the other ways Kellan wanted. He gave him the choices and zest for life that his brother truly deserves. But my husband has faith that someday, his brother will slowly remember what he’s left behind and come to realize that there’s no need to sacrifice so much forever. Maybe, we hope, if enough years have gone by, and enough life and happiness has filled his heart, we’ll have him back. He might come home or, at the very least, contact us. It’s a dream I hold onto, but more importantly, it’s one Jonah won’t let go of.
He has faith he and his brother will be together again someday. That’s they’ll be strong and close and a family again.
I haven’t allowed myself the luxury yet, but every so often, when Jonah is off on a mission, he finds his brother. Doesn’t say anything, doesn’t intrude, doesn’t stalk or do anything creepy ... he just makes sure Kellan’s okay from a distance. And from what I hear, he is. His life is rich and filled with everything he deserves. And oh gods, that makes me so happy to hear and takes a weight off my husband’s shoulders.
So until the day Jonah and his brother are reunited, we continue to take steps forward together. We have our son. Family. Friends. Work. We both were instrumental in helping to incorporate the Métis delegation into the Council after the Elders threat passed. Many Métis realized they have a home here and options. Annar has expanded and is changing for the better. After all the high costs we had to pay, all the sacrifices both of us alongside our loved ones have had to pay, we’ve found our happy ending.
Someday, it’ll be even happier, I hope.
“Are the Graystones coming tonight for dinner?” KC asks me as he grabs his surfboard.
“Yep. They’ll be here in two hours,” I tell him. “So you and your dad better get moving if you want to get some sets in.”
My son is off, running down towards the water. Jonah lingers behind. “You know,” he muses, “I think he’s going to be better than me someday.”
I wrap my arms around him. “Tough on your ego?”
He presses a kiss against my temple; I lean into it, sighing happily. Even now, even after years and years of knowing this man, his touch still melts me. “I’m okay with KC being better,” he murmurs against my hair. “I think I actually prefer it that way.”
My husband is the most amazing father. And kisser, because his mouth is on mine, and all my thoughts go scattering into the gentle sea breeze around us.