Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 92899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
My friend Tully came over with his young daughter on his hip. She immediately gasped with excitement and babbled, “Fossa!” as she lurched at me with arms spread wide. I had to let go of Tommy to catch her, and when I gave her a big raspberry kiss on the cheek, I caught my guy flashing moony eyes at me.
Suddenly, I remembered our conversation in Hawaii. About how he wanted kids and a family. I met his eyes and grinned. “This is Lellie. She’s two and a half. And these are her dads, Tully and Dev. Guys, this is Tommy.”
Tommy greeted Lellie first, instantly winning over her two proud parents. Within moments, she’d jumped ship for Tommy’s more interesting antics, and Tully and Dev were pulling Tommy away to get him a drink from the collection of beer and wine in a nearby cooler.
Way surprised me with a huge hug, the tight, back-slapping kind that he was famous for. “So fucking happy for you,” he said, emotion in his voice. “Nobody deserves a good guy more than you.”
When he pulled away, I gathered my courage. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you this back at the office, but, uh…” I sucked in a breath. “I’m moving up to Legacy and joining SERA full-time.”
Way’s face fell. In addition to being my cousin and best friend, Waylon Fletcher was also the mayor of Majestic. While my news might be acceptable on a personal level, since I wouldn’t be all that far away and he’d married into enough money to travel it in style, professionally, I was dealing him a significant blow.
“Oh. Shit,” he murmured.
I caught my mom’s eye a few feet away. She pressed her lips together in an understanding smile. I’d called her on the way to town to tell her everything, so she’d already had a chance to come to terms with it. And she was thrilled I was finally doing something for myself after spending so long looking after her and Anna.
“I think Hanson’s ready to take on the role, but obviously, that’s up to the people to decide. I’ll certainly back him if he wants to run.”
“Shit, Foster,” he said again, blowing out a breath. “That’s… unexpected. I’m… fuck. I’m going to miss the hell out of you.”
“Likewise. You have to promise not to be a stranger, and maybe… well, maybe you’ll take one look at Legacy and decide to move all the horses up there. It’s awfully pretty.”
He gave me another hug as he let out a laugh. “I’ll bet ranchers are a dime a dozen in Montana. In fact, I happen to know Lennon Mar—wait. Marian.” His eyes widened. “Is your doctor related to Jude Marian?”
Our friend Zane’s ears perked up from nearby, and he meandered over to find out what we were talking about. As the conversation moved like popcorn popping, in quick, noisy bursts all over the place, I looked around at the life I’d built here in my hometown.
Friends and family. Warmth and welcome. A place and people who’d helped me be who I needed to be. And who would support me as I continued doing that exact same thing up in Legacy.
After a while, when we’d gathered around several large tables out back and the sun was just starting to set behind the peaks of Three Daughters, Zane’s boyfriend, Ryan, tilted his head and looked at Tommy funny.
“Hey… weren’t you in that commercial with the dog and the…” His face crinkled. “The thing?”
Zane’s eyes lit up. “That was you?”
Tommy shook his head sadly, though his hazel eyes danced as they found mine. “Nah, I get that a lot, though. Guy’s name was Wade Brown. Passed away.”
“Ah, shit,” Zane said. “Is that right?”
I held up my beer bottle to clink against Tommy’s glass of wine. Happiness bubbled in my chest like fizzy champagne.
“To Wade.”
“To Wade,” he said with a grin. “And kinsmin.”
EPILOGUE TWO
TOMMY – SEVERAL MONTHS LATER
“Relax, it’s not about you,” I said for the millionth time.
Foster yanked at the collar of his shirt. “This thing is choking me. Pretty sure that’s about me,” he said.
“The wedding is over. Take the tie off if you want. No one cares.” I glanced around the vineyard lodge. The familiar wood-beamed walls and large stacked stone fireplace made the perfect backdrop for my cousin Mattie’s wedding in Napa. She and her new spouse stood in the open doorway leading out to the terrace, accepting well-wishes from their guests as they filtered through the lobby out to the wedding reception. “Everyone’s eyes are on the happy couple anyway.”
“Forgive me if the last wedding I attended was my boyfriend’s,” he muttered, eyes darting around. It was only because I knew him so well that I assumed he was making sure Tilly, Granny, and Irene were not within striking distance.