“Where have you been? What happened to you both?” Mum asks, not releasing me but holding me to her.

“I will tell you, but not here. Melodi needs you right now.”

“You both need us. You’re our daughters and we’re here for you both. My heart hurts looking at you with these marks on your bodies.” Her knuckle glides down my cheek over the tender bruise that’s there; it’s a gesture I’ve missed. She moves towards Melodi who’s in Dad’s arms and gives her a warm hug that only mothers can give. They make you feel safe and secure.

After a moment, she looks around the room and her eyes settle on Blake, recognition sweeping across her face.

“Aren’t you that police officer that came to us after Jacob’s court hearing all those years ago?”

“Yes ma’am, that’s me.” Blake doesn’t elaborate. Mum and Dad simply nod, but I know I need to give my parents the answers they need and soon. Their minds are already buzzing. I can feel the questions in their eyes as they watch me and Blake, then Mum’s gaze falls to Katie.

“And who is this little angel?” Mum coos at Katie, who beams brightly at her.

“Mum, Dad, this is Katie. She’s mine and Blake’s daughter.” The air becomes stagnant once again as silence fills the air.

Mum’s face is one of shock. Her eyes jump out of her head as her hands go to her face holding it and rubbing it as though she’s trying to wake from a dream.

“Oh, I need to sit down again. This is all so much to take in at once.” She breathes. I can only imagine how she’s going to react to the next bit of news after only seeing her for about five minutes. “Oh, and I’m getting married.”

Melodi’s face registers surprise as does my parents. I smile because I know they’re happy for me, even if they might pass out from all the news they have received. Knowing they’re glad to see me standing here alive and well before them, the grins on their faces is enough for me to know I have their support.

They need to hear the story and then they’ll understand why I had to do what I did. As they look between us all, Mum is speechless and Dad is in awe.

“You’re getting married?” Melodi asks quietly.

“Yes, it wasn’t a huge thing, but after Corban proposed to you, Blake unceremoniously asked me. And I said yes,” I beam. I’m so excited to be marrying him and euphoric that I can now have my family be a part of it. More hugs and congratulations go out around the room.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Melodi

We hug and congratulate Abby and Blake, the excitement that fills the room puts a hold on the dismal emotions that have been swirling around me for the past three days. Mum full on wraps Katie in her arms, squeezing her tightly. Poor Katie, I hope she can still breathe. I giggle to myself. I don’t think Mum or Dad will ever let her, or Abby, out of their sight again. My family is back together—almost. I’m only missing one person. Glancing at the figure lying on the bed, my heart is dipped in reality once again.

“Well, this has been one crazy morning,” Mum announces. “Let’s go—”

She’s cut off by groans coming from the bed. My stomach flips and my heart drops.

Corban! He’s stirring.

I race to the bedside, taking his hand. “Corban, babe, please, squeeze my hand if you hear me,” I plead. The pressure on my hand increases and excitement doesn’t even begin to explain how I’m feeling. This is amazing and I’m so happy. Everything is perfect. I have my family and now Corban is waking up; the love of my life is here and awake. Everything is slowly coming back together and my life is now whole. Yes, there’s lots of mending to happen but in this moment I’m content. I have my babies to look forward to and my wedding to the most amazing man.

Everything is how it should be, it’s beyond perfect.

Epilogue

Melodi

One Year Later

“Abby, will you quit mucking around? We need to get to the church!” I yell at her. Excitement is bubbling through the air. Looking around, Catherine and Paul’s place is a disaster zone. There are dresses strewn over the couches and bouquets of beautiful pink and white roses waiting for us to pick up as we walk out the door, their aroma filling the room. Flick and Rachel are running around like crazy people who have lost the most valuable thing they own, and Abby has gone missing in action.

We need to get to the church. Today is our wedding day, together. We decided not long after Corban woke up that we’d like to have a double wedding, and the boys agreed. Well, they didn’t get much of choice as it’s totally been our decision. I’m glad they supported it. Those two would do anything to make us happy. Corban fills me with so much joy, hearing his voice alone sets my heart racing. Seeing Abby and Blake together gets me emotional because I know how far they have come together and the love they held on to for each other. It’s like their own personal fairy tale comes to life.

“I’m here, Mel.”

Looking to the doorway, I’m blown away. My sister is stunning in her white fitted wedding dress. She went for simple and elegant, which suited her perfectly. She’s wearing a beautifully fitted dress with a lacy overlay and her hair is falling freely over her shoulders with a light curl. She didn’t want a veil, and neither did I, so we’ve worn our hair the same. I’ve gone with the fairy tale dress with a puffy tulle bottom and a fitted plain silk top. It’s magical. The air around us is full of peace and love. A love that could never be lost again.

“Where’s Katie?” Abby queries looking around. Katie is our flower girl. She looks like a little princess in her light pink fluffy dress with her hair down like ours and she has her own little crown. This is her day as well, a day when her family becomes one.

“In the kitchen with Mum and Catherine,” I say.

“What about the babies?” Abby questions.

“They’re asleep upstairs,” I reply.

I had the twins seven months ago, they were four weeks early and a good size for being that premature. Finn and Esme are beautiful. We couldn’t decide on their names together so Corban chose Finn’s name and I picked Esme’s. They fill our lives with so many smiles along with the tears of stress and tiredness. But it’s all worth it though when they give us those gummy smiles and giggles. It was very hard adjusting at the start, learning how to manage not one but two little infants, but it got better. The help from the families was fantastic. They cooked meals and babysat while I got much-needed rest. Corban was, and still is, amazing with them. They love their dadda as do I.

Mum and Dad actually packed up and moved to a home that was closer to Abby and me. Corban and I moved out of the city to a quieter area, where the houses have green yards and white picket fences, but we couldn’t be more excited about it. Now Blake and Abby live in the same area as Corban and I. It’s so good having her close again, knowing she won’t be going anywhere. Katie loves the babies and they are always smiling for her, the best cousin. She just wants to cuddle them all the time; she is such a beautiful spirit.

“How are you feeling,” I ask Abby. Her smile alone brightens up the room and I feel exactly the same. Our wedding day was a day we thought we would endure on our own across different parts of the world. I’m thrilled that we have each other again.

“Great, I’m about to marry the man I’ve wanted to for years, and I get to do it with my sister by my side.” She hugs me tightly. Tears begin to bubble in my eyes, but I mentally push them back because I can’t wreck the make-up now or I will have Rachel after me with all her tools once again.

“All right, everyone! Let’s not keep these boys waiting forever. They might think you’ve done a runner on them.”

We laugh at dad as we gather up everything we need. Flick and Rachel get the flowers, handing them to us along with the little bunch we had made for Katie. Dad rides in the car with us, Flick, Rach, and Katie. Mum and Corban’s parents take the babies to the church.