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“I wasn’t,” I said sincerely. “Sadie, my dad tried to give me my inheritance last night and I said no. I said no.”
“You did?” Sadie’s eyes were wide, and I kissed her face, laughing softly as she did.
“I did,” I told her, and then pulled the sale papers from my pocket. “And then there’s this.”
Sadie took the papers slowly and read them aloud. “Andy Kameron? Connor, you didn’t.”
“I thought that we could have a second home in Virginia if you decided to stay in the city, or we could live there full time because I remembered you said that the land was beautiful, but either way it doesn't matter.”
Sadie’s kisses swallowed my words, and her tears were joyful as she wrapped herself around me. “I want you anywhere, Connor Lennox. I love you, I love you.”
“I love you too. You’re happy, then?” I asked her. I grinned at Sadie, pressing my forehead to hers.
“I’m more than happy,” Sadie told me. She let out a laugh and her happiness was contagious.
I lifted her in my arms, spinning her as we both laughed wildly in our relief. We stopped and I could see the people around us now looking warmly at our embrace. Outside fireworks lit up the sky across the city and the colors glittered over the familiar features of Sadie’s face. I wanted this forever. I wanted Sadie Harlow for the rest of my life, warm in my arms. She was everything.
“Well then,” I gave her a wide smile. “I guess Games of Love was a success after all.”
Epilogue
The rental car seemed to slog its way through the Virginia countryside, driving past the autumn-brown hills and the far-off red and orange of the Appalachian Mountains. A fiery sunset burned across the sky, flaring golden over the windshield. Connor grinned at me from the driver’s seat, squeezing my hand where our fingers were entangled on the console. His flaxen hair was caught in the evening sunlight and his eyes glowed like the bright, chill blue of the autumn sky. The car’s radio played softly, lulling us into a peaceful sort of silence that neither of us broke until we reached the tree-lined lane. A familiar happiness bloomed in my chest at the sight of our home, waiting for us to fill the walls and rooms with love. We had stayed at the house every few weeks or so and stuffed it with beautiful flea market finds and well-used trinkets and furniture. When we had time, Connor and I made our way around Virginia and New York, searching for things that would make our new house ours. The cottage was a labor of love and I could tell that Connor loved the house and the land as much as I did. I planned on filling the acres with little animals to go with the two horses in our lower field that my dad had given us as a housewarming gift. Being close to my childhood home gave me a sense of comfort. I always remembered my mom telling Mr. Anderson that she was in love with his beautiful stretch of land. I liked to think that she was here, forever-golden and living peacefully in my memory of her.
“I’m so glad to be back,” I said, keeping my voice quiet. The car bumped down the road under the shifting trees, following the long path until it opened to a small meadow nestled in a copse of oaks.
“We’re home now,” Connor murmured in answer, bringing my fingers to his smiling mouth to kiss my hand. Butterflies filled my belly, and I couldn't help but smile. The man I loved was here with me and this was our home.
The little cottage sat under the trees like an old friend. It was hard to believe that it had been almost a whole year since Connor bought the house and the land from my father’s sweet, elderly neighbor. The trees shifted, brushing low branches over the faded, green roof and brick chimney. I nearly ran to the little white porch, jumping over the beds of flowers and then onto the stone path that led to the door. There were three bright orange pumpkins on the porch, their carved faces grinning at us. I smiled to myself, knowing that my father had come by to spread a little Halloween cheer.
Connor laughed from behind me as I rushed to open the door, curling my fingers over the antique knob. Inside, the warm, familiar scent of vanilla greeted me. The wide windows of the cottage let in the evening beauty of the falling dark outside. In the sitting room, I brushed my fingers over the couch in from my old apartment, newly stuffed and restored, and made my way into the little kitchen. A thin layer of dust covered everything after the months of our stay in New York. I was so glad that I finally switched the last of my schoolwork to online classes, and I could spend my days in the peaceful beauty of our home, watching autumn cover the hills and valleys. I could hear Connor going through the house, flicking on lights, and opening doors to air them out. I leaned against the sink and watched the moon as it rose, full and heavy, on the horizon. Down in the lower field, a few horses grazed on the crunchy grass.
