Epilogue
Levi
Eight Months Later
I don’t like change.
I didn’t like it when Seth moved away. I didn’t like it when Grandpa died. I didn’t like it when Jeanette went to college and dumped me. Hell, I didn’t even like it when Mom changed up her dinner roll recipe even though everyone else said they were better.
So when Seth came home and decided that the Blackwood Family Farm would become Whisper Springs Hideaway, I may have thrown a grown-up temper tantrum.
But I’m having to eat my words.
Because he really came through, and now I’ll never have to worry about working any other job. Dad can retire when he wants, and we’ll always have the farm—or I guess resort now. Earlier today, we had a ribbon cutting for the new part of the resort, the one that Mae and Seth own. It’s mostly the company houses all fixed up, but there’s another gathering space with wifi, a spa, a restaurant, and more planned out. Tonight we’re celebrating. And it feels different. We’re all here, and we’re all happy.
Seth and Mae are wrapped up in one another, dancing in the newly renovated lodge. I catch Abi’s eye from across the dance floor. She’s ready to pop any day now. It’s so weird to think that she’s going to be a mom. It’s another change I suppose I’ll have to get used to.
Mark, dressed in a suit for the first time in his life, is dancing with a pretty blonde that I don’t recognize. The others stand around mingling. Once upon a time, we were young, running around this same lodge, climbing the big oak trees, building forts. We drove our parents crazy back then, the eight of us always getting into some kind of mischief.
I glance at my parents now, sitting together in a corner. They look so content. It’s nice to know that Dad never has to worry about this place again.
Noah joins me, tugging at his collar. “I wonder how much Seth paid for all these suits.”
“Pictures are done, right?” I hate wearing this stupid thing. I’m never wearing one again. When—if—I ever get married, we’re doing it casual.
Noah nods. I shrug out of my jacket, loosen my tie, and roll up my sleeves. Abi is watching me, a glint in her eye. Her phone stays trained on me for just a second before she pans away to the rest of the crowd. Sometimes I’d swear she has it on me all the time. She never focuses on the other guys like that.
“Can you believe all this?” I ask. “Abi having a baby and Seth married.”
Noah chuckles. “You know this means Mom will be on all of us to find wives.”
“I’ll be the last.” No woman is going to put up with my baggage.
“We’ll see about that,” he says with a grin.
***