Epilogue
One Year Later
“Welcome, welcome.” Lilly Jordan opened the door for Avery and Harrison.
“Sorry we’re late,” Avery apologized. They’d gotten caught up in a snarled traffic jam on their way to celebrate Noelle Rose’s first birthday.
“Noelle is just about to eat her cake,” James called from the kitchen. “We’re waiting to sing first.”
Noelle sat in her high chair in the dining room. A spoon was in her hand, which she banged against the tray, excited with all the company and the fuss. A buffet table held several beautifully wrapped birthday gifts. Avery added her and Harrison’s contribution to the collection.
“Your timing is perfect,” Lilly assured them.
The first person Avery recognized was Virginia.
“Virginia,” she greeted her, and was about to give her a hug when the woman said, “I’m Veronica. Virginia is getting the paper plates.”
“You’re not Virginia?” Harrison asked when it was clear this was an identical twin.
“No one has ever been able to tell us apart,” Virginia called out from the other room.
“Even our parents,” Veronica added. “I insisted on crashing this party since my generous sister gave away my Christmas cookies last year.”
“Oh, hush,” Virginia teased. “We both know it was never about those cookies.”
Veronica shrugged good-naturedly. “She’s right, you know. It really wasn’t about those silly cookies.”
Avery’s attention was sidetracked by Olivia, who stood next to her parents. Logan had his arm around Beth’s waist. His gaze was on his wife, and the tenderness that shone in his eyes was enough to make Avery smile. The love that had brought them back together was real and strong.
“Can we have the cake now?” Olivia asked, clearly eager for the dessert.
“Olivia,” her father gently chastised. “It’s impolite to ask.”
Covering her mouth with both hands, Olivia mumbled, “Oops. Sorry.”
“We need to wait to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ first,” James explained just as the doorbell rang again. He excused himself and headed for the front of the house.
“I’m going to be a big sister,” Olivia announced. “I asked for a sister, but daddy explained that I’ll be just as happy with a little brother.” She shrugged as if this was yet to be decided.
“Congratulations,” Avery said. She was pleased for Beth, who glowed with happiness.
“Thanks. We’re excited. It seems everything is happening at once. Logan is working and taking business classes and I’m teaching first grade. Our lives are busy and full. We couldn’t be happier about this baby.”
“When are you due?”
“Not until October,” she said.
Liam and Suzie, two of the people from the band, entered the dining room, calling out their hellos and Merry Christmases to everyone. Liam carried his guitar.
“Now?” Olivia asked, looking at her parents.
Liam brought the guitar out of the case and lifted the strap over his shoulder. He strummed a few chords before starting the birthday song. They all joined in, and baby Noelle watched with glee, her eyes bright with excitement. The spoon made repeated raps against the tray as she was serenaded.
Lilly served the cake, and they sat around the dining room table and caught up with one another since last year, when they’d spent that fateful day together.
“So,” James said, eyeing Avery and Harrison. “Are you two . . . together?”
“We’re dating,” Harrison supplied, and looked at Avery with a look in his eyes that warmed her heart each and every time.
“Exclusively,” she added.
He reached for Avery’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “There’s no one else for me.”
“Or me,” she whispered, holding Harrison’s eyes.
Liam and Suzie updated them about the band’s latest bookings and issued an invitation for the New Year’s Eve party they were playing. “We got free tickets as part of the arrangement. I hope you can all join us.”
“We’d love to,” Harrison said, and looked to Avery for agreement. They hadn’t made any special plans beyond Christmas.
“That sounds great.”
After thirty minutes, Harrison glanced at the time. “I hate to eat and run. Avery and I are meeting our siblings for lunch at Anthony’s.”
“No problem. You mentioned you couldn’t stay long when you responded to the invitation,” James said, and escorted them to the door.
Once outside, they hurried down the steps. “It was great to see everyone,” Avery said.
“Did you get what Virginia was saying about the cookies?”
“Yup. I’ll explain it later.”
“What I can’t believe is how identical they are.”
They chatted all the way to the waterfront, remembering the connections they’d made that fateful day. By the time they arrived, Reed and Kellie had already been seated. The hostess led them to the table.
Reed and Kellie sat next to each other, their fingers clasped. That was when Avery noticed the diamond on Kellie’s hand. Her brother had done it. He’d asked Kellie to be his wife and she’d agreed.
They both looked up when Avery and Harrison approached. “I see congratulations are in order,” Avery said, and hugged Kellie’s shoulders.
Kellie’s eyes were bright with joy.
“Have you set a date?” Avery asked, as Harrison pulled out her chair for her to take a seat next to his sister.
“June, I think. It’ll take that long to get everything organized.”
“I suggested a Valentine’s wedding,” Reed said. “I had no idea weddings took months and months of planning.”
“They do,” Kellie reiterated. “But I promise the wait will be worth it.”
The server approached the table for their drink order. “Did you hear?” she asked, looking out over Puget Sound.
“Hear?” Harrison asked.
“It’s happened again. Another ferry is stalled halfway between Bainbridge Island and Seattle.”
Avery and Harrison locked gazes and smiled.
“I wonder,” Avery said, “if those passengers know how lucky they are.”