Epilogue
CASSANDRA
August
B ree clung to the airplane armrest as we made the descent over DFW. “Gracie’s gonna be so jealous,” she said with a giggle as she pressed her nose to the window.
I smiled to myself as I raised the seat back tray and fastened it. “She’ll get her turn for her birthday.”
“Yeah, but I got to go first.”
“You’re the oldest. Your dad decided you were the test subject. That way if you got kidnapped, he still has a spare.”
Bree laughed and dropped her head onto my shoulder. “You like us.”
I huffed dramatically. “I suppose you’re not awful.” But she knew I was kidding.
I loved the girls.
“You’re gonna miss us when school starts again.”
I pressed my cheek to the top of her head. “Maybe I’ll have to make an appearance to scare the hell out of your teachers or come have lunch with you or something. ”
“At least Principal Beeker is gone.”
I stuck my tongue out and gagged. “Thank goodness for that.”
Bree laughed. “You know, I’m glad you’re with Dad.”
“Yeah?”
I had officially become a Texas resident at the beginning of the summer and moved all my things out of my apartment and into Christian’s house.
He severely underestimated my clothing collection and quickly realized that giving me half of his closet wouldn’t cut it. The guest room became the ladies dressing room, and Bree and Gracie went nuts.
Christian just chalked it up to a future investment since his daughter’s social lives were blooming and their wardrobes were exploding.
He would have a cow— ha— at the haul Bree and I were bringing back from the city.
We had spent four blissful days traipsing around Manhattan, posing like tourists, eating our way through the city, and going to show after show.
Bree and I were blissfully exhausted, and a little thankful to be going home.
I still couldn’t believe a cattle ranch was home, but it was.
“You’re the best evil stepmother,” she said as she pressed into my arm.
I had joined Christian and Claire in the rotation of after-school activity pickup, which prompted Bree and Gracie to start introducing me by saying, “This is our evil stepmother, Cassandra. She’s only given us two poison apples today.”
I loved the terrified looks that the dance teachers, swim instructors, and summer camp counselors had.
A little fear was healthy.
When they had pulled that line the first time I picked them up from therapy, the therapist died laughing.
“I’m glad I’m with your dad, too,” I said, nudging her back. “I think I got a pretty good three-for-one deal. I won’t lock you in a tower … today.”
Bree went quiet for a moment. “Do you think Uncle Ray will let me see him when we get back?”
I didn’t want to crush her spirit, but I had a feeling that Ray hadn’t made much progress in the few days we had been gone.
He was home and had made some physical progress, thanks to an experimental therapy program. But he had closed himself off, refusing to see anyone.
It broke the girls.
Their favorite person in the entire world wouldn’t even talk to them.
“I think your dad was going to see if he was feeling up to it, but he still needs a lot of rest.” I pointed to the bag of bagels under the seat in front of me. “But Becks is going to love those.”
“Yeah, she is,” Bree said with a grin.
“Maybe we’ll do a girls’ trip when you turn sixteen. You, me, Gracie, Becks, and Charlotte.”
“Really?”
That seemed to lift her spirits.
“Yeah. It’ll be fun.”
“Okay,” she said, wiggling in her seat. “But I really did like this trip. You know, just you and me.”
“I’m glad.”
“I like hanging out with you.”
I could tell she was hedging toward something.
“I like hanging out with you too.”
She picked at her nail beds. “And I’m glad you’re with my dad.”
“You already said that a few minutes ago.”
“I know,” she said with a sigh. “I just want you to know that I mean it. And I’m glad you work for the ranch. And I know my dad likes you working for the ranch. You’re really good at it.”
The plane shuddered as we landed on the runway and came to a skidding halt.
“I like working at the ranch. Most of the time.”
She smiled. “And I like that you’re honest and you don’t treat us like babies or keep things from us to protect our feelings. You treat us like adults.”
“Where’s this all coming from?” I asked as the plane taxied to the gate.
“Nothing,” she said quickly. Guilt was painted all over her angelic little face.
I narrowed my eyes. “I already bought you all the clothes in Manhattan. What else are you trying to squeeze out of me?”
“I told you—nothing.”
“And I don’t believe you,” I whispered.
Bree bit back a smile as we collected our bags and carry-ons and exited the plane.
“I’m so excited to see Dad,” she said as we raced through the terminal.
Christian and Gracie were waiting on the other side to pick us up.
People held signs and bouquets of flowers. Passengers clumped together as they met their loved ones.
“I see his hat,” Bree said as she pointed out the tall cowboy who stood head and shoulders over the rest.
“There’s my girls,” Christian said as he scooped up his teenager and spun her around. “I missed you.”
I hugged Gracie. “You and me next time.”
“I missed you,” she said as she buried her head into me.
“I swear you grew ten inches in four days.”
She laughed.
“Come here, you,” Christian murmured as he slid his hands around my waist and tilted his head, leaning in for a kiss. “I missed you.”
The girls squealed as I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. Christian’s lips were warm and tasted like mint.
“Promise me you won’t leave again,” he said quietly.
“That much work for you, huh?” I gave him one last kiss.
He chuckled. “No, I just don’t like sleeping alone.”
“Fair.”
Christian moved in for another kiss, but I pressed my hands to his chest. “Sir, we are in an airport.”
“Like I care,” he clipped, then dipped me all the way back, sliding his tongue along mine.
“Dad!” Gracie shrieked.
His soft grunt as he stole my breath made fire explode inside of me.
“I love you,” he said quietly as he helped me back to my feet.
“I love you too.”
“Dad! Look at my hair!” Bree spun around and gave it a fluff. “Miss Cass took me to her favorite salon and I got highlights !”
Christian’s eyes welled up at the sight of Bree’s hair. It was just a little trim and a few foils, but she did look more grown-up.
“You look beautiful, baby,” he said, running his hand down the back of her head. “You look just like your mom.”
I squeezed his hand.
Christian pressed a kiss to my temple. “Thank you.”
“It was fun,” I said honestly. “I think we bonded.”
“Miss Cass, do you wanna watch a movie tonight?” Gracie asked. “I missed you.”
“We can do that,” I said. “And—you know—you can just call me Cassandra. Or Cass. You don’t have to call me Miss Cass.”
Christian’s arms tightened around me as Bree and Gracie nodded.
We waited around the luggage carousel as suitcases came out one-by-one. Bree rambled non-stop about the trip while Christian held me against his chest.
The drive to the ranch was filled with comfortable silence. Bree, tired from our early wake-up call to get to LaGuardia, crashed the moment Christian pulled onto the highway.
I sat in the front with my hand twined around his, resting my head on his thick arm.
The sun was setting by the time we arrived at the house. Christian carried the bags in, grumbling about how much heavier they were than when we had left for New York.
Claire was in Christian’s kitchen, stirring something on the stove that smelled wonderful.
“How was the trip, Cass?” she asked with a gleam in her eye.
I kicked my heels off. “It was good. I think Bree had a good time.”
“Hey, throw your boots on real quick,” Christian said as he appeared in the kitchen.
“Why?”
“Builders came out and marked the foundation for the lodge today.”
My eyebrows lifted. “Really?”
“Come on. We’ll ride out there before it gets dark.”
I changed into shorts and tugged on a pair of socks and my boots.
They were starting to show wear with how much I wore them, but it just made me love them even more.
Christian and I rode Dottie and Libby out to the lodge sight. Little flags and spray paint etched out an enormous footprint in the west pasture.
“Wow,” I said, hopping off of Dottie to walk around, careful of the stakes jutting out of the grass.
The sunset was glorious.
I propped my hands on my hips and let out a breath. “This is going to be incredible.”
“You know,” Christian said as he took my hand and walked to the back side of the future building that would look over the sprawling vista. “I think you might be right. We should hold weddings here.”
“People will pay big money for a view like this. Add in the amenities of having a restaurant and lodging on-site, and couples will be fighting each other to get married here.”
“Do you think we should have an outdoor wedding spot? You know, add some landscaping and make it intentional?”
“I can see what’s in the budget. It might not be a year one thing, but we can plan for it.”
“Right here,” Christian said, stopping suddenly.
“What?” I looked around. The grass was lit up like a fire. Golden rays of sunshine reflected off the pond. It was serene and heavenly.
Christian turned to me. “Right here. This is where it should be.”
I tapped my chin. “I’ll run the numbers and get some quotes.”
“We can call it a personal expense. Because this is where I want to marry you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box as he lowered to one knee.
“Right here where it all began. The land where we came together. The place where the sun rises and sets. I want the first wedding here to be ours.”
I gasped as the diamond flashed, reflecting the sunset. “Christian…”
“Will you marry me, Cass?”
All I could do was nod as he slid the ring on my finger. It was beautifully minimal. Sleek and sophisticated.
“There are three things I know for certain,” he said as he stood and sifted his fingers through my hair. “The sun is gonna rise tomorrow. My girls love you. And you were meant to be ours.”
And I believed them too.