Epilogue

Car parked, engine switched off and Shane and Carmen were home again. It was Sunday afternoon and God, in the skies, seemed to have finally ended its supply of sun and wind. The day was still warm, but strangely cloudy. The sky was dark and stormy, as if it was about to unload a powerful summer storm. The air smelled of rain.

Shane and Carmen walked along the small path holding hands, smiling the ghost of a smile and whispering words that Dante couldn’t hear. He was sitting on the steps, a beer in his hands, the porch clean and tidy behind his back.

Aidan and Olivia were in their strollers, right beside him. The three looked serene and peaceful.

When Carmen and Shane appeared in their field of view, three pairs of eyes turned to them immediately.

Carmen smiled and let go of Shane’s hand, jogging elegantly toward the babies and mouthing a delighted “Hi” to Dante. He just shrugged shyly.

“Hey!”, she whispered then, flashing the kids her million dollar smile.

Aidan and Olivia looked at her mouth agape, in awe, and Dante finally beamed, glancing at Shane.

Shane grinned back, her green eyes shifting rapidly from him, to Carmen, to the kids. She stared at them like they were the most beautiful thing on Earth and Dante sighed quietly, standing up.

He smoothed down his jeans and squared his shoulders. Standing on his two feet on the porch, with a height advantage, he looked even bigger than usual. He wore a white tank top and an unbuttoned grey shirt. His beard was unshaven again and his hair was messy.

Carmen took Olivia and Aidan into her arms and turned around, and Shane thought that the smile she was giving her was definitely blinding.

Carmen started to murmur soft words in Spanish, and Olivia kicked her little legs ecstatically. Aidan’s chubby hand reached for Carmen’s hair and played with a strand. Their eyes were wide open as they stared, amazed, at their mother.

”I’ve found a way to make you
I’ve found a way
A way to make you smile”

Dante’s heavy steps echoed as he went down the stairs and Shane opened her arms. They hugged tightly.