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“Think we’ll find Ida at the bakery?”
“After being told twice to close up early?” He grins. “Undoubtedly.”
And sure enough, as we walk down the strip toward Sweet Ida’s, we open the glass door to find her and two others still piping away at the cupcakes for our guests.
“Ida,” Logan complains.
She whips around with streaks of flour and icing covering her apron.
“What?” she asks, the picture of grandmotherly innocence. “We’re just about finished. Grab Agán and the girls from next door, and we’ll meet you at the pier.”
Logan shakes his head as the rest of our crew shuffles down the street toward the ceremony. Now that the sun’s setting, the twinkle lights strung between the buildings illuminate Seaside in a cozy glow.
I stop to wave at Mr. Chavez, with his fried fish cart set up across the way, and suddenly, I’m overwhelmed with emotion.
We’re not finished with Seaside—not by a long shot—but already, it’s flourishing.
Just last week, a new seafood restaurant and barber shop opened up next to the park Ellen insisted we build in place of a vacant parking garage. It’s been the perfect place for local bands to come and play their shows, and we’ve even hosted a couple of weddings.
Logan took a huge risk for me when he left Summit Estates. He took a chance on our dreams, knowing there was a possibility we could fail. But for all the elation I have that we didn’t, there’s a bit of residual heartache.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
When his fingers brush my cheek, I close my eyes and lean into the warmth of his palm. “We had a vision that we’ve worked our asses off for, and now that it’s coming true, I’m feeling some kind of way about it all, I guess.”
When our gazes touch, his is soft and tender. “Good feelings, I hope?”
“Yes. Amazing feelings.” My hand clasps his wrist, but my lips tremble as I try to hold back tears.
“You seem to forget that I know when my wife’s upset,” Logan tsks.
I wish I could find an ounce of amusement to offer him, but I sigh instead.
“It’s just that my family is here, and yours isn’t. I know we’re better off without him, but I… Sometimes I wish things would have worked out differently with your dad—” My words hitch in my throat. “Even though I hate the bastard, I wish he could have come through for you.”
The petition we put into motion has done its job of keeping Silas from fulfilling his mass expansion, but at the price of severing every tie Logan had with his parents.
Part of me thought with time, Silas might come around, but he hasn’t, and I ache for my husband and his loss.
Silas has missed so many milestones in his son’s life, and it’s difficult knowing how hard Logan’s worked to make this place beautiful and special for the people in the harbor, and that our kids will grow up with estranged grandparents who have no desire to know who they are.
“Your family became my family the day I married you.” He presses a delicate kiss to my lips. “You, Mable, and these precious souls you’re protecting are all I need, Pen. And no part of me regrets that decision.”
Tears track down my cheeks as his eyes scour my face. “You’re my heart, my future, and everything in between. We’ve earned this happiness. We deserve this life we’re building for ourselves, and no one can ever take that away from us again.”
I bob my head, sniffling, before he brings his lips to mine.
He kisses me in the middle of the sidewalk with his fingers wound in my unruly hair—more curly than ever with the pregnancy hormones—and he doesn’t care who’s watching.
A breeze winds around us, carrying with it the sweet scent of sugar, street foods, and a subtle dash of salt from the bay. And all the while, my heart blooms for him.
This is right where we belong.
“Hey, you two.” Agán swaggers out of the bar beside Ida’s shop with a gorgeous woman strapped to his side, and a group of Ida’s friends on his heels. “Don’t you have a ribbon to cut?”
Logan takes my hand, kissing my knuckles before gifting me a playful wink. “What do you say, sunshine?”
I slip my arm around his waist while he tucks his behind my neck. “Wherever you lead, I’ll follow.”
“Well then,” he says, lifting his chin toward the dusky sky painted an array of pink and orange hues, “into forever we go.”
* * *
