Epilogue—One Year Later
ANNA
Life was good. Anna and Matt’s relationship was strong and growing stronger every day. She couldn’t imagine life without him.
Mrs. Campbell was as feisty as ever and doing well. She was already planning her big centennial blowout, even though that was two years off. Anna didn’t have a doubt in her mind that Elsa would cruise right past one hundred and keep going.
But life had a way of shaking things up. The bomb that Mrs. Campbell dropped at dinner was proof of that.
“But—”
“No buts, my dear. My mind is made up. I’m putting the house on the market and moving into the retirement village.”
Anna stared at Elsa in disbelief. “You love this house.”
“It’s given me many happy years. It’s time to move on. The village is the perfect place for me. My best friends are already there. Did I mention that Blanche and Mary Rose bought units? Bingo every Tuesday. A full dining room on the premises. Bus trips to dinner theaters and shopping and casinos. Live entertainment every weekend. Widowers,” she added with a secret, sly smile.
Anna pushed all thoughts of old people hooking up from her mind and thought back to Elsa’s prior arguments against leaving her house. “What about all the old people?”
Elsa laughed. “Age is a state of mind, my dear. There’s comfort to be found in spending time with those of my generation. Not too many of them left, I’m afraid.”
“Who is going to take care of you?”
“That’s the thing about the village,” Elsa said. “The suites are designed for independence, and help is only the press of a button away. Besides, you can check up on me anytime you want since you’ll be there too.”
“Come again?”
“I took the liberty of speaking with the board and told them they’d be damn fools not to hire you. If you want the job, of course. Before you answer, you should know that the starting salary is twice as much as I’m paying you, and it includes regular hours, full benefits, holidays off, and six weeks of personal time per year.”
Anna was shaking her head. “Now, I know you’re pulling my leg. Health care workers don’t get regular hours and holidays.”
“This isn’t a routine staff position, my dear. You’ll be in charge of the program.”
As Anna gaped at her, she said, “I told the board what a fabulous job you’ve done and that they need someone like you to improve the quality of care, particularly at their Willow Haven facility. It appears the previous director has made quite a mess of things. Patients are unhappy; families are complaining and threatening lawsuits. Believe me when I tell you, the board is desperate to make some changes. Promise me you’ll think about it.”
“I will.”
“Good.”
Anna helped Mrs. Campbell prepare for bed, then went to her own room. Change—even good change—took some time to process.
She was happy for Elsa. The older woman seemed excited about the prospect of being closer to her friends and having things to do every day. The job sounded fantastic as well, but Anna had become so comfortable here. She and Elsa had a nice routine, and Matt was right next door.
Where would she go?
She was still pondering the implications when Matt called later that evening.
“Hey, beautiful. How are you?”
Matt’s voice was a balm to her soul. After a year of being with him, the connection between them had only grown stronger. These frequent trips with his uncles scared her though. Technically, she wasn’t supposed to know about the true nature of what they did, but she and Matt had no secrets between them.
“I’ll be better when you’re home. Did everything go okay?”
“Like clockwork,” he said. “How was your day? Anything interesting happen?”
“Mrs. Campbell decided she’s selling the house and moving into a luxury suite in the retirement village. Oh, and she got me a job with the private company that owns the village and Willow Haven to revamp their whole personal care system.”
Several moments ticked by in silence before Anna said, “Are you still there?”
“Yes, I’m here. How do you feel about that?”
“I’m still processing. It sounds like a great opportunity, doesn’t it? I mean, I’d be stupid not to take it, right? With Mrs. Campbell leaving the nest, what else am I going to do?”
He chuckled at the leaving the nest part. “Sounds like you want to take the job.”
“I do,” she confessed. “I just don’t know if I can do it. Taking care of one person is one thing. Running an entire team of caregivers? That’s next level.”
“You’re next level,” Matt said, and the love and warmth in his voice made her wish he were there with her now. She wanted to kiss him and do that thing with her hands that made him growl and flip her over and do that amazing thing he did with his tongue.
“I really miss you,” she sighed into the phone.
“I miss you too. Did Mrs. Campbell turn in for the night?”
“Yes.”
“Are you in bed?”
“Yes.”
“Are the lights on?”
“Yes.”
“Turn them off.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
She rolled off the bed and flipped the switch, smiling to herself. Matt had the most wonderful ways of distracting her. A frisson of excitement went through her. She liked it when he took control and got a little bossy.
“Okay, they’re off.”
“Are you naked?”
She laughed. “No.”
“Get naked and lie on top of the covers.”
His voice had changed to that low, purr-y growl that she loved so much. It was a great voice for phone sex. Her girlie bits tingled in anticipation. It wasn’t as good as the real thing, but she’d take him any way she could.
“Now?” she teased.
“Right now.”
“Okay.”
“Are you naked? On top of the covers?”
“Yes.”
“Close your eyes and touch yourself, Anna. Touch yourself and imagine it’s me.”
She did as he’d asked, losing herself in the fantasy. The summer breeze blew in from the open window, ghosting over her flesh. She imagined it was him, kissing her skin and then blowing over it. It was almost as if he was there. Like she could sense him.
She opened her eyes, scanning the darkness. Yes, he was here. Watching her from the bottom of her bed.
“I know you’re there,” she whispered.
“Shh.”
Then, the bed dipped under his weight, and she forgot about everything else.
He left before dawn, sneaking out the same way he had come in—through her bedroom window. He had been just the grounding distraction she’d needed. After they’d slaked their haven’t seen each other for three whole days lust, he’d held her and listened as she laid things out. Matt was awesome that way.
Anna rose and took a shower, washed off the scents of her man and great sex, and went to the kitchen to start breakfast.
“I’ve decided I want the job,” Anna told Elsa over tea, yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit.
“Excellent. You’ll do very well.”
“I hope so.”
“Should I call the realtor today to see about putting the house on the market?”
“No need, dear. I’ve already found a buyer.”
That was quick. “You have?”
“Yes, a lovely young couple, just starting out.”
“That’s wonderful,” Anna said, trying to drum up some enthusiasm.
The truth was, Anna had come to love the house. She loved the patio and the pool and the recently discovered basement. Elsa’s husband had started to finish it years ago, with a half-completed bar, a pool table, even a jukebox, and an ancient pinball machine. After his death, Elsa couldn’t bear to go down there and had eventually forgotten about it.
It was just so perfect. As Anna had lain in bed the night before, Matt tucked up close beside her, she’d entertained a fantasy of buying the house herself. It would solve the issue of her having a place to live. She’d ask Matt to move in with her. They’d be close to his family, and his brothers and sisters could come up and use the pool anytime.
Unfortunately, it looked as if that wasn’t going to happen.
“They’re coming by later this evening to tour the property.”
“Oh, Matt and I were going to go out to dinner tonight.” It was the one-year anniversary of their night on the boat, and they were going to re-create it. Anna had been looking forward to it for weeks.
“That’s fine, dear. I won’t be here either. Faith has invited me over for a movie night. A private agent will be handling everything.”
“You seem distracted,” Matt said later as they lay on the deck, looking up at the sky.
Unlike the year before, the sky held more clouds than twinkling stars. Their edges lit up with a silvery glow as they passed in front of the nearly full moon. Her body was still humming with pleasure aftershocks, but her mind couldn’t relax.
“I can’t stop thinking about the people buying Mrs. Campbell’s house. They’re doing a walk-through tonight.” Probably right now, Anna thought. Looking at each room, deciding what they would keep, what they would get rid of.
He pressed his lips to her shoulder while his hand rested possessively across her waist. “Why does that bother you?”
“It shouldn’t, I know, but after she told me she was selling it, I got to thinking I might put in an offer myself.”
“Ah,” he said.
“It’s ridiculous. It’s Mrs. Campbell’s house. It’s her decision. I just wish I’d had a chance at it, you know?”
He kissed her again, unknowingly lending the support and strength she needed.
“We should get the boat back to the dock.”
“Already?”
“Judging by the way those clouds are moving, the front is going to be here sooner than predicted. We don’t want to be out here when it does.”
She couldn’t argue with that. They got dressed, packed everything away, and returned to the private dock. The drive home was quiet. As they pulled into his driveway, Anna spotted an unfamiliar car in Elsa’s driveway, and every light in the house was on. The ache of missed opportunity flared again. It would have been so perfect.
Movie night was still in progress; apparently, it was a double-feature event. The lights were turned down low, and the mouthwatering scent of buttery popcorn was strong. They paused the movie when Matt and Anna came in.
“How’d it go?” Faith asked.
“Amazing,” Anna said with a smile. Date nights with Matt always were. Well, any time she spent with him was, if she was honest.
“Any idea how the walk-through is going?” Anna asked. She’d thought they’d be gone by now.
“The agent is still waiting for them to show up,” Elsa said.
What? How rude was that? They totally didn’t deserve Mrs. Campbell’s house.
“I don’t know how much longer he’s going to wait for them.”
“Want us to go up and see what’s up?” Matt volunteered.
“Yes, dear, that would be lovely. Thank you. I’d go myself, but I don’t want to get all the way up to the street, only to have to come back down again.”
Matt turned to her, gave her a panty-melting half smile, and snagged her hand. “Come with me?”
Didn’t he know she would follow him anywhere?
They walked, hand in hand, up to the street and then down Mrs. Campbell’s driveway. It seemed more appropriate than cutting across the property line to the back patio.
The car parked there was a sleek black Lexus.
Guess the agent does pretty well on commissions, Anna thought.
They went to the front door, and Matt pressed the bell. It felt so strange to do so after living there for more than a year, coming and going as she pleased.
The agent who opened the door was familiar. Tall. Black hair. Vibrant blue eyes.
Shane Callaghan.
“About time you two got here,” Shane said with a smile. “I’ve got the papers ready to sign. Just need your John Hancocks.”
Anna stared at Matt. “You? You’re the buyer?”
“We are the buyers,” he said with a grin. “That is, if you want the place.”
Anna leaped onto him—thankfully, he caught her—and kissed his whole face.
He laughed. “I guess that’s a yes?”
“Yes,” she managed between kisses. “That’s a yes.”
Matt looked at Shane, who was grinning too. They moved to the table, where Shane had everything laid out and marked with peel-off arrows where they needed to sign. Anna didn’t bother reading the contracts. If Matt’s uncle had drawn them up, they were solid.
“How hard is it going to be to change the names on the deed?”
“Not hard.”
“Good.”
Shane took the completed papers and tucked them into his briefcase. “Congratulations. You’re homeowners.”
“Thanks, Uncle Shane.”
“It is my pleasure. Just so you know, Ian’s already told everyone that the Fourth of July party is going to be here this year.”
Anna laughed. “That won’t be a problem.”
After Shane left, Matt wrapped his arms around Anna. “Are you happy?”
“So very happy,” she answered. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“Don’t you know I would do anything for you, Anna?”
Her heart melted, right then and there. “That goes both ways, you know. But I do have one question.”
“Shoot.”
“Why did you ask Shane about changing the names on the deed? Isn’t that part of the transfer process?”
His eyes widened. “Shit, I almost forgot.” Matt stepped back and pulled something out of his pocket. She assumed it was his phone and he was going to text Shane about something, but then he said, “I wasn’t talking about changing Mrs. C’s name to ours on the deed, Anna. I was asking him how much work it would be to change Anna Black to Anna O’Connell. If you’ll have me, that is.”
Then, Matt went down on one knee and showed her what was in his hand. A velvet box, opened to reveal a stunning diamond ring. “Anna Black, will you marry me?”
Her hand was shaking when she held it out to him. “Yes,” she said, her voice clear and unwavering. “Yes, Matt O’Connell, I would love to marry you.”
A cheer went up from the patio. Through the open sliders, Anna saw Mrs. Campbell, Faith, Kieran, and all of Matt’s siblings beaming back at them.
“They must have left the house right after we did,” Anna said.
“Probably,” Matt agreed. “I’m thinking a midnight pool party is a good way to celebrate an engagement. What do you think?”
“What about the storm front?”
“Oh, that’s not going to hit until tomorrow.”
“But you said?—”
Matt pulled her into his arms and leaned down until his lips were right above hers.
“Anna.”
“Yes?”
“Hush.”
And she did.
Enjoying the Long Road Home? Continue your Season 4 journey with Home Town by Cat Johnson, the next adventure in the series.