"When You Want Her Back..."

Epilogue


7 Months Later…


“Wow… So this is what you have been up to while I was away?” Lena said glancing around in amazement. It was all so beautiful in its own crazy way. “How did you manage it all?”

“I didn’t… Remember that lawyer who helped plea you out?” April asked her sister.
Lena nodded her head and April continued. “Well, he did it all. It turns out while all that craziness was happening with you and Hana he was out at meetings settling deals for me. Now look around, here I am with a book being turned into a movie. It’s all so mesmerizing right?”

“Truly…” Lena said.

April looked down at her watch and said “Well, it’s been quite a long time... how bout we let everybody here do their job and we go back to my house. I’m sure by now Hana should be awake from her nap.”

“I sure hope so… I have waited a long time to see this girl... I want so bad to talk to her.”

“Yea, I could only imagine.” Together they walked away from the movie set and to the elevator. With in ten minutes they were in April’s car.

April had to admit the change in her sister was just as surprising as her book becoming a movie. Lena had her hair tied back into a tight bun. Her red hair looked darker more brown and her skin complexion darker also. Her body wasn’t as skinny as before and she seemed stronger. Maybe jail had done some good to her. Settled into her car she started the engine.

“So, I have showed you most of my changes what about you? What’d jail do to you while you were in there?” April asked.

“It’s actually hard to explain, but in some ways I’m thankful for being sentenced. You can guarantee I will not being drinking or doing drugs anytime soon. It’s really rough in jail… you see some pretty horrible things... Things no one wants to see. It made me tougher... Made me realize just how easy life is out here. I think I love life more now that I have been in there.” Her sister said.

“Kind of like a major wake up call huh?” April asked her sister.

“Yes, definitely. Now I am just glad to be back. Which brings me to my major concern… What do we do now that I am back? What about Hana?” Lena said fumbling with her fingers head bowed.

This concern had come across April’s mind a lot in the past two weeks. Possibly in her mind she even worried about this the day she had let Bret keep Hana but still none the less even with all that time she had no idea what the solution was.

“Because I was wondering… If possibly you could keep Hana for me… till I settle at least. I want her back I do but I have nothing set. I need an apartment and a Job. I need something that a child could be raised in and I don’t have either. Everything seems great at your home for Hana and I think I really like Bret. He seems like a good guy and I’d love for him to be the father figure to Hana.”

Stopping at a red light April looked at her sister. She smiled and said “Of course. We would love to take care of Hana. We have this whole time and enjoyed every minute of it.”

The light turned green and April began on her way again. “Good thing” Lena said “Because I can’t do this parole thing with a child. I need to take it all one step at a time.”

April nodded her head in understanding. Before soon April pulled into her driveway. Jumping out of her car with her purse she waited for her sister to come around the car. When her sister finally showed she wrapped her arms around her and hugged her. She loved the new Lena.

More the likely she didn’t love the NEW Lena because she had always known this Lena… she just missed it. The change in her sister’s life was overwhelming... and she was extremely happy to have it all over.

Letting go of her they stood staring at the home in front of them. The house was actually shared between her and Bret but it had also become her home. When April had first moved in she was unsure about it. Yet, soon nights of Bret coming home to her from his store and having dinner with her comforted her. Sunday mornings with Hana and cartoons wrapped her in love and the look in Bret’s eyes when she woke up with him brought her the reassurance that she loved living here. She loved the home and the people in them with out a doubt.

Finally moving she stepped onto the porch and slid her key into the door. Opening the door she took a whiff of the homey smell. When ever she walked into the home it always smelled like Bret. Not a man’s cologne but Bret himself. At first she had thought maybe after a while of living there the smell would fade away but soon she learned that no amount of time would make his sweet smell fade away. It would always be there as she would always be there to cherish it. She loved Bret’s smell. To her it was like the smell of a special pie you’d never forget and every time some one made that pie you knew exactly what it was.

April loved more then Bret’s smell though. She loved his eyes and his smile, his hugs and his kisses. She loved his sense of style and his sense of humor. To sum it up she just plain loved everything about the man. He was the apple of her eye. He was the reason she could write a romance novel and truly describe love to the very details of how many times your heart skips beats. Finally she called out his name. “Bret!”

“In here!” she heard his voice call from the living room. Signaling for her sister to follow she walked to the living room doorway. Smiling down at Hana and Bret she laughed. “We are just playing a game of Candy Land” Bret said pointing to the board game in front of him.

“I see” April said looking at the game. Realizing what she was seeing she laughed more. “Bret… she is beating you”

“Yes, well… It turned out she’s really good at this game.” Bret said scratching his head.

“She’s four…” Lena said from behind April drawing Hana’s attention.

At the sight of Lena Hana’s eyes widened and she jumped over the board game and into Bret’s arms. The girl hid her face in his chest and hugged him tight. Bret held a facial expression of complete stun. What was he to do with the child?

April heard a sigh from behind her and stepped forward to retrieve Hana. April pulled Hana off of Bret and brought her to Lena. “Hana,” she said voice baring seriousness and at the same time complete tenderness. “Remember your mommy? This is your mommy. Say hello to her.”

Hana stared at Lena and said nervously. “Hi”

Lena winced but quickly responded. “Hello Hana! You are so big!” Lena reached out to hold Hana but Hana quickly held tight to April with a grasp around her neck.

“Hana, go with mommy” April said to her. The girl looked at April and nodded her head. She then extended her arms to Lena. Lena reached out and grabbed her. She held her and hugged her with tears streaming down her cheeks. “Hana, baby, I love you. I’m so sorry for what I did to you. I’m so sorry.”

Watching this April held back tears. Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder and stepped back knowing well enough he would take her in his embrace. Bret wrapped his strong arms around her and she relaxed. Her heart skipping a beat as his sent surrounded her and his love warmed her core.