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“Let me text him.”

A moment later, Lawson grinned. “We have the go-ahead. He’s going to help while Amber puts her feet up with Jayna for a bit.”

Burke took Rissa’s mittened hand in his while they walked through the orchard up to the garden with Frizzle trotting along by their side. “This is amazing. Exactly the kind of family activity everyone loves. You’re going to have to make it a Christmas tradition.”

She laughed, and they shared a smile at the tradition they’d started the day with. He had plans to end the day the same way.

“I think we can do that. We’ll have to make each year different.”

He wondered what the next year would bring. After the past year, he hadn’t expected much from life or the future. He’d been completely burned out physically and emotionally. Now he was energized and looking forward to the future with Rissa.

For the first time in his memory, Burke wasn’t worrying about money or his family. He knew they were happy and working together to make the future bright.

He was right here with them. Instead of saving for disasters and emergencies, he was using some of the money he’d invested over the years to spread joy. He would never stop saving, never stop ensuring the people he loved were safe, but now that he knew they were all in terrific shape, he could start spending some of that money on things to make their lives better.

Savings bonds for the kids, skis for everyone, the new Q Lab were just the start.

As they walked, he pointed across the orchard toward the side where Lorraine lived with her troop of Boxers and Bernese Mountain dogs. “What do you think of that spot?”

Rissa tilted her head. “It’s beautiful, like the rest of the orchard.”

He grinned. “You’re right, but I was thinking it might be a good spot to build a home of our own. It’s close enough to Ford’s barn that there’s road access, while still far enough away to be private.”

Rissa stumbled to a stop and stared at him.

He kissed her lightly while Frizzle barked at her. Burke scooped up the Yorkie and handed her to Rissa, who continued to stare at him. “I want it all with you, Rissa. A home of our own. Kids. What do you think?”

She smiled. “That sounds amazing. I’d love to build a home with you, right here in the apple orchard.”

He grinned. “Kids?”

She nodded. “Definitely. You’re going to be an amazing dad, Burke.”

“And you’ll be an incredible mom. We’re going to have some lucky kids.”

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. “I’m so damn happy that you were here on the farm when I arrived. I had no idea how bright the future could be. My parents and Fox would be so happy to know we’re all together and that we’ve found our place and the people who make us whole.”

Rissa squeezed him. “Jay, too. I know I never met him, but from everything we learned, he and Fox were so much alike. Because Jay left you all this farm, he allowed you the opportunity to be together again and to bring this place to life. They must be so proud of you.”

Burke swallowed the emotion as he nodded. “They would all be proud and happy.”

Lawson’s voice drifted to them. “Come on, you two. We’ve got snowballs to build.”

Laughing, Burke kissed Rissa lightly. “Are you ready?”

“With you? I’m ready for everything.”

Norma MacPhail had plans. Ninety was in her rear-view mirror, but she’d ensured her plans would unfold once she was gone.

It was good to be a planner—a planner with money.

She’d started planning more than a decade ago, before Parkinson’s had started destroying her body.

The disease was hideous, and Norma wanted to help the researchers, so she moved into a nursing home affiliated with a university and research institute. Offering herself up as a research rat and guinea pig was a small price to pay to help combat the disease.

She’d had her lawyer include the research programs in her will. She’d earned a lot of money through skiing, endorsements, and investments. Now, that income could continue to help others.

Especially her Callie.