Epilogue
T he house was small, a mid-century clapboard that had at various times throughout its existence been alternatively painted and vinyl sided. According to Logan, he'd personally replaced at least half of the wooden boards along the sides of the house, or at least helped in it.
Out front was a huge magnolia. In the back Sabby could see a pair of willows that looked like they provided plenty of shade. A warm breeze carried the scent of salt water from the nearby coast, reminding her how far they were from Virginia.
"I know Virginia isn't exactly Canada," Jess said from the driver's seat as they pulled up. They'd taken her truck, as it was the only one with an actual legitimate back seat. "But this Florida heat is something else. How did you survive growing up here?"
Sabby wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead. The humidity was already making her hair curl more than usual, but she didn't mind. There was something comforting about being in Logan's hometown, seeing where he came from.
"Lot of time on the beach." Logan chuckled. "Come on Jess. Don't tell me you didn't at least pack a sports bra top so we all can take a walk on the beach? There's one that's famous for all of the shark's teeth you can find there. We could make necklaces."
"That sounds so badass!" Sabby grinned, her fingers unconsciously touching her throat. "I've got just the right choker collar for mine, too. I just need to punch a hole for the wire that holds the tooth."
The thought of creating something permanent from this trip made her heart flutter. This wasn't just a vacation; it was her first real step into becoming part of Logan's family.
"Well, don't forget that we'll have tomorrow as a full-on family day," Logan reminded Sabby, squeezing her hand. "Mom and Dad are really excited to meet you. I know Mom's going to be latched onto your arm for at least half of tonight, and you're going to get pulled along the whole time, Jess."
"Can't I please pull rank?" Jess grumbled.
Sabby grinned, poking her sister in the side.
"What?"
"Come on, you loved our stopover at that gym," Sabby teased. "You've got like, five hundred dollars worth of stuff from them back here with me."
"Hey, that sort of stuff you can't just find anywhere, and they let me try it on," Jess pointed out. She shifted her head, and pointed. "Logan, I think we need to get out. Older woman looking at us like we're pretty sus."
Logan laughed, and waved. "Don't worry, that's Mom. Come on, I'll be a gentleman and open the door for both of you."
Sabby's stomach tightened with nerves as she stepped out of the truck. She'd faced down her own parents' disapproval, but meeting Logan's family felt different. These were people she wanted to impress, to connect with.
But as soon as Mrs. Goodman smiled at her, the anxiety began to dissolve.
"Oh Logan, you have found yourself a good one! So pretty, and I love that hair!"
"Thanks, Mrs. Goodman." Sabby blushed, running her fingers through her curls self-consciously. "Uh, this is my sister Jess."
"My oh my, you must be exhausted." Mrs. Goodman smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners just like Logan's did. "Logan’s told me all about you both. And you've been watching over my boy?"
"Well, until a few weeks ago I have been." Jess blushed a little herself. "I miss having Hollywood around every day at work."
"Hollywood?" Mrs. Goodman asked curiously. "How did you get that name, Logan?”
"Is that Logan?" a deep voice called from the back of the house. "I thought I heard the door slam."
"It's us, Dad!" Logan called back. Leaning over, he whispered to Sabby, "Speak up with him. His hearing's not too great sometimes."
Sabby nodded, grateful for the guidance. Every small detail about Logan's family felt like precious information, pieces of a puzzle that made up the man she loved.
Mr. Goodman came out of the back, looking so much like an older version of Logan it was shocking. Same steady gaze, same broad shoulders, though his hair had gone silver at the temples.
"Welcome." He looked Sabby and Jess over, his voice warm and resonant. "Please, this home is now your home as well. You're family... or will be soon enough, I suppose. Come on in, have a seat. Or stand, I know how I get after driving a bunch of hours."
"Say, why don't we all go to the Florida room then?" Logan's mom offered. "Those of us who want to sit can sit, those of us who need to stretch our legs can do that too!"
It was a great solution, with Sabby and Logan settling on a big fluffy old sofa while Jess leaned against the enclosed railing, stretching her muscles while everyone got to know one another.
Sabby couldn't have expected how easy it would be. The room was filled with sunshine filtering through screens, casting a golden glow over everything. Family photos lined the walls, and she could spot Logan at various ages, always with that same confident smile.
"So what do you think of Black Sabbath?" Mr. Goodman, or Bud as he insisted on being called, asked Sabby. "Were you named after them?"
"I wish, but no," Sabby said with a laugh. "And who can deny Ozzy? I mean, if you can't stomp your foot to Iron Man, you've got no hope."
"Got that right," Bud said, grinning. "Now I don't go as modern as some of what Logan likes, that Euro metal stuff sometimes just feels off to me. But give me some G'nR Lies any day of the week!"
"I see the musical apple didn't fall far from the tree." Jess switched legs on a hamstring stretch. "What about you, Penny?"
Mrs. Goodman blushed. "Give me girl pop any day," she said. "The boys used to give me grief for it, but I just like listening to some Katy Perry or Taylor Swift when I'm out on my walks."
"My girl!" Jess said, and Logan looked at her in shock. "What?"
"Uhm... I didn't see you as a Swiftie," Logan said. "You know, being all hardcore lifter and professional ass kicker?"
"I'll have you know that Taylor Swift is some hardcore sh... stuff," Jess replied, grinning. "And don't make me tell stories on you, Hollywood."
"What is this Hollywood nickname from, anyway?" Mrs. Goodman asked. "I asked before, but don't think I got an answer."
Sabby caught Logan's eye and they both burst out laughing. The memory of those early days, when everything between them was uncertain but electric, flooded back.
For the next two hours, Sabby laughed as she and Jess told Logan's parents about his first few months in Charlie Company. The room filled with the scent of brewing coffee as stories flowed, and Sabby felt herself relaxing deeper into the sofa, into this family that was welcoming her so completely.
"Oh Logan, I'm so sorry!" his mother apologized when she heard about his tailored uniforms. "If I'd known?—"
"Mom, it's not your fault." Logan held Sabby's hand, his thumb tracing small circles on her skin. "I knew the regs, but forgot to buy a new uniform top. Totally my fault."
"I'm more curious to hear about the ring on your finger, Sabby," Bud Goodman said, his eyes twinkling. "Logan said he'd found the love of his life, but the details were spotty."
Sabby felt a rush of warmth through her chest as she glanced down at her engagement ring. She remembered the mixture of shock and joy she'd felt when Logan proposed, how time had seemed to stop in that perfect moment.
"I'll let them tell the story," Jess said, "but after that, I've got the video in 4K on my phone."
"Oooh, this'll be a chance to try out that Bluetooth function on the TV!" Logan's mom said excitedly. "Logan, could you?"
"Actually Mom, Sabby's better with electronics than I am." Logan kissed her hand. "She's really good at a lot of things. Like singing."
Logan told the story of how he'd met Sabby, and then how he proposed.
It brought tears to Sabby's eyes even, hearing him describe how he'd fallen in love with her voice first, then her spirit, her resilience.
She wasn't the only one emotional; the room grew quiet as everyone listened, caught up in the story.
"That's so sweet!" Mrs. Goodman said, dabbing at her eyes. "Isn't it, Bud?"
"You did it right, that's for sure," Bud replied, wiping his eyes. "So before we hear you sing, when's the wedding?"
"Well Bud, Logan and I talked about it," Sabby said, finding her voice.
"And we're not going to wait a long time.
With Army life, it's not like a June wedding would be guaranteed anyway, so we're going to look at doing it in January.
It's the next time that Logan and Jess are on yellow cycle, so they won't be on immediate call for any missions. "
She didn't mention how she'd learned to seize happiness when it came, not to postpone it. The last few months had taught her that.
"June, January, don't matter," Bud Goodman said. "As long as you're happy. I haven't asked, but your folks...?"
"We'll reach out, but it's going to be on our terms," Sabby said, her voice firm but not bitter. "For once, it's our way or the highway."
"I taught you so well," Jess teased,.
Sabby laughed.
"I'm also going to be glad, I'll be able to help them, even if I'm not Logan's boss any longer."
"Yes Logan, how is your new sergeant?" Mrs. Goodman asked. "You got a woman again, didn't you?"
Logan laughed, shrugging. "Guess I'm just lucky."
"Tell me son, will that hurt your... I don't know, career?" Bud asked, and Logan shook his head.
"Not at all, Dad. It's a transfer with no negative repercussions, and I'm still in the same platoon. Besides, now I've got someone new to learn from, a new style and new challenges. I like that. She's nothing at all like Jess... but she's a good sergeant in her own right."
"You just got lucky," Jess said. "Linda Castellanos is a hell of a good sergeant. So she can watch over my 'little brother' when I'm not around."
"Little brother?" Logan asked, and Jess grinned.
"Wanna go find another gym, do some squats to prove it?" she asked, and Sabby stood up, pulling Logan to his feet.
"Come on," she said, grinning. "Let's get some dinner going before things get complicated."
The kitchen beckoned, warm and inviting, just like this family that was becoming hers. Through the window, Sabby could see the willows swaying in the breeze, and beyond them, the promise of tomorrow's adventure collecting shark teeth.
Logan laughed. "You mean like they weren't before?"
"Good point," Sabby replied, leaning into him.
She took a deep breath, savoring the moment.
This was what family should feel like—acceptance, laughter, love.
The journey here might have been complicated, but standing in this Florida house with Logan by her side, she knew they'd found their way home.
* * *
I hope you enjoyed Sabby and Logan’s story. Before you dive in the next book to meet Logan’s new boss, Linda Castellanos, I would love it if you could leave a review. Just a few words are all it takes to let me know what you thought and help new readers find me.