Baking in the Underground
Epilogue

Toby looked up and grinned as he saw Sarah step out of her car. He ran up to her and latched on her leg and she laughed. He held on as she looked back at the car and he saw a man smile back at her.

“Goblin Man!” Toby yelled and waved, surprising his sister and the man. The man recovered first, smirking as he waved back. Sarah started walking to the house, Toby on her leg and Karen walked onto the porch. Finally, she reached Karen and Toby let go reluctantly. Karen and Sarah looked at each other a moment, then both smiled as they hugged.

“I can’t stay for long, I’m gonna visit dad.” Sarah said quietly in Karen’s ear as she pressed an envelope into Karen’s hand. As they separated, Karen looked at the envelope in her hand and Sarah in confusion. Sarah shrugged and smiled softly. Karen put it in her pocket.

“Thanks a lot, Sarah, really.” Sarah nodded and Karen looked Sarah over.

“I remember when I first married your father. How you’ve grown since then. I’m proud to call you my daughter.” Tears gathered in her eyes. “Getting married and moving to Europe.” She wiped her eyes and Sarah hugged her again. She stepped back and Sarah smiled.

“He’ll take good care of me. I’ll keep in touch.” Karen nodded, smiling, as she clutched in her pocket Sarah’s paycheck from the night club from before Christmas, two months earlier, and Toby kissed Sarah several times. She waved to them and declined the offer for supper. She sat in the driver’s seat and pulled out of the driveway. She drove down the road for ten minutes in silence, and then Sarah pulled off the road onto a well-ridden dirt road. She drove for another minute, and then parked. She sat for a full minute, with her head on the steering wheel and Jareth put his hand on her arm.

“Do you want me to go with you?” He asked softly. She shook her head.

“I just need a minute alone.” He nodded as she left the car. She walked past a few graves until she reached a tombstone she knew well.

'Robert Williams. Loving Husband and Father. You will always be missed.' She traced his name with her fingertips and sat on his grave tenderly, putting the flowers she brought on the bottom ledge of the stone.

“I miss you, dad. I’m happy with Jareth now, my fiancée. We’re getting married next week. Toby and Karen are doing okay, we’re all doing okay. Toby’s starting 2nd grade in a month. Karen’s doing good financially, and I’m helping her out secretly so she won’t object like I did when I first moved out. I really wish you would-” She sifted some sand between her fingers as she choked. She felt a hand grip hers steadily and she looked up into Jareth’s soft eyes.

“Daddy, this is Jareth, my fiancée. I love him with my whole heart and I wish that you could bless our union.” She felt the wind carry and seem to hug her. She saw Jareth’s shocked expression, then acceptance. He smiled as he put his hand on the grave.

“I thank you for your blessing. I promise to take care of your daughter and protect her always. She will never want for nothing.” Sarah smiled at Jareth and he smiled back as he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her tenderly. As they disappeared to the castle beyond the Goblin City, the car disappeared into nothingness.

~The End~

For now………