AllFreeNovel
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I added a theater room. One that will house all of the adults and room for the kids to camp out below. It’s over the top, but I know the kids are going to love it.
Money isn’t a new concept for me, but I know it is to my family. The Kincaids have busted their asses for everything they have, and while I didn’t work for this money, it was given to me by my grandfather, and his wish was for me to live my dream.
This is it.
I’m living it.
“Aunt Jordyn!” Blakely comes rushing toward me. “This is the bestest birthday ever!” She cheers.
“I’m so glad, sweetie.” I pull her into a hug. She releases me and she’s off to play with her cousins and a few of her friends, who are here to celebrate her eighth birthday.
“You did good, sweets,” Ryder says, wrapping his arms around me from behind. I lean into him, taking in the moment.
“We did good. This place has your influence all over it.”
“I love that we have a place where there is more than enough room for everyone. No matter how many kids are added to the next generation, this is where we’ll be for birthdays and holidays and everything in between. Thank you for giving this to us.”
“It’s your money too,” I remind him.
“We did good,” he says, kissing my neck.
“Yeah, we really did.”
We stand together, watching our family laughing and having a good time, and this is another one of those moments, the ones that far outweigh the bad that I want to memorize.
This family loved me when I was at my worst, and this is how I show them that I’m going to love them harder.
EPILOGUE RYDER
Ryder
She did it. It took a little longer because her focus was on Kincaid Central, but my wife finally opened her own boutique. Today is opening day for family only, and I swear that smile she’s wearing could light up the entire fucking town of Willow River.
Not that we need a family opening day. They’ve all been here over the past several months to check in on the progress and lend a hand. But Jordyn insisted that she wanted to share this with the family before she opened her doors to the entire town.
She bounces over and wraps her arms around my waist. I kiss the top of her head and hold her tightly in my arms.
She peers up at me under long lashes. “Thank you for this life.”
“Stop thanking me for loving you, sweets. It’s as easy as breathing.”
“Speech!” Merrick calls out.
“Is Maverick close?” she asks.
“Let me call him.”
“We’re waiting on Mav,” Jordyn calls back.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I call my brother. He wasn’t supposed to work today, but it rained three days this week, and his paving crew is already behind schedule.
“Yo,” he answers.
“Hey, man. You headed home?”
“Yeah, I’m walking to my truck now.”
“All right, be safe. Come straight to the boutique.”
“I will. Aw, shit,” he mumbles.
“What’s up?” I ask.
“Nothing. It looks like a woman might be broken down. Flat tire from the looks of it now that I’m closer. I will handle this, and then I’ll be on my way.”
“Be safe.”
“Always.”
“Is he on his way?”
“Yeah, he’s helping a woman change her tire, and then he will be. He’s working in Harris, so it won’t be too much longer.”
“Perfect.” There’s a sparkle in her eyes as she winks and saunters off to steal Leo from Brooks.
I sit back and watch my family and shoot the shit with my brothers, and love on my nieces and nephews. Finally, an hour later, Mav shows up. He’s not alone. There’s a woman holding a little girl in her arms.
“Hey, everyone.” Maverick waves. “This is Stella, and this little cutie is Ada. Their car broke down, and I gave them a ride into town, after calling Dec’s shop to tow their car. I told her the more the merrier.”
“Of course,” Kennedy speaks up. “How old is your daughter?” she asks.
“She just turned one.”
“Come on in. Let’s get you something to eat.”
I look on as Maverick watches them walk away before he makes a beeline for my wife, lifts her in his arms, and spins her around. She laughs and swats at him as he places her back on the floor. She motions to the table of food before her eyes meet mine. She nods, and I make my way toward her.
Once I reach her, I lace her fingers through mine.
“Thank you all for coming. I couldn’t have done this without each and every one of you. Thank you for helping make my dream come true.”
“Pull the sheet!” Sterling calls out.
Jordyn smiles as she turns to me and nods. I pull the sheet, revealing the lit sign that reads Kincaid’s Boutique.
“I wanted it to be a piece of all of us. Our kids can work here when they need a job after school, and our family name will be displayed proudly in town. Thank you for showing me what it means to be a part of a loving family.”
