EPILOGUE
Melanie bumped the car door with her hip, her hands weighed down with heavy bags. Gage opened the back door to let out Pancake and then Addy from her car seat before taking the bags from Melanie.
Donna and Paul pulled up behind them to add to the vehicles lining the gravel driveway of the big house at Cider Mill Farm. Paul retrieved a bowl covered in foil from the backseat while Donna caught up to Melanie, her limp barely noticeable.
She beamed and gave her daughter a hug. “Congratulations, my girl.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Melanie met Gage’s warm gaze. “We’re happy. We haven’t said anything yet. I hope everyone won’t be upset we didn’t have a big wedding.”
“You’ll make your announcement when you’re ready, and don’t worry about folks. You did what’s right for you.”
Donna pulled Gage into a hug, then Addy. “I’m so happy for you all.”
“Look, Nana.” Addy held up a rose gold charm in the shape of a sun on a dainty chain around her neck. “Dad gave this to me when we got familied.”
“How beautiful.” Donna beamed at Gage before returning her attention to her granddaughter. “You’ll have to explain ‘familied.’”
“Mom and Dad got married and we all got familied. Even Pancake was there ’cause she’s a part of our family.” Barking dogs drew her attention. “Pancake found Shiloh and Bud,” she exclaimed and raced off to play with the dogs.
“‘Familied.’ If that don’t beat all.” Paul shook his head. “That girl is all heart.”
Smiling, Melanie said, “Let’s go. I’ve got all this food for the charcuterie, and I want to put it out so people can start nibbling.”
They trooped up the porch steps. Sawyer opened the front door with JT on his hip, and they walked into a house that smelled gloriously of Thanksgiving.
***
Melanie sat beside Gage at the crowded table, their shoulders bumping, Addy on her other side.
So much had changed for her and Addy over the past year.
Returning to Sisters had been an act of hope that she and her daughter could find the home and community missing from their lives.
That promise had been fulfilled beyond her wildest dreams.
Her husband cherished her, their daughter was thriving, and they’d been absorbed into a big, sprawling family.
Everyone had brought something for the feast. Roast turkey on an heirloom platter, sweet potatoes in a cast-iron pot, baskets of golden rolls next to pies cooling on wooden boards. Candles glowed in Mason jars as the sky deepened to indigo outside the kitchen window.
They were all there, seated around the table. The sisters and their husbands, Delaney with Walker, Emery and Shane, Cam and Sawyer. Their children in high chairs, all born during a wild storm a year before.
Clara looked serene as she bent her head, listening as Walker murmured to her. Melanie thought Clara must feel utterly contented that her endeavor to unite her granddaughters had succeeded so beautifully.
Owen’s arm draped across Keeley’s back, her hand resting on the swell of her belly.
Sawyer tapped his glass and the conversation quieted. “Delaney’s got something to say.”
Delaney rose and cleared her throat. She fanned her face with her hands.
“I promised myself I wouldn’t cry, so here goes.
” She breathed deep and when she began, her voice strengthened as she spoke.
“Thank you all for coming here for Thanksgiving,” she sniffled.
“Some of us are related by blood, some by bonds of friendship that run as deep as blood. We’ve been through so much these past few years, but those trials only strengthened us and brought us together to this place where we all belong. ”
Addy grinned, and Violet banged on her high chair tray.
“Thanksgiving means more than appreciating the plentiful food in front of us, and boy is there a lot of food. Y’all better eat up.” That drew a few chuckles. “It means being grateful for each other. I’m so happy our whole family is gathered here on this day.”
Walker rose to stand beside her. He held up his glass. “I propose a toast to us.”
A chorus of voices responded, “To us.”
Around the table, glasses were raised and clinked together.
Gage took Melanie’s hand in his and cleared his throat. “I have something to add. We… Mel, Addy, me, Pancake, we took a few days in Reno and now it’s official, we’re married. Or as Addy says—”
“We’re familied,” Addy crowed.
With congratulations echoing around the table, Gage bent to kiss Melanie.
Platters and bowls were passed hand to hand, pitchers tipped to fill glasses, conversation ebbed and flowed. Fussy babies were moved to laps, spilled milk was mopped up, and the love of family glowed with the promise of life.