Paterson / Sisters/ 3

Epilogue

Three months later

Phoebe flung the newspaper onto the coffee table.

Bradley Drazelle arrested for attempted murder and 15-year old child abuse charge

‘He finally got what was coming for him.’ Phoebe announced, adjusting the strap of her dress.

‘It was him who sent those messages?’ Sarah asked. ‘Why?’

Phoebe shrugged. ‘I guess he didn’t want us to find one another. Or at least, discover the truth.’

‘Well, we sure fixed him.’ Sarah said, walking over to Jennifer, who was fiddling with her fringe. ‘Stop it, you’ll muck it up!’

Sarah was now a make – up artist and hair stylist with her own business, and had agreed to help Keira out on her wedding day.

As she fixed Jennifer’s fringe, she caught sight of Keira emerging from the change room.

‘Oh my God!’ she gasped.

Jennifer, Phoebe and Sarah turned around, both obviously thinking the same thing.

In a cream spaghetti – strapped A line dress with a silk underlay and a lace overcoat, patterned with small flowers and vines, Keira looked gorgeous. She wore high – heeled open – toed shoes with hot pink nail polish. Her hair was swept ontop of her head in a loose bun, with curls at either side of her face. Sarah had used little make – up, only what was necessary to highlight Keira’s natural beauty. Her face shone, her eyes sparkled…For the first time in a long while, Keira looked happy.

‘What do you think?’

‘I think you look beautiful,’ a soft voice from the doorway answered.

The girls turned to see Nan standing up on her walking frame, Gar standing beside her…and their mother. It was as if they had always been a family: they belonged together.

Mrs Drazelle walked up to Keira, and kissed her daughter gently on the cheek before offering her arm.

‘Are you ready, my Darling?’

Keira looked at her sisters, grandparents, and mother, filling warmth spread inside her. The baby gave a gentle kick, which made Keira smile.

‘Apparently so.’

Ada suddenly knocked on the door, a broad smile on her face. She rushed over to Keira with open arms. ‘Hey honey, how are you feeling?’

‘Nervous,’ Keira admitted, quickly returning the hug. The wedding march began, and Sarah, Jennifer and Phoebe hurried to line up. ‘That’s my cue sweetie. What is it?’

Ada’s smile broadened, if that were possible. ‘True Love has shot straight to number one in the first hours! Isn’t that fantastic? It’s a best seller!’

‘Of course it is,’ Keira agreed, tightening her grip on her mother’s arm. ‘It’s a story of true love.’