Copperdale, Rainwood Ridge
Rhys and Samantha Cameron’s long-time home aptly dubbed “Rainwood Ridge”
Samantha pulled a disgruntled face at her reflection in the hallway mirror of their industrial-style home, a converted cannery that she and Rhys had lived in since they met as young roommates. The early morning light filtered through the large windows, casting a soft glow on the rugged brick walls and exposed beams. The weather outside was typical for Copperdale, overcast with a slight drizzle, the kind that made the greenery around their home glisten and come alive.
Rhys chuckled, his voice warm and familiar. “What is THAT all about? Replaying the last horror flick we watched? Thinking your head is going to split open to reveal an alien lifeform?” he smirked.
Turning to him with an annoyed sigh, Samantha frowned. “I wish I were just possessed. No, Rhys, it’s another gray hair! I mean, seriously, it feels as if you and I looked like you and I always looked until a few weeks ago and now I look a decade older each time I look in a mirror! Gray looks like crap on red hair and it’s so much harder to dye over. I know I am not a Spring Chicken anymore, but I am way too young to be gray! I refuse.”
Rhys pulled her away from the mirror and into an embrace, kissing her briefly, still chuckling. Tipping his index finger to her nose, he grinned. “Maybe then you should quit looking into mirrors… Sam, babe, we are getting old, everyone is. We’re in our 60s now. I don’t feel it, I like to think we both certainly don’t look it, but we are about to drive to the airport to watch our grandbaby get married. My nieces and nephew are old enough to be looking for their own place to live or going through their first heartbreak and acne infestation and high school drama and college applications. That isn’t what young whippersnappers deal with. We earned every single gray hair. For what it’s worth, you are still the most beautiful not-male roommate a man could dream of.” He winked at her, playing on the way they had met many decades ago. Rhys had wanted to move out of his parents’ home but couldn’t quite afford it, so he looked for a roommate. All but one turned out to be creeps. His final Hail Mary had been a guy named Sam… only Sam turned out to be anything BUT a guy. They signed the lease as roommates but leveled up not to long after. The rest is fairly obvious history.
“Charmer. But… whippersnapper?! Not even my parents used that word anymore. Jeeze Rhys…” she laughed at one of their many shared inside jokes. ‘Jeeze Rhys‘ and ‘Damn Sam‘ had originated back when they were just roomies, and remained throughout their many decades together.
“Well, my beautiful forever young wife who makes me look like a cradle robber even though there are barely five months between us in age, are you ready?”
“If you mean whether or not I am packed, then yes. Ready? No. How can I be ready when our tiny little baby grandson is getting married tomorrow? That’s just not right. My God, Emily isn’t old enough to have kids that age yet. Oh, did I tell you, I ran into her ex the other day and his are still so young? I think not even in school yet, or maybe first grade, if that. THAT makes a lot more sense to me. That is how old our grandson should be. So, how could Nico be getting married?!”
“Well, our Emilee just got started sooner than Noah, but she not a young girl anymore. And you know why the aging clock ticks differently for Noah. Noah’s a sweet kid, I always liked him, still do, but he just wasn’t right on many levels and definitely not right for our family, fanged and all. And triplets?! Good grief! I thank heavens that he didn’t do that with our daughter! Can you imagine our poor Emi with triplets? Can you imagine US dealing with triplet grandkids?! This house isn’t big enough for so many people, were they to come visit. And I do not care how loaded our son-in-law is, when they come to visit, they are not staying in hotels, but here with us and if I have to stack them three high in our bed with us. The end.”
“Yeah. Noah’s children are gorgeous, adorable little girls, all look a lot like his wife, whatever her name was again, but while he and I were talking one of them got a wild hair up her rear…and it was just downhill from there. My ears just about fell off my head and I legit thought Noah was gonna just bail, so I did instead, told him I had to get lunch ready. I could still hear his kids wailing three blocks away.”
“Oof, and three girls at that. I have never been happier that those two broke up.” Rhys said, pulling faces.
“What is THAT supposed to mean?”
“Means …. I love you, Sammie, I love you a lot and I love our Emi, but am glad we had just one kid … living with both you girls was tough enough at times.” he ducked when she playfully swatted at him, then halted.
“Well, you know that the main reason Emi and Noah broke up all those years ago hasn’t changed. I always forget that fact about him, but he laughed at something, and I saw the fangs. Made me shudder and thank the Lord our daughter didn’t end up with him. Noah is… you know… he has… you know…a different dental layout.”
“Still can’t say it, huh? He’s a vampire. There. Yeah, well, not my cup of coffee either, but also not our problem. Speaking of problems, did you pack that document the palace sent us about how to behave at court? I swear I forgot it all again, gonna have to re-read it on the flight down to Tartosa. What do I call Niccolo’s future in-laws again? Your Grace? Your Highness? Majesty? I swear I will screw that up so bad. Do they even understand English? Cos, unless it’s the name of a dish at an Italian restaurant, I can’t make out that Tartosian jibber-jabber to save my life!”
“Jeeze Rhys! Chill, will you? I don’t think we are interesting enough as the groom’s grandparents. Emilee said the king didn’t want them to marry in the first place, which is why Nico and Francesca ran away. Since you’re a cop, they didn’t know we’d think about burner phones, so we at least knew they were okay and could Venmo them money. But I did Google that the king only elevating our grandbaby into noble ranks, but not his parents is a form of insult in a way. That royal jerk doesn’t like our sweet baby girl and her husband or our sweet grandbaby. Which means I already wouldn’t pee on him if he were on fire! What a moron!”
“Wow, I am starting to wonder if we should go at all. The cop in me is reading potential for riot here. at the hand of my very own wife. Viva la revolution!” Rhys chuckled.
“I don’t find that funny. Does that not bother you? Some pretentious jerk with a crown rejecting our sweet daughter and grandson? Just who do those Tartosian royals think they are?!” Emilee ranted, following him to the car where he heaved their luggage into the trunk, glancing up briefly, before slamming the trunk hatch shut.
“No. Wanna know why? Cos I could not care less if I tried. So what? You and I aren’t high society nor do we wanna be. I want nothing to do with all that court and royal and celebrity nonsense. Between you and me, I wish Niccolo would have found a nice, regular girl. I am sure that fiancée of his is wonderful, but I’d have preferred a sweet girl from a regular background, just like us. To be even more frank, I always had hopes that our Emi would move back closer to us one day, with Ezio and maybe even Nico. Doesn’t look like it now, when her baby boy goes and marries the local princess. Speaking of I sure hope nobody expects me to bow or something to my own grandson now, just because his future father-in-law made him a Count and he’s married to a princess! So not going to happen! I changed that kid’s—and his mother’s—diapers! And that boy better remember to mind us. Crown and title or not, we’re his grandparents and that’s that!” With those words, Rhys wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist and pulled her to the passenger door, which he opened for her.
Arrival in Tartosa
The limousine, sent by their daughter and husband as they always had, glided smoothly down the winding coastal roads of Tartosa, the lush landscape outside the tinted windows a breathtaking canvas of rolling vineyards, vibrant wildflowers, and the azure expanse of the sea. Samantha and Rhys Cameron, despite having visited this idyllic place many times before to visit their only child, daughter Emilee and her family, were once again left in awe by its beauty. Tartosa had a way of making even the most familiar views feel fresh and enchanting every single time anew.
Rhys, now a Chief at the Copperdale Police Department, glanced out the window with a soft smile. Starting as a young man of 19, he had worked his way up through the ranks over the years. “You know, it never gets old, does it? This place is something else,” he said, his voice filled with admiration.
Samantha, a manager at Green Valley Enterprises, a local eco-friendly products company, nodded in agreement. Her freckles, now kissed with slight hints of gray, reflected the sunlight streaming through the windows, adding a warm glow to her features. “It’s stunning. Every time we come here, it feels like we’re stepping into a postcard,” she replied, her eyes tracing the silhouette of the distant hills and the sparkling sea. Both of them were natural redheads.
Their daughter, Emilee, had always been a blend of both her parents’ features, with Rhys’s strong jawline and Samantha’s bright eyes. She had married handsome Tartosian Ezio Auditore, the youngest son of an old and revered Tartosian business family known for their financial acumen and exquisite wines. Back over two decades ago when they had first met, Ezio had just taken over the Auditore family’s many generations old vineyard, ensuring a life of comfort and luxury for his family.
Now, their only child, Niccolo, was 19 and on the brink of marrying Princess Francesca Rinaldi of Tartosa. The Camerons, simple middle-class people from Copperdale, found themselves navigating the intricacies of Southern aristocracy—a world filled with grandeur and traditions that often left them feeling out of place.
As the limousine turned a corner, the breathtaking view of the coastal cliffs and the serene blue waters opened up before them. Samantha sighed, “Even with all the Southern frou-frou, it’s hard not to be impressed.”
Rhys chuckled, “Yeah, but it’s still a lot to get used to. All these formalities and traditions. I never thought we’d have to deal with royal courts and noble ranks. I still wish our Nico would have fallen for a regular girl. He’s already a wealthy heir to that Auditore wine empire. That’s already well out of our comfort zone, but no, that kid has to go and fall in love with a real-life princess. At least we’re here, my father and brother Landon and his family were invited but wanted no part of this. They wouldn’t even consider this circus.”
Samantha squeezed his hand, her touch grounding them both. “We’ll manage, just like we always do. Besides, it’s for our grandson and for our sweet Emi and for Ezio. And look at the bright side—we get to spend time with Niccolo and see him marry the love of his life in this beautiful place.”
Arrival at Villa Auditore
The limousine pulled up to the grand Villa Auditore with the warm sandstone exterior and intricate columns, the entrance flanked by statues and blooming gardens. Rhys took a deep breath, readying himself for the familiar yet always breathtaking view and odd feeling when these people from simple background came to stay here in this abundance of luxury, which always felt somewhat awkward at first. “Alright, let’s do this again. And remember, no matter what happens at that royal palace and the wedding tomorrow, we’re just us—Rhys and Sam from Copperdale. If those royals don’t like it, we’ll come back here and lay around the pool instead.”
As the doors of the limousine opened, they were greeted by the expansive grounds they knew so well. The separate guest house, where they had always stayed during their visits here, even long before the grandson who was going to get married tomorrow was even conceived, nestled among meticulously landscaped gardens, the greenhouse bursting with vibrant flora, and the natural pool with its serene oasis, all felt like a second home.
Up front, the stables stood proudly, with the pasture stretching back where four elegant Italian horses grazed contentedly in the sun. A strikingly dark Murgese stallion named Othello and a beautiful white Lipizzaner named Desdemona stood out among the herd, alongside a graceful chestnut Sardinian Anglo-Arab gelding named Dante and a strong bay Sicilian Anglo-Arab gelding named Nera. The air was filled with the subtle scents of blooming flowers and fresh grass, adding to the idyllic atmosphere.
Ezio, Emilee, and Niccolo emerged from the villa, their faces lighting up with genuine joy as they spotted the arriving guests.
Ezio, dressed casually in tailored chinos and a crisp tan shirt, his dark, slicked-back hair and Roman nose adding to his effortless Italian charm, approached with a warm smile. Emilee, whom Ezio lovingly called Emilia, was radiant in a chic rust-colored dress that accentuated her freckles and shoulder-length red hair. Her warmth and beauty were evident in her every gesture, her eyes sparkling with happiness to see her beloved parents.
Niccolo, the young groom-to-be, almost a clone of his father but with the lighter, warmer coloring from his mother’s red hair and lighter warm brown eyes, radiated joy and anticipation. Dressed in casual shorts and a fitted linen t-shirt, his blend of both parents’ features gave him a unique and striking appearance. He was a very handsome 19-year-old man.
Rhys and Samantha exchanged nervous glances, feeling slightly out of place in their simple, practical clothing. Rhys wore a well-worn sweater and brown pants, a typical outfit for someone in Copperdale, while Samantha wore a floral blouse and comfortable-for-travel pants. Despite their humble attire, the warmth and love in their eyes matched the opulence of their surroundings.
“Benvenuti alla Villa Auditore! Welcome home!” Ezio called out, his voice filled with genuine happiness.
Emilee rushed forward to hug her parents tightly. “I’m so glad you’re here! It’s always wonderful to have you guys back. I know we talk all the time, but I missed you so much. Hard to hug someone through the phone or on Skype.”
“Me too! So glad you came, grandma and grandpa!” Nico added, joining into the hugs.
Rhys and Samantha were immediately enveloped in a flurry of hugs and kisses. It felt like a reunion of hearts. The warmth of the family embrace melted away the weariness of travel and worry about the wedding at the royal palace the next day.
As they all shared joyful greetings, several staff members scurried out to bring Rhys and Samantha’s luggage into the guest house where they always stayed during their visits. The efficient and familiar routine added a comforting sense of belonging.
Rhys and Samantha exchanged relieved smiles, feeling the comfort of family despite the grandeur of their surroundings. As they followed their loved ones into the main house, ready to share in the joyous celebration ahead, both let out sighs of relief.
Tartosa, The Wedding Reception
A decision is made
The wedding was a grand affair, held at the stunning coast of Tartosa. The scenery was breathtaking, with the azure waters meeting the rocky cliffs, creating a picturesque backdrop for Niccolo and Princess Francesca Rinaldi’s union.
The reception back at the royal palace was more intimate, featuring only a very select group of aristocracy from around the world and the groom’s family.
Sam and Rhys found themselves clustered in a corner with Ezio and Emilee, feeling out of place amid the opulence. The elegant ballroom was adorned with crystal chandeliers, intricate floral arrangements, and the soft murmur of refined conversations.
The aristocracy around them shimmered in ballgowns and jewels that seemed to capture the very essence of luxury. Gowns of silk and satin in rich hues of emerald, sapphire, and ruby flowed gracefully as the women moved. The men wore impeccably tailored tuxedos and suits, their cufflinks and tie pins sparkling under the grand chandeliers. The dazzling display of wealth made Sam and Rhys feel almost invisible in their modest department store outfits.
Rhys, dressed in a simple dark suit with a crisp white shirt and a tie, felt underdressed compared to the lavishly dressed guests. Samantha wore a tasteful, knee-length dress in a soft blue that complemented her red hair and freckles. It was an elegant choice, but it lacked the extravagance surrounding her.
Ezio, with his Roman nose, dark slicked-back hair, and deeper complexion, exuded a natural charm and kindness. Even in a more relaxed suit, he looked effortlessly elegant. His intelligent eyes observed the surroundings, while his son Niccolo clearly inherited his features, mixed with the warmth of his brown hair and eyes, and the barely visible freckles from his Northern heritage, aka his redheaded and freckled mother.
Emilee sighed, her frustration evident. “It feels like we’re outcasts, only invited out of pity and duty because of our relationship to the groom,” she complained, her voice tinged with sadness.
Ezio placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I understand how you feel, Emi. But remember, we’re here for Niccolo. He needs us to be supportive, especially now. This is hard on him too. He wanted to marry the girl, not this pompous tra-lala, yet, he couldn’t have one without the other, and the Lord knows how hard those kids had to fight for their love to be acceptable to the king. I don’t care if they ignore us for the entirety of the celebration, as long as our boy is happy, and look at Nico, that kid is beaming for joy and love. Nor do I care that they didn’t give us noble titles, cara mia, you already always make me feel like a winner, I need no more. My family has done well for themselves for hundreds of years without any titles.”
Emilee managed a small smile at her husband’s words, the love and support in his voice easing her discomfort. Her upbringing or her beloved parents may not have been draped in riches, but the bond they shared was more precious than any jewel, as was her still strong love for her husband.
Rhys nodded in agreement. “Ezio’s right. We might not fit into their world, but our presence means everything to Nico. Let’s not forget that. So let’s smile and try not to look like two squirrels who wandered into a lion’s den.”
Samantha, always the voice of reason, added, “I feel like a squirrel in a lion’s den. We’ve always been proud of our simple life in Copperdale. We don’t have much, but what we have we earned fair and square. Maybe it’s time to embrace that thought again. And maybe it is time for you to come home Emi, and you might just like living in Copperdale, Ezio, maybe an early retirement, of sorts, or what do you rich people call it, you become investors. Emi spent half her life here with you, maybe you can bring our daughter home for the next few decades? It might make this difficult transition easier, let Niccolo and Francesca can take over the vineyard. Let the young ones worry about all the drama that comes with running a successful business, we all know Niccolo would never let you down. That will give her royal daddy something to be proud of, since that —insert terrible curse words I do not want to say at my grandson’s wedding— father of Francesca’s seems to think his daughter is throwing her life away by marrying our smart, handsome, amazing Niccolo! Oh, the nerve of that man! King or not, that’s just rude and pissed me right off! But poor Francesca can’t help what her father thinks and says. She really seems sweet. They’re young and full of energy. We can all return to Copperdale and enjoy our peaceful life there and let them live the Southern dolce vita life here while they start life as a married couple.”
Ezio smiled warmly. “You know, Sam, I like it. That might not be a bad idea. I am just about tired of dealing with all this here, and I am afraid it will only get worse, now that our family and the royal family is linked. I think tourists and probably even a paparazzo or two will frequent the new home of the Tartosian princess, aka Villa Auditore, and I am in no mood for it. I have learned how to run all of the Auditore businesses from my late father, may he rest well, back when I was myself still a young school boy, yet from then until now I have never in my life signed so many Non-Disclosure documents, let alone more documents just to attend my own son’s wedding. My son! Ma che cavolo! *(What the heck!) Nico is ready to take on responsibilities which he has been helping me with since he was 12, responsibilities which I am long tired of, and the vineyard will thrive under his care. Plus, he is getting his degrees in Business and Agriculture, might as well put all that theory to proper use. And it would give him and Francesca a chance to create their own legacy. I have the sneaky suspicion that we will be made grandparents long before Emi and I are gonna be ready for it. Francesca’s daddy will brainwash her into it, since his own son seems to be shooting nothing but royal blanks, or after three-some years of marriage the Crown Prince would have created at least one heir by now! Che disastro! (What a disaster!) I have on good authority that it’s driving the king mad. That man’s been in my ear about that for weeks, as if I could help with it. They wanted to require OUR son to get his fertility tested, which I had my lawyers decidedly deny! We’re Auditores! I had to remind his Majesty of the fact that we procreate worse that rabbits, I have six siblings, most with more than four children, some of which by now have several children. Fertility testing, my foot! You cannot go into any big town all over the world and throw a rock without hitting someone related to an Auditore. Now that shut him up!”
Emilee looked thoughtful, then nodded slowly. “Well, same could be said for the Cameron lineage, although some more distant branches are a lot more procreation happy than my side, luckily! Like mice in the attic, where there’s two, there will soon be two hundred. Joking aside, you’re right. Maybe it’s time for a change. We’ve done our part. It’s time to let them take over and for us to find our own happiness back home. I love this place, Tartosa has been my home for two decades now, but I have never stopped missing Copperdale. Winters here are okay, but the rest of the year Tartosa is crawling with tourists, and I don’t want to be there when they figure out our son is married to a real-life princess. If you guys will help us find a house, Ezio and I might just do that, right, mio amore?”
Ezio smiled, his kind eyes lighting up as he wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her tenderly. “Certo, Emilia. Mi piacerebbe molto,” he replied, his voice filled with warmth and affection.
*(Sure, Emilee. I would love to,)
Rhys and Samantha exchanged knowing glances, feeling a sense of relief and excitement about the possibility of their beloved daughter returning to Copperdale. As they continued to watch Niccolo and Francesca dance, the Camerons felt a renewed sense of hope and anticipation for the future, ready to embrace the next chapter of their lives together.
The group fell into a comfortable silence, each lost in their thoughts, watching as Niccolo danced with Francesca, their joy evident to all. As the night wore on, the Camerons found solace in each other’s company, ready to face the future with a renewed sense of purpose.
New Beginnings in Copperdale
Eight months after Niccolo and Princess Francesca Rinaldi’s grand wedding, Emilee took a deep sigh, looking up at her and Ezio’s new home in Copperdale. She had just carried the last bag of moving day trash out, the remnants of a long and exhausting process.
Their new house was a charming, small two-story home, nestled among the towering evergreens Copperdale was known for. Situated right by the big Lake LaSuli, it offered a stunning view of the pier with its year-round fairground. The exterior was clad in cedar wood siding, its warm tones blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings. Large, energy-efficient windows allowed ample light to flood the interior, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere, while affording them amazing views for the lake and deep forest.
As she turned around, overlooking the lake, a sense of peace washed over her. She could hear the distant rustling of leaves and the soft chirping of birds, sounds and scents of rain and pines and cedars and fresh earth that reminded her of why they chose Copperdale. It wasn’t just a house; it was a sanctuary where they could build new memories together. Of a new chapter of their lives now, the chapter where their little boy is a married man. Oof.
“That was rough, but at least it’s done now,” she murmured to herself, stepping closer toward the water’s edge, listening to its soft, serene sounds. “I’m finally home. You actually CAN come home again. Well, guess it’s not the house I grew up in, but close enough. Plus, I can literally walk over to the house I DID grow up in, so definitely home. Home.” she savored the word.
As she turned around, her eyes caught the gaze of a man in a sleek, black Mercedes-Benz S-Class driving past the paved main road in and out of town, just a hundred yards or so up the dirt road leading to their home. The world seemed to slow as their eyes met, recognition flashing across both their faces. The driver stepped on the brakes, and the car came to a halt. For a moment, the car sat there, engine humming softly. Then, the car was steered off the road, the engine humming turned off and the door opened, and out stepped Noah Grainger, the tall, dark, handsome vampire with an identical twin brother named Nolan. Both of whom Emilee had known since grade school.
The afternoon sun filtered through the leaves, dancing in intricate patterns on Noah’s face as he stood there staring at her, highlighting his chiseled features which had barely aged over the last decade or two. Unlike most myths about vampires, Noah was one of the many daywalkers—vampires who could tolerate sunlight. This ability allowed them to live among humans, the millennia-old practice of hiding in plain sight while keeping their existence a secret, rendering all those stories about them biding the daylight hours in dark caves and coffins a mere legend.
Noah’s eyes, so deep blue they often seemed purple, were trained on her as he threw the car door shut then crossed the road, walking down the dirt road towards her, she met him half-way as he approached.
“Emilee?” His voice was soft, filled with a mix of surprise and lingering pain.
“Noah,” she breathed, her heart racing cursing herself for feeling bad about looking so raggedy, while Noah looked dashing in his navy suit, no tie and his crisp dress shirt partially unbuttoned. “It’s been a long time. Forever and a day.”
“Too long,” he replied, his gaze never leaving hers. “I heard through the old grapevine that you were moving back to Copperdale, but I didn’t expect to run into you so soon.”
“Fancy. Yours?” Emilee pointed at the car behind him, he briefly took his eyes off her to turn and look at the car, before turning back to her, casually shrugging while shaking his head. “Rental. I had business nearby, the company Holly and I both work for has a satellite outside town, just passing through to the airport. Assume this is your new home? Very nice, very much you. Congratulations. And … welcome home, I suppose.”
She offered a small, strained smile. “Thanks. Yeah, this is us now, it’s been a whirlwind. We just finished unpacking. But look at you, with a rental car and a regular job, huh? I thought you could … you know … whatever it was called again how your kind can transport yourselves.”
Noah’s eyes softened, a hint of the old sadness resurfacing. “I can still port, but since what I am isn’t necessarily supposed to be public knowledge, my employers don’t know, and it would be hard to explain how I go on business trips without expensing off plane tickets and rental cars. Just playing the game, Em. Still trying to fit in. Just like Nolan and our parents. Nothing has changed there, doubt it ever will.”
Emilee felt a pang in her chest. The memories of their past, the love they once shared as teens, and the pain of the secret she couldn’t handle after he entrusted her with it, all came rushing back. She forced a smile, her voice barely above a whisper.
Emilee knew that Nolan, Noah’s identical twin, had moved to Tartosa about ten years ago when his wife, Alessa Russo, inherited her family’s home and vineyard. Alessa was born in Tartosa but moved away as a child. She met Noah’s wife, Holly, in school, and they went to college together and ultimately, the girls being close friends was how Noah met Holly. After Alessa’s parents passed away some years after her and Nolan’s wedding, she wanted to return to her homeland to start a family, a move that effectively made them competitors to Emilee and Ezio’s vineyard. Emilee had already been living there much longer after marrying a local. Running into someone who looked so much like the boy she once loved had always been a surreal experience for Emilee. Though Nolan bore an uncanny resemblance to Noah, the moment he began speaking, she could tell he was not the same. Despite their identical appearances, the brothers were completely different.
“Right. Still the big secret. Does your wife know? Are your kids… like you?”
“Holly has known since we first met all those years back. It’s still inconclusive about the kids. We should know soon. Nolan has a little boy too, Leonardo. But I guess you already knew that, having run into each other occasionally back in your old home, since he lives in Tartosa with his family. Yes, he always told me.”
“Yeah, your brother and I have crossed paths, and your nephew is a very cute kid. How have you been?”
Noah shrugged, his expression guarded. “I’ve been… managing. Holly and I live and work in San Sequoia, I couldn’t cut it as a career musician, so Holly got me hired on in the marketing department of the place she works years ago and I am still there, writing jingles and such. I am sure Nolan told you. Holly and I have triplet girls, Autumn, Amber, and Aurora. Yeah, I am a daddy, Em. Crazy huh?”
Emilee’s smiled sadly. “Nolan told us about your triplets. That IS crazy. You have always been an overachiever. I’ll raise you your crazy with just having had my son get married. Man, do I feel old.”
“Yeah,” Noah said, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. “The entire world heard about the royal wedding. And you don’t look old. You still look like the girl I …. umm … like you always had is what I meant to say. How’s Ezio? And … Niccolo?”
“Ezio is great, and so is our son. How could he not be, we all remember the cloud we floated on as newlyweds. Nico’s a Count now, Conte Niccolo Auditore da Tartosa. It’s been a lot to take in, but we’re happy for them,” she explained, her voice wavering slightly.
Noah nodded, a distant look in his eyes. “I’m glad things worked out for all of us.”
There was a heavy silence between them, filled with memories and unspoken words. Finally, Emilee broke the silence. “Noah, I’m sorry for how things ended between us. I was scared and confused. Finding out you were a vampire… it was just too much at the time.”
Noah’s gaze softened, a hint of the old affection returning. “I understand, Emilee. It hurt, but I don’t blame you. And then, when you got pregnant… I hoped, but I knew deep down that it wasn’t meant to be. Anyway, we both found our ways.”
Emilee swallowed hard, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “It was a difficult time for all of us. But I want you to know that I’ve always cared about you, even after everything that happened. It was never about that, but about … it was just too much for me.”
Noah stepped closer, his hand reaching out to gently touch her arm. “Yeah, I know. And I’ve always cared about you, too, always will. But we’re different people now, with different lives. We’ve moved on.”
Emilee nodded, feeling a bittersweet sense of closure. “Yes, we have. But it’s good to see you again, Noah.”
Noah gave her a small, genuine smile. “It’s good to see you too, Emilee. Take care of yourself.”
“You too,” she replied softly, watching as he turned and walked back to his car.
As the black Mercedes-Benz S-Class drove away, Emilee took a deep breath, feeling strangely transported back in time in her memories. She turned back to her new home, ready to embrace the next chapter of her life in Copperdale.
EchoesOfLegacy 
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