Epilogue
I t didn’t hurt as much as Maxwell had dreaded.
Heather had returned for Graham and Cadence’s wedding — she and Cadence had been close, after all — flashing a diamond ring and a smiling guy in a suit to all her former coworkers. She looked up at Emerson in adoration, and he returned the expression.
And Maxwell was strangely okay with it.
He’d wondered for months how he’d feel about seeing her again, so it was a bit of a relief, like he could close the door, knowing she’d be all right. That she was all right.
His cousin’s wedding today had made him realize he wasn’t getting any younger, as though Heather’s parting shot last spring hadn’t already jabbed a hole in his oblivion on that score.
Maxwell lingered on the fringes of the lodge’s great room and surveyed the wedding guests as they socialized while waiting for the newlyweds to come down the grand staircase and run the gauntlet to their car.
Dad and Uncle Theodore, the groom’s dad, ranged the room, both consummate businessmen, endlessly working the crowd. Grandfather was present with Eleanor at his side, Aunt Nadine beside them. Mom made small talk with Aunt Bridget. That was going to end any second, as they despised each other and only managed a modicum of politeness since they both worked for the family business.
Tate and Stephanie had hired a sitter for Jamie and Simon, much to Mom’s dismay. It was a family wedding, after all – shouldn’t the boys be present? Never mind that Jamie wasn’t quite three, and Simon a drooling, colicky baby.
Movement to his side drew Maxwell’s attention. “Hey, Bryce. Quite the party.”
His brother shook his head with a slight scoffing sound. “You’ll never catch me getting hitched here at the ranch.”
“I thought you’d vowed never to get married anywhere, let alone here.”
“There’s that, too. Who knew nerdy Graham was such a sap? He’s totally gone on Cadence, like he can’t even walk if she doesn’t beckon with her pinkie. He’s nothing but a puppet on a string.”
“Really?” Maxwell laughed. “That’s how you see it? I think they’re kind of cute.” It had taken Heather’s departure last spring to open his eyes to the fact that maybe there ought to be more to life than the next renovation, the next flip.
“What, you’re going to be next?” Bryce snorted a chuckle. “In case you didn’t notice, Heather brought her fiancé to this shindig. You missed the boat.”
“Heather and I were never meant to be. I’m glad she’s happy now. And Jordan’s stepped right up to help me oversee the crew, so it’s all good.” Maxwell even meant it.
Bryce slung his arm across Maxwell’s shoulder. “You and me, bro. We’ll grow old together. Living the life. Answering to no one.”
That sort of future didn’t look as enticing as Bryce seemed to think. “Sounds lonely.”
Bryce laughed. “Then you don’t get out enough.”
“I’m not one for short-term hookups.” Too focused on the rush of the next flip, he hadn’t been one for relationships at all. It shouldn’t have taken Heather’s departure to make him see that, but it had.
“You’re missing out.”
“I don’t think so. When I meet the right woman, I’m going all in.”
“You’ll regret it. That way lies madness.”
“What, like Tate regrets it?” Because there was no way that was true. Not the way Tate glowed when Stephanie was nearby. Not the way he showered attention on her, and she on him.
“They’re still newlyweds. Give them time. Our parents sure have regrets.”
“I don’t think either of them wishes they hadn’t met, though. Then they’d have to admit they regret us boys, and I don’t think that’s true.”
“They hate each other.”
“Now they do. They let work get between them until there was too big a gap to span.” Maxwell knew Mom had grieved about that. Not that she was quite willing to take another chance on Dad. On the flip side, Dad only had bitter words for Mom when he was forced to swing by Kansas to bring her to board meetings. There wasn’t going to be a reunion any minute soon. If ever.
“See, that’s where I’m different. Work is never going to be my focus. I’ve got time for women.”
Why couldn’t Bryce see there was a balance in life? A guy didn’t need to choose between being a workaholic or glibly refusing all responsibility. Yeah, that’s what Maxwell was telling himself. There was a middle ground. Too bad he hadn’t figured out how to tread it himself.
“You’re going back to Kansas for your high-school reunion?”
Maxwell nodded. “Flying down with Dad on Monday, and I’ll return commercial next week.”
“There’s probably a cute girl or two from your class who’s not attached.” Bryce waggled his eyebrows. “If you know what I mean.”
Bryce’s reunion had been two years back and, from the sounds of it, he’d made the most of his reconnections, at least for a few weeks.
“Told you. I’m not one for casual, and I live here now. I’m definitely not looking for romance in Gilead. A long-distance relationship isn’t going to cut it for me.”
“You’re such a stick-in-the-mud.”
Better that than living Bryce’s life.
A cheer rose. Maxwell turned to see Graham and Cadence jogging down the log staircase hand in hand, big smiles on their faces. Lucky for them, the housekeeping staff had vetoed confetti or rice in the building, and Grandfather had forbidden it outside. They waved and ran out the main doors, where Graham’s VW was waiting.
The couple had planned a road trip around the Pacific Northwest for their honeymoon. Something about how they’d started their relationship on a long drive and wanted to relive it. Most family members headed somewhere more exotic, but… their call. Maxwell knew a bit about marching to the beat of his own drum, so good for Graham.
He looked around the group as it began to disband. Man, he wished he’d declined the invitation to his class’s ten-year reunion. He’d headed to Chicago before the ink on his high-school diploma had dried, and he’d never looked back. Yeah, he’d visited his mother every year or two, but looking up old classmates hadn’t once crossed his mind.
Think of all he could accomplish on the last cottage on Ladybug Lane next week if he stayed in Montana. If he hadn’t given his crew the week off, he’d be severely tempted to cancel everything. But he’d never hear the end of it from Mom, so call the trip what it was: time with his mother with a side of ancient history.
He’d be in and out of Kansas in no time flat, and then he could begin the process of reprioritizing his life. Was that even possible? Time would tell.
Dear Maxwell,
Are you ready to see what could be yours if you opened your eyes and looked around you? I know you’ve been busy proving yourself, but all that singleminded purpose has blinded you to the beautiful possibilities in your life.
Have I got plans for you! You may not like them… I know you won’t. Not at first. But I think you’ll get over it when you catch the vision meant for you all along.
Your loving author, Valerie