AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Epilogue
A few weeks later…
* * *
“What a place!” Joey did a complete three-sixty, spinning around to take in the gorgeous sights around him.
He and Miles had just made the three-and-a-half-hour drive from Philadelphia to Northern Virginia in order to start filming the second episode for their third season of ManPower. The closer they got to their destination atop the mountain, the more blown away Joey had been by the view.
The large wooden sign with the colorful words Stormy Weather Farm—the t’s in stormy and weather shaped like lightning strikes—told them they’d arrived.
Joey felt like he’d stepped back in the past as he took in the giant white farmhouse with large navy-blue shutters, surrounded by countless well-kept outbuildings, including an honest-to-God red barn. The place was storybook perfect with rolling green hills, a view that stretched for miles, and beautiful spring flowers adorning the wraparound porch.
“Shit, man. That was some climb. I wasn’t sure the truck was going to make it,” Miles muttered. “We’re not in Philly anymore, Toto.”
Joey chuckled. The rest of the ManPower crew would be arriving tomorrow, but they’d made plans to meet Levi Storm and his brew master, Lou, this afternoon for a tour of Stormy Weather Farm, as well as the two businesses located on the massive property—Rain and Shine Brewery and Lightning in a Bottle Winery.
Joey had been doing some research on the farm in preparation for the show. The Storm family had settled here over six generations ago, and they created a pretty amazing legacy.
After the tour, Levi, the oldest of the latest generation, had promised them a home-cooked dinner and the chance to meet the rest of his siblings and cousins. He and Levi had spoken a couple of times on the phone in preparation for the filming, and the man had mentioned the fact he had six brothers! Joey, who was one of five, had been awestruck by the thought. The branches on the Storm family tree seemed to be weighed down by as many relatives as the Moretti’s tree.
Levi reminded Joey a lot of his older brother, Tony—friendly and easygoing. The kind of guy who’d never met a stranger. For most of Tony’s adult life, the family had called him the mayor because the dude seriously seemed to know every single person in Philadelphia.
“Never gave much thought to the farming lifestyle but, damn, Miles, imagine getting to wake up here every morning of your life,” Joey said, staring into the distance.
“No thanks,” Miles grumped.
Joey rolled his eyes. Miles was taking in the same view he was, but there was no denying his best friend was much less impressed. A city boy from the word go, Miles viewed the mountains and woods and all nature in general as wasted space simply waiting to be “civilized” with houses, stores, restaurants, and a fucking Starbucks on every corner.
Levi had mentioned on the phone that on a clear day, they could see all the way to Washington DC, their view from up here completely unencumbered by other houses or trees or anything, and Joey found himself searching the horizon to see if it was true. They were so high up, he could almost believe that if he was only an inch or two taller, he’d bump his head on the sky.
“Should we go knock on the door?” Miles asked after another cursory glance at the view Joey couldn’t take his eyes off.
Before Joey could respond, they heard a female voice calling to them from the porch of the house.
“You made it!” she said.
Joey spun around, blinking several times and even shaking his head, trying to convince himself he was seeing…her.
His shocked gasp was audible, drawing Miles’s attention.
“You okay, man?” Miles asked.
“It’s her,” Joey whispered.
“Her who?”
Joey watched as the petite strawberry-blonde woman descended the stairs, walking their direction, intent on greeting them. She wore faded overalls over a hot pink tee and her long, wavy hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, though a chunk of it had fallen out on one side and she kept tucking it behind her ear each time the breeze blew it loose again. She wore the girliest Doc Martens he’d ever seen, the boots covered in pink and purple flowers.
She was smiling at them as she approached, and Joey knew without a doubt, he’d never seen a more beautiful woman in his life.
“Joey?” Miles prodded. “Who is she?”
Joey grinned, unable to look away from her as he said, “The woman I’m going to marry.”
* * *
