Epilogue
Six years later
December in Montana is damn cold. Freezing at best for most days.
We’ve got the Christmas tree trimmed and ready for when Addie gets here.
She’s been at the University of Montana in Bozeman.
It’s her first year, and she’s bringing home a boyfriend.
I never paid much attention to the few she dated in high school, I knew they’d come and go.
But apparently this one is serious and I don’t know how I feel about it.
Dixie flew home yesterday. She went down to Texas, to interview a new employee for the bed-and-breakfast we turned her father’s estate into.
It’s been up and running for about five years.
Her friend Billie manages the day-to-day things, but now and then my wife goes down to do some housekeeping and make sure things don’t get too bogged down.
Our son Jameson is four now, we call him Jamie.
He and little Jake are like brothers. I never could’ve imagined how this family puzzle would piece together.
Not in a million years. But I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Evolette is in her Junior year of high school and a barrel racing champion.
Well, as far as Yellowstone county is concerned.
The older she’s gotten, the harder she’s been to tame.
But you know what they say about wild horses, wild girls are the same.
Justin and Blythe have a two-year-old little girl, they named her Claire.
She’s as cute as a button and would make her namesake so proud.
They’re all coming for a big dinner tonight because we haven’t seen Adelaide since August. There’s a turkey in the oven and mashed potatoes and gravy on the stove.
Lythie is bringing candied yams and Evie and Jamie are making some Holiday drink, made of cranberry juice and sprite.
But I just watched Jameson dump way too many solid cranberries into the punch bowl.
I chuckle when he looks up at the roof and palms his forehead.
“It’s okay buddy. We can fish some out, it looks great!” Evie tells him, then pulls a slotted spoon from the drawer.
I stride over to my wife, who’s hanging a few extra ornaments on the tree.
She still rode with me and the boys for a few years and worked on the ranch until she got pregnant with Jamie—then she hung her hat up.
Well, not really, she still barely lets it out of her sight.
But Jameson is her entire world, and she’s loved my girls like they were her own since the beginning.
I wrap my arms around her from behind and kiss her neck. “You look good enough to eat and I’m starving, Dixie Cole…” I continue to nuzzle her neck and she almost gives in to me, but laughs and pushes me off.
“Boss! You know you can’t just start doin’ things like that! Everyone is gonna walk through that door any minute and our daughter is bringing home a man. Now I’m going to have a red neck and flushed cheeks.”
She still calls me boss. I’ll never stop her from doing it either. “Fine, blondie… but later’s going to come quick, and I have plans.” I growl in her ear, then hear the screen door smack.
“Addie!” Jamie leaps from his spot on top of the table and runs to his big sister. “I love you! I missed you!”
Addie wraps him in a hug and lifts him off the ground, spinning them both around in circles.
“Jamie you little stinker! I love and miss you too!” She plants a big kiss on both of his cheeks and sets him back down on the ground.
Then Evolette is hugging her and they’re both laughing with tears in their eyes.
“Dad!” She calls, as I move toward her. Damn, I missed her sweet face so much. She looks older, if that’s possible in a matter of months. I know that’s how it works with toddlers, but adult children? I think it must be the same. I pick her up and squeeze her tight like I always have.
“What took you so long, princess?” I say with a grunt as I continue to squeeze her.
“The snowstorm had I-90 shut down for an hour. I’m so glad it let up.” She sighs with relief. “Where’s Mom?”
“Right here, darlin’.” Dixie chimes, jumping up the step into the kitchen and throwing her arms around Addie.
“Eek!” Addie squeals. “You beat me here!”
“I got in last night! Didn’t want to risk missing you!” Dixie smiles as she clings to our daughter. I’m about to get a little choked up over the family reunion when I hear a throat clear from somewhere in the background.
“Oh, my goodness! You guys, I’m so sorry!
This is Eddy, he’s the one I’ve been telling you about!
” Addie announces him with a grin, and he gives a brief smile with a hello.
Eddy? She’s dating a guy named Eddy? It takes everything I have to reach out and shake this kid’s hand.
He’s not ugly…he just looks like he doesn’t belong.
I can’t help it. I’m trained to sniff out the bad ones, and he smells like a bad one.
Jake is the next one through the door and he’s headed straight for Jamie. “Hi, Grandpa! Hi, Grandma!” He says, racing through the crowd.
“Jacob Christopher Forge, slow your butt down!” Justin barks gently as he enters the room carrying a pan with tinfoil over the top.
“Hello everybody!” He calls as he places the pan on the table.
“Adelaide Claire, you better get your pretty hind end over here and hug your big brother before I get my feelings hurt.”
Addie laughs and moves through the crowd to wrap Justin in a tender hug. If you’d told me ten years ago, that this is the happiness I’d feel at Christmas, I would’ve called you a liar.
“How have you been? We’ve missed you.” Justin says, with Addie in his arms. Lythie enters the room holding little Clairey’s hand, and I bend down to scoop my second grand baby into my arms. Blythe joins the hug with Justin and Addie, but I’m too busy scanning the rest of the room.
Eddy has moved back to a corner, and looks a little lost. It’s my fatherly duty to go speak to him—so I put Claire down, adjust my shirt, and stride to where he stands.
I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong…but I’m usually right.
I have a feeling he’s not gonna talk much.
“So… Eddy. Is that your full name?” I stand toe to toe with him, five inches taller at least, and glance over at Dixie who’s staring right at me with a look on her face that says—be nice.
“Oh no,” He chuckles. “My name is Eduardo.”
Okay, now I’m thrown off. That’s not a name we hear much in the state of Montana. “Eduardo, it’s nice to have you. Are your parents from Latin America or…”
“No. My mother was from Spain. But I was born and raised in Bozeman.” He looks a little more friendly now. Before I can say another word, Adelaide is at his side and grinning from ear to ear.
“You two are getting to know each other? I’m so glad.” She pauses, then her eyes lock with mine. “Dad… Eddy and I are moving in together.”
Shit.