Page 93 of Rogue Wave

I took a step forward to hug him at the same time he stood up, so we crashed into each other.

I fumbled around but eventually wrapped my arms around him and kissed him with everything I had.

He kissed me back but did not reciprocate the hug. When I leaned back, he was staring down at me with humor in his eyes.

“Can I put the ring on you now before you attack me again?”

I laughed, and then nodded.

He took my hand gently in his and slid the beautiful ring—an emerald-cut diamond flanked by pearls—onto my finger.

“Pearls come from the ocean, so it seemed perfect for you,” he explained.

“You’re perfect for me,” I replied as I lifted up onto my tippy-toes to kiss him again, wrapping both arms around his neck again and showing him how much I appreciated the thought he’d put into it.

“Turn and smile for the camera, kids,” Dougie yelled out, and I turned to see him holding his phone.

Ahhh. So that was why Dougie had joined us this morning.

“Hey, Hazel, do me a favor and hold up your new dick in the picture, too, so I can really capture the moment,” Dougie teased, causing me to roll my eyes.

I turned instead to Hank, who was staring at me with so much love in his eyes that I almost broke down in tears.

“I love you, Grumpy McHottiepants.” I smiled up at him and watched a beaming smile overtake his face too.

“I love you too, Rogue Wave, and I promise to love you for the rest of our lives.”

A few days later, we were headed to Mom and Auntie’s farm for the holidays.

I had just gotten off the phone with George, who had grumbled the entire time. I’d given him my notice since I was going to be moving in with Hank soon, and he was upset because now he was going to have to “waste time finding another damn renter,” which was eating into his free time.

The man was retired and had more free time than he knew what to do with, but that didn’t matter.

Plus, when I told him Vivi was looking for a place and would be a great renter, he seemed intrigued by that option, so I figured he’d be just fine if I moved out a little early, despite his cantankerous attitude.

I was really hoping he let Vivi move in. It would be so much fun having my best friend right next door. Plus, it would be fun to watch her and Dougie in such close proximity to each other, since they were still dancing around each other without making a move.

“This place looks really nice,” Hank said as we pulled down the long driveway to the Victorian farmhouse where I spent the latter part of my childhood.

Moving here had been such a tumultuous time in my life, but it had also been wonderful and the best thing that could have happened to me.

“It’s wonderful,” I replied.

We pulled the car up to the front just as Gale was walking over from her mini house.

Gale had been the first sister to “move out.” She went away to college and lasted one semester. She’d remained in school but had ended up coming home and attending classes online.

There had been a two-car garage off to the side of the property that had been used for years to house the lawnmowers and other such equipment. Years ago, Mom and Auntie built a brand-new barn for the animals and decided to just make it bigger so they could add in the lawnmower and other items to it to keep everything in one place.

To give Gale a sense of independence, Mom and Auntie had converted the old garage into a little studio apartment for her to live in while she finished school. She never moved out. She was now in her mid-thirties and had lived there ever since.

I’d told all of this and more to Hank over the last few weeks, getting him ready for my family all coming together for the holiday. It was a bit crazy when we were all together, and every single one of us was coming home for Thanksgiving this year.

Anna and Archer had flown in from Georgia last night. Cora and Jay had driven over yesterday as well. Iris and Hector were about an hour behind us on the road.

Mom and Auntie were thrilled to have everyone all in one house again, and admittedly, I was excited too.

Cora and I had talked, and we’d decided—after getting the okay from Mom and Auntie first— to invite Dad to join us for Christmas. I was tentatively excited to have a holiday again with my dad, but also nervous. But with Hank, Cora, and Jay there with me, I knew it would be good.