My eyes lit up the moment I saw Gavin and Hunter behind him. “You’re home,” I breathed a sigh of relief. Walking in past Henry I wrapped my arms around Gavin, pulling him tight to me, as much as I could.
“Wow, you’re pregnant.” Gavin glanced from my stomach back up to my face. “Congratulations! When did this happen?” he asked, surprised.
“Six months ago,” I confessed. “And it’s twins.”
Hunter laughed. “Really?”
Joshua snaked his arm around my waist as he stood beside me. “We’re excited,” he answered. “A little nervous, but I know Olive is going to be a great mother.”
I blushed and quickly changed the subject. “So you made it home safely,” I beamed, glad they were both alive and well. “How did the trip to Torv go?”
Hunter glanced at Gavin before answering, “We were able to bring back two men with us. The rest who wanted to be reunited with the families in Spade were provided a map. We suggested they make travel arrangements with one another. It’s safer in large numbers.”
“That wasn’t all we did,” Gavin offered. “I was just telling Henry about the first draft of a treaty that would cease any and all fighting between our nations. Truth is–” he paused. “They need our help. After Isaura died, the women who were part of her experiments were released back into the population of Torv. Almost overnight fires erupted in buildings, and minor earthquakes occurred. The women treated with Mindonsiphan have no idea what they’re capable of doing and no control over their abilities. They’re volatile and the Republic of Cabal has rounded them up into camps. They don’t know how else to protect the rest of its citizens.”
“That’s horrible.” I felt nauseated and rested a hand over my stomach. I never wanted my children to experience what we had in our lifetime.
“It is,” Gavin agreed. “As part of the treaty, they’re requesting we send a team to help train the women to control their abilities. If we do that, they’ve agreed to allow them to reenter the general population or they can come to Spade if they’d prefer a new life. In exchange for our help, they’ve agreed to send out patrols through the Gravelands to clean up the outlaw problem, since it is still technically their land, and reestablish order throughout the nation.”
It would take time and resources but our world would be safe once again. Everything we’d fought for, we’d finally achieved - freedom and hope.
EPILOGUE
As if one newborn wasn’t enough to stress a new parent out, we’d found ourselves with twins, a boy and girl. It hadn’t felt real until the day I brought two beautiful children into the world and finally took them home with us.
With the excitement of two children, Joshua and I moved into a small cottage on the south side of Spade. The town was expanding and the walls built of stone were coming down. The treaty had been signed and a dozen women from Spade had journeyed to Torv to not only train them but also explain to them what they were going through. I couldn’t imagine having experienced it completely on my own. It would have been frightening.
“I have a surprise for you,” Joshua smiled as he carried our daughter, Hannah, in his arms. I sat outside on an old blanket with Connor nestled in my arms. It was a warm spring afternoon, with a slight breeze. Behind us the walls had come down and the expanse of grass and fields had become a playground for the children.
Adelaide ran around, doing cartwheels while Ainsley watched her. I glanced from Hannah down to Connor. “You do?” I smiled unable to imagine anything that could top what we already had, our family.
“Close your eyes,” he teased.
“No way!” I laughed. “Just, out with it! I just gave birth to two children of yours. You don’t get to keep secrets!” I shot him a glare as if that would do anything to convince him to give in.
It worked. “Fine, fine.” He laughed as he waved over Gavin and someone else.
From a distance I could see the familiar face and my heart leapt. How could it be her? Was it possible? “Olivia?” I heard her voice, it was honey to my ears and knew without a doubt it was exactly what I was seeing, the truth.
“Mom?” My voice caught in my throat and my eyes welled. Could it be her? I never expected to see her again, let alone find her in Spade.
My mother ran towards me with Gavin walking close behind. I didn’t stand up, I couldn’t move, transfixed and shocked. Why was she here? Was it for good? Gavin’s voice cut through my thoughts. “I thought it’d be nice for your mom to meet her grandchildren. I hope it’s okay I brought her to visit.”
My eyes lit up, the smile refusing to vanish. “Yes, of course! Come sit down,” I gestured towards the empty space on the blanket beside me. I didn’t budge, my arms cradled Connor. Leaning down, I placed a soft kiss to his forehead. Her eyes shined as she stared at the sleeping bundle in my arms. “Would you like to hold your grandson, Connor?”
“Yes!” She practically ripped him from my arms, as gently as she could. “He’s gorgeous,” she cooed staring down at his sleeping form. “How old is he?”
“Only a few days,” I smiled, glancing at Gavin. “How did you…” The words were lost on me.
Gavin bent down watching the interaction. “I knew she’d be pissed at me but the minute I told her she had two grandkids waiting to meet her, she’d give in.” The smile on his face was priceless. “Don’t get me wrong,” he shot Samantha, my mother, a look. “She gave me hell there and the entire way to Spade but I think it’s worth it.”
“You deserved it,” my mother retorted, glancing up for only an instant before returning her full attention to Connor. “You have twins?” she asked, holding him tight but wanting to see Hannah as well.
Joshua gently rocked Hannah in his arms. She’d woken up but didn’t fuss as long as he remained constantly in motion. “Hannah, meet your grandparents.”
“She’s gorgeous, they both are,” my mother cooed at the infant in her arms.
“What happens now?” I asked staring at her, watching her fall in love all over again.
She dropped a kiss to Connor’s forehead. “I think you get to take a break from saving the world and enjoy being parents.”
“That’s not what I meant,” I responded. “What about you?” I asked again. “What are you going to do now that the Republic of Cabal and Spade are starting over?” I wanted to know if I’d ever see her again or this was one last goodbye. She seemed so afraid the last time I’d been in Genesis. The circumstances were different but I needed to know if she’d accepted me for who I’d become.
My mother smiled coyly, handing me Connor as she studied my father’s face. “I was thinking of moving here, to Spade. I’ll need a place to stay and I’ll have to find a job,” she laughed nervously. “I’d like to see you more, Olive.”
“I’d like that, too,” I agreed.
Her eyes landed on Joshua, an eager smile on her face. “Have you spoken with your father recently?”
“I haven’t seen him since Genesis.” Joshua cleared his throat confused. “Why?”
“He left home several months ago,” she frowned. That wasn’t the answer she’d expected from Joshua.
“On foot?” Joshua was appalled.
“Word is he hitched a ride. I have no idea who with. We were hoping he found his way to you.” Her brow furrowed, upset.
“Maybe he still will,” Joshua whispered, hope evident in his voice. “He wouldn’t have known we were in Spade.” He glanced at me. “If he made it to Torv, he could have gotten wind about us in Spade but wouldn’t have been able to get here. Maybe now with the treaty and safe passage through the Gravelands he’ll find his way to us.”
“There’s always hope.” I smiled, trying to reassure him that he was still out there, alive.