28. Epilogue
Epilogue
Law
T he last of the snow was finally gone. At least I hoped so. Nic had laughed at me when I mentioned it, assuring me that it wasn’t uncommon for Mother Nature to dump a freak snow storm as late as early May, but then placated me by saying that snow never stuck around. I was glad to hear it, as I was far too excited about the budding trees and the grass emerging.
I was ready for some warmth.
Not that I didn’t have plenty of warmth at home. My kids were still a constant joy in my life, and with each day that passed, they became more and more settled. Cait had worked her schedule so she had most of spring recess off, and the kids had gone to Boston to spend the week with her. Marlie had been a bit homesick, and constantly messaged about Ranger—he would probably go with her during the summer, but for this first visit away, we all decided it was better for the dog to stay home—but Tristan and Harper had enjoyed the heck out of their visit. My kids were making friends and getting used to their new life, and I couldn’t be happier.
But more than that, I had Oak. For as hard as I’d fought our attraction, I couldn’t imagine my life without him in it. He was a ray of sunshine and brought contentment to my soul. The nights he slept at his cabin were nights I didn’t sleep well. But even though we’d been dating for a few months now, I knew it was too early to beg him to move in with us at the Yellow House. He still needed his independence as he worked through his trauma.
And he was putting in the work. There were days he came home from therapy emotionally raw and bruised. Dr. Marks, he told me, was pleased with his progress and he’d dropped down to one appointment a week. The important part for me was that Oak thought he was making progress. I’d feared a setback after his mother had shown up out of the blue a few weeks ago, but Oak was doing okay for the most part. He had his moments where it was just a lot, and he was sad, but really, he was doing great.
I wished he was with me now, dancing around my kitchen and shaking his delectable ass, while I cooked dinner, but he was working so I would just have to wait. He came over after dinner service every night, and slept in my bed most of them, but that was our time together. First as a family, and then just the two of us. It was the highlight of my day.
Thinking about all of that, I realized my children were quiet. Too quiet. I’d learned a long time ago the difference between the kinds of silence children could make and this one sent my Dad-senses tingling. They were up to something.
Turning down the burner so the pasta didn’t boil over, I went in search of them. The living room was empty, and so was Tris’ bedroom. I heard the soft murmur of voices then, coming from Harper’s room, so I slowed my steps and dialed up my hearing, straining to hear what they were plotting.
“But, Gramps! We need it.” Tris’ voice rose a little too high, and both his sisters shushed him.
A second later, as I stopped just out of sight, I heard Sean’s genial grumble, “But why? Gotta admit, it’s a little strange.”
“You gots lotsa wood, Gramps,” Tristan said, indignant.
“That I do, my boy. But when my youngest grandchildren call me up and ask for it, I wouldn’t be a good Gramps if I didn’t find out why, now would I?”
Marlie chimed in. “Yes, you would. The best Gramps in the whole world.”
Sean’s chuckled rumbled through. “I’m super good at keeping secrets. You can tell me and I won’t tell a soul.” He made a zzzt noise, so I imagined he zipped his lips. The younger two giggled, but Harper hummed thoughtfully.
“Okay, we’ll tell you.” Harper’s voice was low and conspiratorial. “It’s for Oak. He needs something to make him happy. And I measured his fairy doors, so I have the size right. I measured twice, just like you showed me. We’re gonna make him fairy doors for his collection because he needs a smile.”
My heart squeezed painfully, the love I had for these hooligans just desperate to get out.
“Well, that’s a mighty nice thing to do,” Sean said. "I suppose I can get you three pieces of wood for that.”
“What’s going on here?” I asked, strolling casually through the door like I hadn’t just been eavesdropping. All three had been huddled around Harper’s iPad, cuddled together on her bed, and they looked up in shock.
“Aaah! Abandon ship!” Tris yelled, far too loud, and dove off the bed. He landed hard, and I winced, but he started laughing a second later so I knew he was okay.
The girls giggled at their brother’s antics and I chuckled too.
“It’s a secret surprise, Dad,” Marlie said through the laughter.
“And you’re roping Gramps into it?” I tsked like I disapproved, but I was grinning too hard to make it believable. I swooped down onto them, kissing both of their heads, and then grabbed Tris as he climbed back up, giving him a quick tickle just to hear his peal of laughter.
“Gramps is our ‘complice,” Tris said, and I wondered where he heard that word. I had a sneaking suspicion it was from Teague. I could just picture their uncle doing something shady and calling the kids his accomplices.
“Oh. Well then.” I dipped down so I could see Sean’s beaming face. The joy there was unmistakable. I winked. “Make it four, hm?”
Sean’s grin grew wider. “Now that’s a plan.”
A few days later, we collectively decided to go to dinner service and bother Oak while he was working instead of eating at the house and waiting for him to come home. I couldn’t get my kids to eat meatloaf if my life depended on it. Dana on the other hand? Every time it was one of the selections, all three of the kids begged to eat at the Inn. When I playfully grumbled about it, Tris’ eyes got wide.
“But Auntie Dana’s has cheese .”
The auntie was reserved only for Dana. I wasn’t sure which one of them had started it, but Dana loved it. I think it’s why the kids all got double servings of twice fried French fries with their meatloaf, instead of the garlic mashed potatoes it was usually served with. She was spoiling them, but I couldn’t complain.
Just as we were commandeering a table, Felix ambled in. He was moving well today, with only his cane for assistance, and when he saw us, he came over. I pulled out a chair and insisted he join us. Oak had probably talked him into coming to dinner, and I liked the man’s company.
“I don’t want to intrude,” he tried to demur.
“Mr. Felix, does your shop still gots the sword?” Tristan asked, practically bouncing in his seat. Oak had stopped into Nostalgia Nook with Tris the other day, and my son had been enamored with the claymore Felix had on display. Oak had had to move fast to keep the kid from touching.
Felix sat, albeit a little reluctantly, and engaged in conversation with Tristan. For Tris’ part, I only had to remind him once to use his inside voice. Cora served us our dinner, Oak snuck in conversation when he could, and Felix did his best to answer Tristan’s incessant questions. All in all, I thought it was a successful dinner.
“Mr. Huntley! What are you doing here?” Marlie called out, and I jerked my head up to see her teacher ambling toward us with a beaming Nic at his side. She looked even tinier next to the incredibly tall man.
“Marlie! How lovely to see you.” The teacher made a bow in her direction and then greeted the other two. Strangely, he absolutely ignored Felix.
“Law, when I spotted you, we came right over. Because we’re going to need your help if Kellan wants to pull off his summer camp.”
My brain scrambled to catch up. In true Nic fashion, she jumped right in as if we’d been having a conversation all along. I jerked my gaze to her and cocked my head.
“Back up there, sparky, and fill me in.”
Nic growled, never liking the nickname. “Kellan is running a weeklong nature camp this summer. And the Black Dog Inn is going to host. But it’s the kind of thing that I’m gonna need you on board for. You in?”
Kellan smiled jovially. “It’s my second year doing it. Last year, we met at the community center and headed out from there. But they’re replacing the roof this summer and don’t have space for us. Marlie has told us all about her home, and when I needed a new place, I reached out to Nic. It’s really ideal. The dining room is perfect for lunches and ‘classroom’ activities, and it’s surrounded by all the nature we could need.”
“Tell me what you need,” I said, loving the idea and wondering how many of my kids I could sign up. It would keep them occupied for at least a little time.
“Parental chaperones are always needed.” Kellan gave me a wink. Felix scoffed. For a split second, Kellan’s gaze shifted to Felix and he frowned, before plastering on a smile that didn’t reach his eyes and focusing on me. “But there’s also going to be projects out in the woods, and Nic says that’s your purview.”
I nodded. “I’m in. Of course. Like I said, just tell me what you need.”
“That’s awesome! Thank you. I’ll send you an email with the rough lesson plans, and we can work together to figure out the best way to accomplish it. How does that sound?”
“I’ll look for the email.” He already had my contact information as Marlie’s parent.
“Great. Nic.” Kellan turned to her and picked up her hand, kissing the back of it. “It’s been an absolute delight. I’ll forward you the info you need, and then you can send the contract over to me. The fees are subsidized by the community center, so payment will come from them.”
Nic smirked. “Sounds good.”
“For now, I bid you adieu. Have a lovely evening, Caldwells.”
And then Kellan Huntley turned on his heel and sailed from the room. More than a few heads turned to watch him go. Felix was not one of them, and his expression was stormy. I leaned closer, and he jumped as if he’d forgotten I was there.
“You okay?”
“Yep,” he said through clenched teeth.
“Felix—”
“I’m fine. Just didn’t expect to see him here.”
I was going to ask him what that meant, but Marlie’s excited chatter caught my attention and she was asking questions about the mentioned camp that I had no answers to. By the time I convinced her I’d find out what I could, Felix was pushing away from the table.
“Hey, Felix, wait a sec—”
“Have a goodnight, guys. Oak, I’ll see you later.”
Oak was just walking up to the table with dessert in hand. He blinked as Felix all but stomped by him, which was a feat when he was relying on his cane. We both watched Felix go.
“What was that about?” Oak asked.
“I have no idea.”
We had to wait until just the right time to spring our surprise on Oak. As the last of the snow finally melted away, the kids and I concocted a plan. Tristan was actually pretty horrible at keeping secrets, and if the boy knew of a surprise, he almost always ran to tell the person who was set to be surprised. But since he’d managed to keep the doors a secret this long, “It’s so hard, Dad! I want to show Oak!”, I couldn’t leave him out of the planning. Maybe turning six had been the magic key for him.
Either that or he’d told Oak when none of us were in hearing distance, and Oak was keeping the secret too.
Harper was ready to scheme and act as decoy as I got everything set up. Harper was the only one who knew the whole plan. Marlie and Tristan just knew that I was going to display the doors in a special way and that would be the extra special surprise. The weekend before Memorial Day finally was rain-free and somewhat warm. Harper took Marlie, Oak, and Ranger and headed to Oak’s cabin. He’d told me he was going to spend the morning cleaning—he claimed it was getting stuffy from lack of use, which made me grin—but if my kids and dog showed up, wanting to walk around the pond, Oak wouldn’t tell them no.
Once they were gone, I got to work.
The pond was close enough to the house that I could hear their occasional shrieks of laughter often followed by playful barking. But because of the trees, which were now filling in, and the undergrowth, it was impossible to see the backyard of the Yellow House no matter where they were. I worked quickly, getting everything installed.
I’d scoured through Mulligan’s Firewood to choose just the right size log pieces. Some were short and fat, others tall and skinny, small ones and large ones, and some in the middle. The kids and I had walked through the woods a few days before, picking up interesting rocks and stones, sticks and branches. Yesterday, I’d cleared a back corner of the yard of debris, keeping just enough vegetation to make it look overgrown without obscuring anything. And now it was a fairy door garden. The bare logs were prime real estate for Oak’s collection. But the ones we’d made were already installed.
After arranging all the stones and branches, I stepped back and really took it in. Oak could change whatever he wanted about it, but I thought it looked pretty good. Magical and sweet. I hoped it sent the right message.
Satisfied with my work, I put my fingers to my lips and let out my loudest whistle.
Ranger went nuts, and Tristan screamed, “Daddy!”
A moment later I heard Oak admonish, “Tristan Michael, slow down! You’re going to hurt yourself!”
I couldn’t help but chuckle and then stand back and wait.
Ranger and Tristan were the first ones through the tree line, the little path from the yard to the pond not too overgrown yet. I made a mental note to keep an eye on it as the summer came on, knowing it would need trimming.
Oak’s face broke into a smile as he and the girls came into sight. “I thought you were busy.”
“I was.” I smirked and waited until he was close before yanking him in and kissing him soundly. Not too deep or filthy, no matter how much I wanted to. We’d have to save that for later. But when I pulled back, all I could do was stare. He was letting the bleach grow out, his natural dirty blond coming through, and it was long enough now to get a good grip. He still wasn’t sure if he was going to dye it again, but it didn’t matter to me. I just liked looking at him.
“Look, look, look!!” Tristan shouted, and he was so excited he could barely contain himself, jumping up and down fast enough that he was panting.
Oak looked. And froze. And then pressed a hand to his mouth as his eyes welled up.
“C’mere,” I said softly, taking his other hand. I led him closer.
“It’s for your doors, Oak,” Marlie said, pointing to the one she’d painted. It was pink and purple, with a crap ton of glitter. It also had Ranger’s paw print on it. The dog had been highly affronted when I stuck his foot in non-toxic paint and pressed it to the wood. But like the good boy he was, he took it and let Marlie and I clean him off, before she gave him a peanut butter treat.
“I did this one!” Tristan said, walking right up to it and smacking it. Which was obvious to anyone who knew him, since it was red with black spider webs on it. Or at least, that’s what he’d been going for. The kid was in his Spider-Man phase.
“And you did that one, Harper?” Oak pointed to the teal and mauve—it wasn’t green and pink, I’d been thoroughly informed—door that Harper had painted delicate flowers along the bottom. I knew she was crafty, of course, but even I’d been surprised at how well it had turned out. She had a real talent. She nodded and hugged him quickly before stepping back again.
“Lookit the one Daddy did!” Tristan gestured so wildly he almost smacked himself in the face.
Oak glanced up at me, eyes wide and shocked, before he let go of me. He walked forward two steps, and then bent down to really look at it. I’d painted it blue, like his eyes, and then used white and brown to make an approximation of a keyhole. It wasn’t great by any means. But the important part was the key I’d affixed to the front.
Oak reached out with a shaky hand before lifting it off the hook and cradling it in his palm. He stared at it for a long few moments. I couldn’t quite see his face, so I didn’t know what he was thinking. I cleared my throat.
“That’s for when you’re ready, baby.” I kept my voice low, though the kids weren’t exactly paying attention to us. Now that the excitement had waned, Ranger had stolen their attention and a raucous game of tag ensued. They’d all sleep good tonight.
“Law.”
“The offer is open-ended. When you’re ready, we want you to move in.” I had to swallow down the emotions that were threatening to rise up. “Until then, you can use that key whenever you want. We want you with us. I want you with me. And one day, I want you to call my house home too.”
He launched himself at me, but I was ready for that possibility, so I’d already planted my feet. I hugged him as tightly as I could and kissed his neck, since he had his face buried against my shoulder. He was crying, but only a little, and the only reason I knew was because I felt the wetness against my skin.
“I love you, Oak Mulligan.”
“I love you too,” he whispered, his voice shaky. He sniffed hard, and took a breath, before he lifted his face. He was smiling so wide. “One day, when we’re both ready, I’m going to ask you to marry me.”
I couldn’t contain my grin, but I lifted a brow. “Oh you are, huh?”
He nodded quickly. “You got to do it once already. It’s my turn. Some day in the future, I’m going to ask you to be my husband and we’ll get married right by this fairy garden and hyphenate our last names.”
I kissed him, slow and sweet, and with plenty of promise for what was to come. My kids were thriving. Cait was doing well, thriving in the fast paced environment and making changes to benefit the cardiac program. My brother was happier than he’d ever been. And this man in my arms was the reason my life felt like a completed renovation, everything exactly how it should be and exactly how I wanted it.
“I can’t wait.”