Epilogue

"Forty years," Steve said, triumphantly hugging his wife. "He got forty years, no parole." It was exactly one week since Jaime had given her statement. Having influential friends had helped move the case along quickly.

Jaime was finally healed enough to wrap both of her arms around him, too, in a full and joyful embrace. "It's really over," she sighed happily.

"We need to talk about something, Jaime," Steve began cautiously.

"Sounds kinda serious."

"I guess it is. Rudy says you'll be ready to leave the hospital in a couple more days. Would you be more comfortable if we found a new place to live?" Steve had already replaced the bed and had the hole by their tree filled in, but he wasn't sure if returning to the house might be too traumatic for her.

"Is that what you want?"

"I just want you to be comfortable," he told her, "and happy."

"That's our house! I love it there, with the big old fireplace, that kitchen, and our own little patch of forest."

"The woods aren't gonna be too much?"

"I don't really remember that part anyway. I don't wanna move; that would mean he succeeded in hurting us, in taking away something we love. We can't let him win, after all."

Steve kissed her. "You are most definitely right."

"Like I told you before - I usually am."

------

"So, Young Lady," Rudy said as he finished Jaime's discharge notes, "I hear Oscar's given you both a month's vacation. Going somewhere exotic? Somewhere special?"

"Somewhere special...we're going home."

------

"I'll be ok, Steve. Would you please stop worrying?" Jaime said, smiling at him. "You're only going for groceries, not to the moon and back."

"You sure you don't wanna come with me?"

"I'll probably just take a nap," she told him, not at all intending to do that.

"You're sure you'll be ok alone?"

"I'm fine. Will you just go, please?"

Steve did. When he returned, Jaime came bouncing down the sidewalk to meet him as soon as he got out of the car. She threw her arms around him, nearly overcome with happiness.

"There's something I've gotta show you," she said excitedly. She took him by the hand and led him around the back of the house. Steve hesitated when he realized she was headed into the woods.

"Come on," she insisted. "You have to see what I did!"

Jaime led him to their tree, and Steve was amazed to see that the patch of bare dirt where the hole had been was now covered with flowers. "The tree!" she said, almost singing with joy. "Look at the tree!"

Steve looked at their names and their wedding date, carved (it seemed) so long ago. Right below that, Jaime had carved the date they'd returned from the hospital, and a very special message:

"WE WON!"

END