Page 74 of What Goes Around

I swipe more silly tears away. He’s right. I have got this. It wasn’t easy in the beginning, but I’m getting there. Walt has been an amazing source of strength. I will forever be grateful for him.

We eat and drink and laugh, and I am so very happy. I look from one guest to the next. All are smiling and teasing David. His parents look so proud. This will be their first grandson.

I think of my other son. The one that was taken from me when I was just shy of fifteen. I wanted to find him, and I did. Actually, Fanning did. When my father gave the bastard’s attorney all that money, one of the things that Fanning asked him to do was to locate the boy. Fanning intended to use him to hurt me. But his plan backfired. My son is a happy and healthy fifteen-year-old who lives in Chattanooga. I met with his parents and explained everything. They are wonderful people. Looking at all the photos of him, hearing about his life, was amazing. Not having the chance to hug him or be a part of his life is hard for sure. But allowing him to go on with the really good life he has is the least I can give him. If and when they need me or he wants to meet me, they know where I am. They have raised a great kid. I can only hope to do so well.

As for my career, that is on hold for now. The investigation confirmed that the now-deceased Carl Fanning did indeed set out to frame me for his own murder. An unexpected and surprising new way, in my opinion, to leave this world via suicide by cop. The bastard died two days after he was taken from my barn. A bad case of pneumonia and complications related to his other health issues took him out. During those final two days, he refused to give a statement about how he ended up in my barn or anything else. It was as if he understood he had lost, and he just shut down. Based on the testimony of Fanning’s attorney, Alexander Cagle, and that of Walt as well as Janie Hyatt, no evidence of criminal behavior on my part was discovered.

The psychiatric evaluation concluded that I was not aware of my interactions with Fanning after he imprisoned himself on my property, and, therefore, I was not criminally liable for whatever events occurred during that time. However, that same conclusion called to question my mental fitness for duty. Completely understandable. I love being a cop, so maybe one day I will get back to it.

Though Olivia Newhouse is my legal name, I am not Olivia Newhouse. Olivia Newhouse died at home when she was fifteen years old after being in a coma for two years. I have no idea what my real name is or who my biological parents were. Given the situation, I have chosen to keep the name Olivia, but I am a Preston now.

I smile at my husband as he and Walt laugh over glasses of champagne. Walt has been assigned to desk duty due to his heart condition. No more going into the field for him. His cardiologist is certain he will continue to do well as long as he sticks to his meds, a strict diet, and exercise. I am making sure he does exactly that.

As for the victims who banded together in the hope of ending Fanning, Walt tossed their signed statements. No one else had seen them except for the officer who left them on Walt’s desk, and he didn’t read them. Their confessions were never added to the case file. Walt and I decided they had suffered enough. Thankfully, the DA decided not to go after them for harassment or any other charges. Hyatt’s burned barn and stolen truck was all Fanning. At least, that’s how the report was written, and no one is questioning it. All involved can go on with their lives.

Case closed.

Is any part of what we did wrong? Maybe. But we’re not looking back on that one, either.

David ushers me over to where the cake is being sliced and served. I lean close and inhale the scent of him, so very grateful that I didn’t ruin our relationship with my secrets. My therapist also helped me to see that David’s attempts to stop our relationship from falling apart triggered the child I once was to fight against the perceived domination. Poor guy.He really was getting the worst of me. I smile as he passes me a slice of cake. Just watching how happy he is makes me happy.

In addition to all the psychiatric testing and therapy I’ve endured the past few months, I’ve also dealt with the other necessary tests, including for HIV, since I was in close contact with Fanning. I am good. No worries about that.

This is just the beginning of my new life.

The life I’ve led until now belonged to someone else. In truth, I suppose you could say I’ve died twice and been resurrected. This time, this life will be all mine. My goal is to figure out the motherhood thing so I can be the best mother possible for my child. I don’t really know how normal people take care of normal children. I’ve never really been normal; certainly none of the people involved with the first three decades of my life could be labeled as normal.

I want this child to have a real normal ... whatever that is.

Lucky for me, I have a big, loving family. I look from David to Walt and the other people gathered in this room. Who could ask for more?

Life is good, and I am looking only forward.