Epilogue
Cam
Hearing my family cheering for us had me laughing through the end of the kiss.
“All right, animals.”
I drew her in front of me for a few photos. Not exactly the most professional photo op but this wedding would be one for the books anyway.
I was pretty sure my heart was just now beating a regular rhythm. Hearing her mother’s sharp words gave me a moment. Would she have really done something to Maxie if we hadn’t arrived?
I pressed a kiss to her neck, and she made room for me to burrow in against her skin. “Wife.”
She shivered. “Husband.”
“Aww,” Eloise said as she held up her phone for photos. Nora was clicking away with her professional cameras. They both waved people up to get photos.
All I could think about was the carriage house that I wanted to show her.
But I tamped down the impatience and the chill that was settling into my bones. However, I wouldn’t change a thing about this change of venue.
“Hey, how did you guys know to come anyway?” Maxie asked when all of my brothers crowded around her.
“You can thank Eloise.” Gus waved at her. “She spotted your mom in the car as she was leaving.”
“I just had a bad feeling. I called Cam and he went into caveman mode.”
I hugged her closer to me. “I figured if I was overreacting, you’d forgive me.”
“You got everyone to follow?”
“Of course, dear.” My mom climbed the steps to get into the photo with my dad bringing up the rear. “You’re a Murdock now.”
She laughed. “I am, aren’t I?” Maxie lifted her hand and wiggled it a little. “I wasn’t expecting the diamond.”
“We might have done it out of order, but you deserved a pretty ring. I hope I chose okay.”
She burrowed under my arm, shivering a little. “Oh, you definitely did.”
“I forgot to tell you how beautiful you look.”
“We were a little preoccupied by the drama. Sorry, I brought that to the wedding.”
All my brothers huddled in close to block the wind.
My mom wrapped her arm around the both of us. “Drama and weddings go hand in hand. I’m just glad you make my son so happy.”
“She does, Ma. She definitely does.”
We took a few more group shots with the girls and the whole damn clan thanks to a tripod Nora kept in her car.
“Okay, even I can’t take the cold anymore.” Ripley rubbed his hands. “Can we go eat some turkey now?”
Everyone yelled their agreement.
“You guys go ahead. I need to give Maxie her wedding present.”
“You already did.” She turned in my arms, wiggling her fingers.
“That’s just part one.”
“Don’t be too long.” My mom patted my cheek. “You can have your wedding night later.”
I flushed and Maxie laughed, before hiding her face in my chest.
“Okay, let’s let these lovebirds be.” My dad clapped me on my shoulder, then kissed Maxie’s cheek. “Welcome to the family, sweetheart.”
“Thanks, Joe.”
We waved as everyone got in their cars.
She started to go up the stairs.
“Nope. This way.”
“I’m freezing.”
Just a few more minutes. I promise.”
She rubbed her hands together. “Okay, okay. Lead the way.”
When we rounded the house, she gave me a quizzical look. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
“I want to know.”
“Patience, wife.”
She shivered. “You’ve been calling me that off and on for weeks now, why does it feel so different now?”
“Because you finally believe it.” I drew her down the winding path to the little cottage.
“Cam? What are we...” She covered her mouth and her eyes shone.
“So, my family and I did a little thing.” I urged her forward and opened the door.
“Cameron Murdock!”
I wrapped my arm around her and turned her into me, then up into my arms. She gasped and gripped my shoulder.
“Gotta carry you over the threshold, right?”
She laughed and hugged me.
“Now, we can change anything you don’t li—”
“Don’t you dare. It’s perfect.”
I set her down. “Don’t look too closely. It still needs a lot of work.”
She drew her fingers over the ruby colored couch in the small living room.
A quilt from my mother was folded over the arm.
Then she wandered over to the reading nook.
Her gaze bouncing around the room as she tried to take it all in.
She touched the books I moved over last night.
“How did you do this without me knowing?”
“It wasn’t easy. But luckily, you’ve been pretty distracted with all the plans for the bed and breakfast.”
She rushed over and threw herself in my arms. “No one has ever done anything like this for me.”
I caught her. “I love the mansion, but once renovations start it’s going to be chaos. I wanted a space for us.” I kissed her temple.
“It’s perfect.”
I took her hand and led her past the kitchen down to the bedrooms in the back. “It’s kinda small, but pretty perfect for a starter house. We can build onto this one or build a whole new house later.”
She gasped at the primary bedroom. I kept it simple since I was under a time crunch.
“I found this sleigh bed a few years ago and could never quite let it go. I think I just knew it was too special to sell.”
The walls were a deep denim blue, and one wall was pinstriped with flat paint to change it up a little. “It needs your touch on it. Photos from our crazy wedding and whatever else you think. But it’s a good start.”
She threw her arms around my neck. “You did this for me.”
“Well, I had help, but yes.”
“I’ve never felt anything like this.”
“It’s called love. And this is just the start.” I lowered my mouth to hers. “Maybe we can be just a little late to dinner.”
She grinned up into my kiss. “I’m good with that, husband.”
I drew my suit coat off her shoulders, then swung her up into my arms one more time.
“Now, I can really make you my wife.”
We have one more Murdock Brother left. Turn the page to find Ripley’s story…