KNOCKOUT

Epilogue

I type in the passcode, opening up the safe at the back of my closet. My heart rate is a dull thud, aching with the loss I've dealt with for years. I push away the bank bags, moving them out of the way so I can reach the items from the very back. My fingers find the solid material and I latch on to it, bringing it out and setting it on my lap before reaching back into the safe. I can feel the worn paper against the pad of my fingers and I carefully extract the letter, making sure it doesn't rip.

Five years.

The picture of Holden and I still looks the same, the only difference being the thin layer of dust covering the glass in the frame. My eyes fill with tears, but I keep them from spilling down my cheeks. After a few minutes, I set the photograph down and switch my focus to the letter. Although I still have the thin letter practically memorized, seeing Holden's writing causes a surge of emotions through me. Certain sentences speak out to me, but one specific sentence stands out more than ever. I play it through my head, hearing Holden's voice echo in my mind.

"Mommy?"

I turn toward Maggie, taking the small five year old into my arms. "What's up, sweetheart?"

Maggie has grown to look so much like a perfect mixture of Eli and my mother. I can see it in her physical features, but also in a lot of her mannerisms. She reminds me of the old Eli, the one who protected me at all costs.

"Is that uncle Holden?" She points to the photograph lying on the carpet, her other arm wrapped around me.

"It is." My heart aches as I answer her; she doesn't remember Holden. She was too young when everything happened, but I know she's heard my husband and I talk about him.

Maggie crawls off my lap, taking the picture into her chubby little hands. Without warning, she takes off, sprinting out of my closet and through the rest of the house. I grip the letter tight in my right hand before running after her. "Margaret, I'm coming for you!"

Her giggle resonates throughout the small home and I chase after her, following her all the way into the kitchen where I find her hiding behind my husband, barely peeking her head out around his leg so she can see me. I wink at my husband, making sure Maggie sees before I dart toward the both of them, making Maggie squeal and run to the other side of the kitchen.

Instead of chasing after her again, I walk into my husband's arms, wrapping my own around his waist. Maggie slowly walks toward both of us when she realizes she's safe from my chasing, wrapping her own arms around my leg.

"What have you got there?"

Maggie looks up at Sterling, "It's a picture of Mommy and uncle Holden."

Sterling bends down, lifting the small girl up into his arms to get a closer look at the picture. He's seen it more than once, the picture a permanent fixture in my life, and his. "They look happy, don't they, Mags?"

She nods and he kisses her forehead, "We haven't told you very much about uncle Holden, have we?"

Maggie clutches the frame even tighter, "Nope. All I know is that Mommy loves him."

I nod, laughing along with my husband, "You're right, I do love him. But do you know who else I love?"

Right on cue, she points to herself before pointing to Sterling, "That's right, Mags. Mommy does love both of us very, very much." I stand on my tiptoes, giving him a light kiss.

"Exactly, Mr. Abrahms. I've got the perfect little family, isn't that right?"

Sterling rolls his eyes at me, placing a kiss to the top of my head, "Our family is pretty damn perfect, Mrs. Abrahms."

We share a look and I can't believe I got so lucky. Although Holden still holds a huge place in my heart, my heart seems to have grown enough to take in Sterling as well. He's the only one in my life who understands the small details about me, and it's amazing to know he loves and misses Holden as much as I do.

"Daddy, can I know about uncle Holden?" Maggie asks.

Sterling looks to me and I nod, my left hand going up to the chain around my neck, gripping the ring looped around it. The metal from the old engagement ring is cold and smooth, a perfect paradox to the kind of love Holden and I had. I catch Sterling looking at me with a small smile on his face before taking Maggie into the living room to tell her all about the fighter who finally met his match.

I replay some of Holden's words in my head, leaning against the kitchen counter. All I ask is that you keep me in your heart, because that is where I belong.

And that is exactly where you are, Holden.

P.S. Remember your elbow angle, Samuels.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

With a heavy heart, that is the end of Holden and Tatum's story. Thank you so much for reading, it means the world to me. Keep on the lookout for other stories I decide to post, because I should be starting up a new one once I get into a routine with the semester. You are all my friends, and you are so very lovely. Thank you for allowing me to share Holden and Tatum (and Maggie!) with you.