Out of This World

Epilogue

We watched Jack’s plane come in for a landing. He opened the door, and grinned. “How was your weekend?”

“Eye-opening,” Kel said, and took my hand.

We’d already said good-bye to Marilee, Axel, William and Serena, but we stood on the shore of the river hugging each of them again. Well, I was hugging them. Kel had his shoulder bandaged up, thanks to Serena’s healing skills, and wasn’t hugging anyone.

“We’ll be back,” I promised William and Serena. “You have the laptop,” I said to Axel. “Use it.”

Marilee hugged me hard. “Take good care of him,” she said. “And don’t be strangers. We’ll meet you here. Oh! You should come back for Halloween. You won’t believe how some of the guests enjoy that holiday.”

I could only imagine.

We got into the plane, trying not to be nervous about the flight back. I took in the sights of the towering mountains all around us, the gently swaying trees, the gorgeous day. “I never imagined that I’d actually say this,” I said, “but coming here was the best thing I’ve ever done. Let’s fly up once a season.”

Kel paled. “That seems a little frequent.”

“Once a year then.”

“With no swapping, right?”

I grinned impishly. “I don’t know…think of all the possibilities…”

“Rach.”

“Well, okay. Maybe once we’re married with little ones running around, swapping might get out of control.”

He went very still. “Married? Little ones?”

I stared at him, feeling my cheeks go red. “I didn’t mean to say that. It just came out.”

His eyes, misty and gorgeous, shimmered brilliantly, no longer filled with wild worry, but back to calm and deep and sure. “A plan, Rach? From you?”

“Yeah.” My throat was so tight, I could scarcely breathe. “Go figure, but I’ve developed a fondness for plans. Especially plans that involve you.”

He smiled, and tugged lightly on my ponytail, tipping my face up for a kiss. “I like being in your plans. It’s convenient and all, considering you’re in mine.”

“I am?”

“Oh yes.” He kissed his way to my ear, and once there, whispered the sort of plans he had, and all my nerves about flying, about anything, vanished, because in his arms, there was room for nothing but him. Us.

Together, with or without the abilities, in or out of this world…