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Fire.
“What about Denver?”
“I’m not going.”
“Because the workshop burned?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand. You didn’t fight that fire. You didn’t go into the burning building.”
“You’re right. I didn’t. But I could have. I saw the structureon fire before I saw you. Before I saw AJ. I knew that I could go in. That’s all I needed. I know that if I need to, I can. Drew was right. This fire was the best bad thing that ever happened. I love you, Willow Eldridge. I love your children. Will you marry me and let me stay home?”
Tears welled in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. “We’ll have to change the name of the place. The Tannehill family won’t be hiding away from anything or anyone.”
“Good point. How do you feel about the Love Shack?” At her response, he added, “Do you want your eyes to get stuck in the back of your head, Willow? I would have thought your mother would have warned you about that.”
Then, he kissed her so completely that Willow forgot what else she intended to say.
Except for yes.
Epilogue
Black Friday
GENEVIEVE PRENTICE THOUGHT IThilariously appropriate that she turned sixty the day after Thanksgiving.
She’d planned her party with meticulous care. She’d invited her children months in advance and gave them special dispensation to miss a family Christmas if they’d all gather for Thanksgiving in Colorado and stay for a little birthday event on Friday. Yesterday had been nice, with dinner hosted by Willow and Noah.
Noah’s brother’s wife and niece had come from Denver for the day, which had been lovely. Little Maddie had gone wild over Emma’s dollhouse, and Genevieve doubted Noah would be able to hold out until Christmas to give Maddie the one he’d made for her. They’d even had a video call with Maggie, AJ, and the Randalls from their home in California. Genevieve had been so pleased to see that Damon was a man of his word and kept Maggie involved in her grandson’s life, especially since she mourned the loss of Tom, who’d passed away in September.
But Thanksgiving was over, and today was Genevieve’s birthday. She had a surprise party to throw.
She couldn’t wait.
At precisely 10 a.m., she dialed her sister’s number. They had plans to go to Eternity Springs for lunch and an afternoon of shopping before returning for Genevieve’s “little party” that evening. “Are you ready? I’m leaving my house now.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive? It is your birthday, after all.”
“Oh, I’m sure.”
“All right. I’ll just need you to make one little stop on the way if you don’t mind.”
Ah-ha! I knew it.“Oh? Where do you need to stop?”
“At Raindrop. I left my purse in the office there yesterday.”
Sure you did.“Of course. No problem. No problem at all.”
Genevieve had figured out pretty quickly that her family wasn’t leaving her “little birthday event” plans alone. They were surprising her. The way she saw it, she was free to surprise them in turn.Turnabout is fair play, kiddos.
Wasn’t it too much fun to see it playing out just like she had expected?
Her sister was all smiles when she climbed into Genevieve’s car in front of Mountain Vista Retirement Community. “Happy birthday, little sister.”
“Thank you, Madam Mayor.”
“Has a nice ring, doesn’t it?” Helen said, preening as she buckled her seat belt.
