Monroe snorts in amusement.
Elias hauls me up into his lap and I snuggle against him. He’s warm and smells good. I relax in his arms, happy to finally relax.
“How did Caroline take your suggestion?” he asks against my hair.
“As long as it makes money, she’s in. If it doesn’t…” I turn my head up and make a slicing motion with my finger. “Off with my head.”
He pecks my lips and smirks. “You have way too much fun pushing that woman’s buttons, don’t you?”
Silas drops a basket of piping-hot onion rings in front of me, and I groan as I lean forward to snatch one.
“I love you, Silas Calder. If I weren’t a married woman, I’d hitch my wagon to yours.”
Elias grumbles, “Over my dead body.”
We stay for another hour or so, eat our fill in greasy food, and play a few rounds of darts before heading home. Once there, I peek in next door while Elias checks on the budgies.
“Brought you some leftovers,” I say to Mom as I let myself in. “How’s Grandpa?”
“Well, Janey’s still here if that tells you anything.” She sighs. “Some days are hard, sweetheart.”
I give her a hug. “I can take off work tomorrow. Give you a break if you want.”
She kisses my hair. “I’ve missed being with my daddy for forty-seven years. I’m not giving up a second with him.”
I sneak down the hallway and peek my head in Grandpa’s room. Janey smiles but the look in her eyes says, “Not today.” He still gets confused and calls me Goldie, so if he’s having a bad day, I don’t want to make it worse.
Once back outside, I find my husband—yeah, I’m actually really loving that new title—sitting on the back patio, poking at his fire pit. He’s already made up some decaf coffee for us and brought out my favorite cozy blanket.
“Come here,” he says, patting his lap. “Let me warm you up.”
I crawl into his arms and use his body for warmth as he covers us up. The air smells crisp like we might get snow one day soon. I’m eager to see Budgie Bay blanketed in white.
“I love this life,” I tell Elias. It’s something I say often.
“Me too, honey. Me too.”
This small-town life is a dream come true. Now I get why Kayla is always smitten and romanticizing it whenever we talk. It truly is a Hallmark movie come to life and I’m the star of it.
My heart aches as I think about Grandma. She would have loved seeing me here, marrying Elias, and becoming a part of the community she loved so dearly. Tears prickle at my eyes and I sniffle. Elias hugs me tighter.
It took Grandma dying for me to truly live.
I’m sad that’s how life works out sometimes. Just like it’s tragic that Grandpa came home, but Grandma was gone. All I can do is carry on her memory and love every second of my life.
“Hey, Elias?”
“Hmm?”
I sit up so I can see his handsome face. The firelight bounces off his face and makes his eyes glimmer. His beard has grown longer, and I have to fight both his mother and his sister from chasing after him with clippers. I run my fingers through hishair, taking a long while to appreciate what a wonderful man he is.
“What’s on your mind, honey?”
I run my nose over his and then peck his lips. “How do you feel about kids?”
He stiffens which makes my heart race. It’s not something we’ve really talked about. Budgies, family, friends, and work keeps us busy. I’m suddenly nervous.
“I think Maxton and Mallory are pretty great.”
