Epilogue #2
“That’s exactly what I’m suggesting,” Autumn says brightly. She snaps her fingers in front of Zeke’s face, and he jolts back to face us. “Hey. You. You wanna live in my grounds cabin? Get out of your brother’s hair?”
“Uhhh…” Zeke stalls, trying to orient himself in the conversation.
“Jesus, kid. Try to keep up.” Autumn rolls her eyes.
“There’s an empty cabin on my property, and I’m asking if you want to move in there for a while.
It’ll get you out of Will’s hair, Lydia will stop bitching about having to sleep apart from Will, and there’ll be a dude around to protect little old me if anyone tries to break into the grounds. Honestly, it’s a win for everyone.”
Benji shoots me a questioning look, and I shrug.
I’ve got my doubts, but I’m thinking about the box in my pocket.
If all goes well… the idea of finally being able to share a space with Lydia is tempting.
I’m already imagining us bustling around the kitchen together and spending lazy Sunday mornings in bed.
Hell, fucking on the living room couch if we feel like it.
Phoebe and Lydia appear behind my shoulder, just as Zeke asserts a resounding, “Fuck yes.”
“If what I think I just heard is correct, Autumn, my heart goes out to you,” Phoebe says. “And also you’re crazy.”
“I know I am,” Autumn says, smiling proudly.
Next to me, Lydia grins. She whispers something into Phoebe’s ear, and my sister snickers.
I have no clue what they’re gossiping about, but the fact that Lydia fits so well into my family is seriously the stuff of dreams. For a guy who’s spent the better part of his adult life ashamed of where he comes from, I never dreamed a woman like Lydia Chandler would show up and fit right in.
That she’d take the parts of me I spent so long trying to shove out of sight and somehow turn them into something beautiful.
It’s a fucking miracle, honestly.
And that’s when I know it’s time. The velvet box is burning a hole in my pocket, and despite the fluttering of my stomach, I know this moment is the right one.
Placing my hand on the small of Lydia’s back, I guide her out to the foyer. She shoots me a questioning look, but she lets me lead her, the gentle twang of the music drifting along with us. When we reach the banister, I turn to look at her, sliding my hand from her back to my pocket.
She’s looking up at me curiously. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Are there too many people? Do you need to take a minute—”
I drop to my knee, and she stops. I can tell by the look on her face that she knows what’s coming, and it makes my heart beat that much faster.
We’ve only talked about this once—a couple months ago—and then I tabled the subject, frustrated by the situation with Zeke, with our living space.
But I’m going to take the leap. And I’m hoping against hope that Lydia will take it with me.
“Lydia,” I say.
Her voice is breathless as she stares at me, cheeks slightly flushed. “Yes?”
“I’ve been trying forever to figure out the best way to do this—and I don’t fucking know. You know me. I’m not good at this.”
Lydia’s silent, but I can see her lips twitching, like she’s holding back a smile. It makes me grin, and something in my chest loosens. I can do this. We can do this.
“The one thing I do know,” I continue, “is that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Brother or no brother, your house or my house—I don’t fucking care. I just need you with me.”
I pause, drawing the velvet box out of my pocket and flicking it open. I hold Lydia’s gaze, and the warmth of her cinnamon eyes is downright intoxicating. “So I want to know, Lydia. Will you marry me?”
Lydia gazes at the ring a moment, then brings her eyes back to mine and pulls me to my feet. She draws me toward her and stands on her tiptoes to kiss me, then pulls back and grins.
“Absolutely, Will. Abso-fucking-lutely.”
Something lets loose inside my chest, and I pull Lydia toward me, my hand on the back of her head, my mouth hungry for hers.
I’m just pulling her hips into mine, getting ready to slide my hand down to grip her ass, when applause erupts from the doorway and I freeze.
Lydia snickers as we turn to see my siblings and Autumn, all standing there grinning.
“You better have said yes,” Autumn calls, hand on her hip.
“Her loss,” Zeke jokes, and Phoebe elbows him.
Leave it to this crowd to not give us a moment of privacy, even during a damn proposal. I can’t help but chuckle, though. It’s such an accurate representation of our lives right now—and somehow, just like this impromptu proposal, it works for us.
Lydia and I head back up the stairs, holding each other close, and our little crowd of family gathers around us. The girls want to see the ring, Zeke wants to know if he needs to pack up his shit, and everyone’s all smiles. It’s everything I’ve ever hoped for.
As we head back inside to rejoin the party, my mother’s ring now sparkling on Lydia’s finger, I stop near the doorway, close my eyes, and listen to the bustle of the community around me—just for a second.
The library building may not look exactly how it used to, but it’s full of life again—and I think Sophia Chandler would’ve wanted it that way.
I think my soon-to-be wife knows that, too.
The chatter of friends and the lively small talk of the town echoes through the hall, underlaid by the strumming of the folk band.
And underneath it all, there’s a steady hum, a constant pulsing of energy.
I can’t see the spirits—they’re hanging back, overwhelmed by the hordes of people drifting through the place—but I can feel them in my chest. Hear their silken whispers rustling in my thoughts.
And for the first time, maybe in my whole life, I’m thankful for them.
As Lydia leans into my side, resting her cheek against my chest, I hold her close. This woman brought the darkest parts of me to light. And it’s in this moment I realize…
My heart’s not haunted anymore.
I’m home.