Author's Note: This epilogue brings an end to this story. Thank you for joining me for it! I'm posting this right after posting chapter 10, so be sure you read that before reading this.

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Sarah Kate loved being in the backyard. She and Melissa had planted flowers, and now that it was April, they were all blooming and they smelled wonderful. Six months had passed since Sarah Kate came to live with Matt and Melissa Carter.

Peter Wentworth had died in March. He'd lived longer than the doctors expected. Liza still asked about her PopPop sometimes. Sarah Kate cuddled with her a lot. Mom and Dad did too. She was too little to understand about death.

Sometimes Sarah Kate thought she was too little to understand it, too. Some days she woke up missing her birth dad so much it made her heart hurt. She missed Peter Wentworth, too. She'd started calling him PopPop, just like Liza. It was good to have so many grandfathers who loved her.

Mrs. Richards visited twice a month and talked with Sarah Kate on the phone once a week. She was visiting now and the pair sat down on the back patio for a private talk.

"Your arm looks much better," Mrs. Richards said.

Sarah Kate grinned. "Yeah, it's finally working right. Dr. Brackett said the radial nerve had to heal. It was severed when my arm was broken and the surgeon had to sew it back together. I'm happy because now I can climb up in the tree house and I can use my right hand for writing. You know, I want to be a writer when I grow up."

"I think that's a wonderful goal." Mrs. Richards opened a file folder and pulled out some notes she had written the last time they talked. "So tell me, Sarah Kate, do you still want the Carters to adopt you?"

Sarah Kate nodded vigorously. "Yes, I do!" She got really quiet for a moment, then started to talk. "Mom's going to have a baby any day now, and I like being a big sister. And Liza needs me. She needs lots of people who love her, and I'm one of them. Mom and Dad love her too, of course, but she needs her big sister." She took a quick breath, then kept talking. "And Mom and Dad love me. We talk a lot, and they take me to church and make sure I do my homework, and Dad's a really good cook. So is Nonno Gio."

Another quick breath. "Their church is like my grandma's, not like Uncle Peter's and Aunt Judy's, which was boring and everyone was mean. I like going to Mom and Dad's church. I really like Sunday School. Oh, and my best friend lives right across the street. Sometimes we put secret messages in the window for each other. And D.J. and Megan and Chris live just down the street and we're good friends too." She didn't mention that she still had a big crush on Chris.

Mrs. Richards held up a hand. Sarah Kate stopped talking and let her get a few words in. "It sounds like you're really happy." She wrote down some more notes. Sarah Kate tried to see what she was writing. "Well, my dear, I am happy to approve this adoption. You'll all go to court on Friday for an adoption hearing."

The smile that lit up Sarah Kate's face stretched from one ear to the other. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" She threw her arms around Mrs. Richards' neck and gave her a big hug.

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Matt and Melissa made plans to get all the Carters to Carson so they could attend the hearing. They also invited Johnny and Nita, the DeSotos, the Schumachers, Alex Bowman, the Bracketts, and of course, Nonno Gio.

They wanted everyone there so the judge could see the family that was ready to love the heck out of Sarah Kate for the rest of her life. Matt had also asked Gramps to bring his sister Sarah. He knew she would be pleased to meet the grandniece who shared her name.

On the day of the hearing, everyone crowded into the courtroom and found their seats. They actually managed to fill up most of the courtroom. Johnny and Nita were sitting near the front. Sarah Kate flew over to them and gave them both hugs before joining Matt and Melissa at the bar table.

The judge asked Sarah Kate if she wanted to be adopted by Matt and Melissa. She smiled really big and nodded her head. "I sure do!" she said. "If I can't have my birth daddy, I want to belong to them. They love me a lot and I'm really happy with them. Also, I love Liza and I want to be her big sister."

"I'm glad to hear that." The judge turned his attention to Matt and Melissa. They both expressed how much they loved Sarah Kate and wanted her to be their daughter. At last, the judge pounded his gavel on his lectern. "I hereby decree that Sarah Katherine DiAngelo is now Sarah Katherine Carter." He signed his name on a certificate, which the bailiff gave to Sarah Kate. Then he signed the Decree of Adoption, which was given to Matt and Melissa. "Sarah Kate, you and your new family are welcome to come up here for a photograph."

Everyone in the courtroom wanted to be in the photo. They all lined up. Sarah Kate stood in the middle between Matt and Melissa, who put their arms around her. Liza was in Yvette's arms. She loved her Grandma. The Bailiff snapped a photo with Matt's camera.

Then it was time to go home and get ready for the party. All of Sarah Kate's friends were coming. So was Edna Richards. Tex and Winnie were watching the Gage twins and would bring them to the party, too.

It was a wonderful time. Sarah Kate sat down across from Matt and Andy to talk with her Aunt Sarah. "So, Dad told me that Gramps made your cat Mr. Boots invisible, but I don't believe it!"

Aunt Sarah laughed. "Oh, honey. It's true as can be!" She punched her brother on the shoulder. "That cat slept on my bed every night, but I never saw her again after your uncle used his contraption on her. She also liked to sleep in my lap when I was reading a book or doing homework."

Sarah Kate's eyes got big. "You mean it really happened that way?"

Aunt Sarah gave a solemn nod. "I never fully forgave your Gramps for that. She was such a pretty cat, too."
Matt chuckled. "I told you I would never lie to you, sweetheart."

Sarah Kate sighed. "I just don't see how it's possible."

Johnny laughed. "There are mysteries in this world that you will never understand, Sprout."

"I guess," she said. Matt could see that she wasn't quite convinced, but she was getting there.

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Sarah Kate sidled up next to Gramps. He had something in his pocket, and she wanted to know what it was. "Hey, darlin'. Come with me," he said. "Let's go to the front yard. I've got something to show you."

They walked through the back gate and down the driveway to the sidewalk. "What's in your pocket, Gramps?"

Andrew pulled out a handful of fireworks, connected by a string, and a lighter. He arranged the fireworks in the gutter. "I figured it's time for your first lesson in explosives, young lady." He handed her the lighter. "We're going to light this and then back away before it goes off. See, I've made sure there's plenty of string to burn before the fire gets to the explosives."

Sarah Kate's eyes got really big. "Are you sure?"

"Hey, this is a celebration! You have to have fireworks at a celebration!" He gave her the lighter. "Do you know how to use it?"

She nodded. Her first dad had taught her to use a lighter. "Yeah. I've lit candles with one before."

"Good. Set it down in the gutter, light that string, and then run back to the garage. Just wait, it'll be real pretty."

Sarah Kate sucked in a deep breath. She couldn't believe that Gramps was letting her do this. Then again, he had taught Dad and Grandpa the same things when they were kids, even younger than her. She flicked the lighter on and lit the string, then ran back to stand by the garage. Gramps didn't stand with her. She worried that he was too close. "Gramps, come here!"

"Oh, I'm perfectly safe right here, darlin'."

That's when the fireworks shot up. They made all sorts of pretty colors and lots of loud popping sounds. Sarah Kate was pretty sure that Gramps' eyebrows got singed.

A minute later, Dad came running around to the front of the house. "Gramps, what are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm teaching Sarah Kate the same thing I taught you. Don't worry. We're starting off easy."

"Gramps, you can't just set off fireworks in the front yard! You could start a fire!"

"But Matty, it's a celebration!" Gramps almost sounded hurt. "She needs to know this sort of thing."

Sarah Kate ran over and linked arms with her grandfather. "Yeah, I need to know this sort of thing. Just like you did! And we can't have a celebration without fireworks."

Dad sighed. "Gramps, there's a little boy with autism in our backyard and he's scared of loud noises. They scare Liza, too. So, I hope you're done for now."

Gramps looked chagrined. That was another word Sarah Kate liked. "Oh, I suppose. But when Sarah Kate comes to visit me, I'm going to teach her everything I taught you. Don't you remember how you loved it, Matty?"

Dad shrugged. "I guess so. All right, Gramps. You win. Just don't let her burn anything down."

Gramps nodded and took Sarah Kate's hand. "Of course I do. I'm the General. My word is law."

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Matt walked the General and his new daughter around to the back yard. When he got there, he found Melissa lying on the ground. Mom was pacing back and forth. "Her water broke!" Mom said. "Johnny went inside to call for a Squad."

Sarah Kate ran to her mother's side. Dr. Brackett was sitting on the ground next to her. "Are you really having the baby?"

Melissa reached out to touch Sarah Kate's cheek. "Do you mind sharing your special day with your little brother or sister?"

Sarah Kate shook her head and took her mother's hand. "I'm so excited! I love sharing the day!"

Matt sat down next to his wife. Sarah Kate moved out of the way. "Remember your breathing, honey."

Johnny came running back out. "There's a delay in getting an ambulance here. Big apartment fire over in Long Beach."

"OK," Brackett said. "We've got time to get Melissa in my car and take her to Rampart. Roy, give Dr. Miller a call at her emergency number."

"Yessir." Roy went inside to make the call.

Johnny and Matt helped move Melissa to the car, but Johnny stayed at the house. Brackett got Melissa to Rampart in plenty of time. Dr. Miller met them just inside the Emergency doors. She checked Melissa over. "Let's get her up to Maternity."

Matt trotted along behind Melissa's wheelchair. He was nervous and excited and terrified all at once. Dr. Miller allowed Matt into the delivery room.

Melissa's labor progressed quickly. Soon, Dr. Miller was telling her to push. And then suddenly, their son was born. Dr. Miller let Matt cut the umbilical cord and hold the baby. He had a strong set of lungs. Matt was pretty sure everyone in the hospital could hear him crying.

Dixie took the baby out of his daddy's arms to get him cleaned up, weighed, and measured. "Oh, Matt, he's precious!"
Matt nodded. He grabbed Melissa's hand. "Do you still want to name him Charles?" he asked.

"Yes. Charles Elliott Carter."

Matt kissed her. "It's a fine name." He took the baby back from Dixie. "Oh, Lissa, our little Charlie is just beautiful."

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Johnny had stayed at the party. He wanted to stick close to Nita, who was due to give birth any day now. When the phone rang. Johnny answered, and he shared the news with everyone. "It's a boy! Charles Elliott Carter. He weighs seven pounds and he's nineteen inches long! Healthy and strong with a good set of lungs."

Sarah Kate threw her arms around her Uncle Johnny. "I have a baby brother!" She was so happy. Her eyes glowed and her smile stretched across her whole face.

"Do you want to go meet him?" Johnny knew that all the Carters and the Schumachers would be eager to go over to Rampart, even if Melissa wasn't up for so many guests. The baby would be moved into the nursery before long, and they would be able to admire him through the window.

"Oh, yes!" She bounced up and down, full of excitement.

Johnny was happy to know this little girl, and very happy that she would be part of his children's lives. Sarah Kate shone brightly everywhere she went. Kindness and compassion and love spilled out of her, lighting up any room she walked into. The world could be a dark place. Some people did terrible things, but they would never extinguish the light that was Sarah Kate Carter. Not if Johnny and Matt and Melissa and the rest of her family had anything to say about it. Johnny couldn't wait to see her grow up and shine that light all over the world.