CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT-EPILOGUE

“Dammit, why can’t I ever find that blessed bunny!”

Ben walked out of the bedroom tucking in his shirt and smiled at Imara on her knees again, searching for the toy rabbit.

As she finally got hold of its silk ribbon, Imara pulled Mr. Rabbit from under the couch and looked at it then she glanced up to Ben with an accusing look. She pointed her finger at him and clicked her tongue. “It’s you, isn’t it? You’re the one who keeps hiding the rabbit. How else would it get all the way back under that piece of furniture?”

Ben curled his lips under as a guilty smile came to his face. Imara swatted at Ben’s arm as he started laughing at her. “You shit!”

Ben pulled Imara into his arms and said, “I thought you would’ve figured it out after all these years, baby.”

Imara pouted her lips and said, “That’s a very cruel trick, you know. I’ve spent hours on my hands and knees looking for that thing.”

Ben leaned in and kissed her. “Yes, I know that’s why I did it. That’s my favorite view. I’m sorry, baby. I’ll pay you back for it later.”

Imara pointed her finger in his chest and said, “Yes, you most certainly will. You best be prepared to spend some time on your knees if you catch my drift.”

As Imara picked the baby up from the blanket on the floor, Ben went to the kitchen table and looked at the drawings scattered all over it. “Those are very good, sweet pea.” Ben sat down beside Eliza and pushed her hair off her shoulder. “Who is that fella right there ,though, with the yellow hair?”

Eliza swayed back and forth as she hummed. “That’s my boyfriend. He doesn’t live here though.”

“Boyfriend? Imara did you hear what she said?”

Imara sat down at the table across from them and put Jason in his highchair. “Yes, she’s told me all about him. She says he lives in a faraway land and that he’s a wolf like Daddy.”

“A wolf? Well, I guess that’s alright then. Just as long as Daddy’s your number one.”

Eliza stood up on the bench then threw her arms around Ben’s neck and kissed his cheek. “You’re my hero Daddy.”

Imara smiled at Ben and said, “Yes, sweet pea. He’s my hero, too.”

Looking back at the drawings, Ben moved one aside as he noticed an angel surrounded by golden light hovering above a castle. As his heart started to pound against his chest, he looked at Eliza with teary eyes as he remembered Daniel’s vision. “Sweet pea, what’s this?”

Eliza looked up to him and smiled. “That’s Momma. She’s a hero too.”

Ben looked back to the picture in his hand as he swallowed back the burning rising in his throat and nodded. “Yeah, you’re right sweet pea. Momma is a hero. She’s the greatest hero that ever lived.”