Exes and Oh's: The Finale

SERENA

New Years Day. A day where people made resolutions for the new year. Some tried to lose weight. Some set financial goals. Some were determined to find love and make it last. For the five of us, today's goal was to make it through this meeting with Rita and Gabe's lawyer. We hadn't succeeded in finding Gabe's murderer, and we decided it was only fair if we handed the investigation over to the professionals. A million dollars held no value next to justice. And Gabe deserved as much. Rita as well. Which was why Daniel had reached out to her and asked her to meet us at the lawyer's office before we all went our separate ways again.

"Are you sure you'll be alright in there?" Kyle asked, letting go of my hand as we stopped right outside of the law office. I kept him in the dark about why I was here, but he decided to come and offer some moral support anyway. I had made a decision about my situation with Daniel and he'd been there with a listening ear the entire time, willing wholeheartedly to forgive me for not telling him I was married. My only resolution this coming year was to fall out of love with Daniel Carter. And I was going to need a good man like Kyle to do so.

"I'll be okay. We have to be at the airport by seven if we want to make it to New York on time," I reminded him and he nodded as he pulled me closer to his chest, keeping me warm on this brisk winter day in Pasadena. The others showed up not too long after we did. Kyle wasn't receiving the warm welcoming he deserved so I asked him to wait for me at the coffee shop down the block while we closed this final chapter to Gabe's drama.

"Where's Michael?" I asked them and they all shared a look before Marley turned to answer me.

"He turned himself into the police," Marley replied and my heart sank at the news. Michael had just finished losing everything. I could only imagine how devastated he must be right now, despite turning himself in being the right thing to do. He wasn't letting Becca take the fall on her own, and that spoke volumes about the man he had turned into.

"He won't be there long. We're going to get him out. I don't care how many lawyers it takes," Daniel argued, avoiding my gaze as the rest turned towards the door to head inside. I pulled at his arm, pulling him aside so I could inform him of my decision in private.

"I'm keeping the baby," I disclosed, and watched the light in his eyes instantly return. He wanted to reach for a hug, but decided against it out of respect and it definitely showcased this new and improved Daniel Carter everyone was talking about. Still, it was too little too late and I needed to do what was right for my own sanity and keep my distance romantically.

"As for us, I don't think—"

"I know I'm not your soulmate. I see that now. Just know, preciosa, that you'll always be mine." Daniel revealed, leaning in close, his face barely an inch away from mine, fighting everything in him that insisted he needed to kiss me before he stepped away and headed inside. I regained my composure, physically and emotionally as I stepped into the law office of John and Mackey once again and met the rest of the group in the private consultation room.

"What's this all about? I have a party to plan," Rita, Gabe's lovely widow announced as she took her seat next to the balding John Willis. We all looked at each first, and let Daniel take the lead, considering he was Gabe's best friend. He told Rita about everything Gabe wanted us to do in his Will, about the reward if we found the murderer, and finally about our unsuccessful attempt at doing so. We all thought she would've been pissed off. Maybe even threaten to turn us all into the police for concealing evidence. Anything but the amusement she held in her eyes as Daniel finished explaining.

"Honestly, I don't know why Gabriel insisted I do all this for him. Ya'll don't look like the type of friends he described. In fact, I'd say his last wish was made in vain considering there's one of you about to go to jail," Rita declared, as we all shared a look of confusion.

"Was finding his murderer not his last wish?" Marley questioned, causing Rita to smirk as she shook her head.

"There was no murder. Gabriel only wished to get his friends back together. He insisted ya'll wouldn't do this voluntarily so he asked me to create a fictional murder mystery just in case something happened to him and he couldn't say all the things he wanted to say. Whatever secrets came to light in the process was simply a bonus," the widow divulged, adding to the puzzling explanation coming out of her mouth.

"Are you saying we went through all this for nothing?" Freddy's question came next.

"Apparently so. But the money portion was real. He wanted you all to get some compensation if things didn't end up the way he envisioned them. The checks will be in your mailboxes within the next week. Now, is this everything? My guests will be arriving from out of town soon," Rita ended her widow duties as she gathered her purse and headed for the door.

"What about Giselle? Did you know Gabe had a daughter?" Daniel inquired, and the question stopped her cold.

"I knew about every single indiscretion he had. Who do you think was paying for Becca's room at the Magnolia Hotel?" Rita answered, turning towards the rest of us with her chin held high right along with her pride. "I'm not good with children. Gabriel was. But he's not here anymore," she expressed, sporting the only genuine look of sorrow I've seen on her since the funeral, "Gabriel wanted someone in Becca's family to take care of Giselle in case something happened to her as well. He was good at predicting when the endings were just around the corner," she continued, looking at each and every one of us, settling on Freddy in the end.

"You walked through a burning building to save a child and an animal. If Gabe could pick any one of you to take custody of Giselle, I'd say it had to be you Freddy. I can have the adoption papers drawn up whenever you're ready." Rita ended and waited for Freddy to answer her. I didn't expect him to answer so quickly. A child was a big responsibility, but with Marley at his side, and the support from the rest of his family, I was sure that little girl had a brand new home to go to by the end of the day.

"Of course. I'll take her in. Thank you, Rita," Freddy answered, standing up from his seat to shake her hand. Rita nodded, giving us all a short smile before she exited.

We all met outside of the office when we were done, the boys stood near Freddy's truck a couple of feet away while Marley and I stood our ground near the storefront of the law office. There was barely an inch of snow on the sidewalk, a rare occurrence in Texas but it only reminded me of the feet of snow that waited for Kyle and I in New York.

"Do you need someone to drive you to the airport?" Marley asked as she shivered in her coat.

"We've got it covered. And listen, I'm sorry about all the shit I've been keeping from you lately. I just needed to get a handle on them first before I spiraled," I apologized to my best friend, and hoped things would remain in tact by the time I got back from New York in a few weeks.

"No worries. We've all got attics that need clearing. See you next year?" she joked and I laughed, as we side-hugged and walked away from the exes we vowed to never to fall in love with again.