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Epilogue
TESS
Emi peeks out from behind the enormous pile of presents she’s about to open. It feels like half the women in town are gathered in what used to be Nash’s living room. Nash is out with all the guys.
Including mine.
“Tess! S.O.S!” she calls out.
“Aren’t you glad you agreed to come back for your shower?”
“It’s been a while since we did this for Brooke,” she says. “How many gifts does one baby need? She’s going to weigh about seven pounds.”
Brooke smirks. “At least your baby won’t end up with a bunch ofRage & Redemptiononesies like Teddy did. It’s not easy being the grandson of the nation’s most famous soap opera stars.”
“Are you kidding?” Emi snickers. “Your mom and dad already sent a whole bunch ofR&Rswag to DC. Enough to decorate the entire nursery. And the worst part is Nash isintoit.”
Hannah Devlin aims a camera at her. “Saybaby shower!”
“You can’t smile when you’re saying baby shower,” Emi says. “Besides. I like cheese better.” She grins at Hannah. “CHEESE!”
Hannah takes a few shots of Emi, then moves around the house to photograph the rest of the guests. Emi’s mom and sister are in the dining room getting seconds at the buffet. Maddie and Jeanette Devlin—plus Brooke, Jill, Lucy, and Mrs. Dodd—are all seated in a circle around Emi.
“I’ll grab a pen and paper to write down who gives you what,” I say, before heading to the kitchen.
Mykitchen.
I’m still getting used to the idea that I’m not jumping between jobs or homes anymore. That I’ve got a boyfriend.
Thebestboyfriend.
Spencer’s been staying at Frank’s for the past four months, and it’s working out better than we expected. Especially for Mr. and Mrs. Crane. They’re thrilled to have their love shack back.
As for Frank, he likes having his brother watching out for his place whenever he visits Flagstaff. He splits his time between here and there now. Things are looking up with him and Alice.
Meanwhile, Frank offered Archie a job for the hours he’s not on security duty. Between Archie, Buster, and Renzo, the shop keeps running fine.
I collect a pen and paper from the junk drawer next to the sink. I still call it a junk drawer, but it’s more organized than a surgical tray now. I’m expecting Spencer will whip the rest of the house into shape eventually. One room at a time. I don’t mind being patient.
Good things come to those who wait.
I take the empty chair on one side of Emi. Brooke’s already seated on the other. Althoughseatedis a relative term. She keeps hopping up from her chair to reposition Teddy, who’s rolling all over the floor.
Mrs. Dodd raises her hand. “We got you a diaper genie, dear.”
“Grams!” Lucy squawks beside her. “You’re supposed to let Emi find that out when she opens her gifts.”
“A diaper genie?” Daisy holds her nose. “I’m sorry to tell you this, Auntie Emi, but your whole house is about to smell. So, so bad.”
Brooke huffs out a laugh. “That’s supposed to be our little secret, Daisy.”
My niece rolls her eyes and looks at me. “Teddy’s gotlotsof little secrets, right, Auntie Tess?”
I wink at her and nod. Since my nephew came along, I’ve had a front row seat to Brooke and Mac parenting two children. Spencer still talks about having twins someday. An even number, of course. I told him one at a time is plenty.
Just watch. I’ll probably have triplets.
“Milty and I have decided not to have children,” Mrs. Dodd says. I’m ninety-nine percent sure she’s joking.
