Fallon
Chapter sixty-five
Found Family
Cyrus leads me through the doors of The River Bend Fusion, his fingers laced tightly with mine. I barely make it two steps inside before I stop short.
The river rushes softly behind the open patio, warm evening air drifting through the pub carrying the scent of smoked meat, sweet barbecue sauce, and fresh bread.
White and gold decorations glow beneath the hanging lights, subtle but beautiful, transforming the familiar space into something almost dreamlike.
And in the center of it all—our people.
Lani twirls Billy around while Liam chases bubbles floating through the air, his laughter bouncing off the wooden beams overhead.
Betty and Lou sway together dramatically beside him while Dotty claps along to the music.
Even Todd, usually all quiet grunts and brooding stares, has a smile stretched across his face as he helps the kids blow more bubbles across the patio.
My chest tightens painfully.
The kids are glowing beneath the attention, soaked in love from every direction, and for the first time in weeks, nobody is whispering. Nobody is staring.
They’re just…happy.
My gaze drifts across the long table arranged near the river. Mini sandwiches and tiny desserts sit neatly displayed between bouquets of white flowers and flickering candles. Handwritten place cards rest carefully at every setting. Two empty seats wait at the head of the table. Mine and Cyrus’s.
Photos of us sit propped beside them—old snapshots filled with younger versions of us laughing, sunburnt, tangled together long before life got complicated. Emotion swells so fast it nearly steals the breath from my lungs.
“They did all this for us?” I whisper.
Cyrus’s thumb brushes over my knuckles. “For you, honey.”
Someone has carefully woven this moment for us, every detail whispering of something tender and rare. My eyes sting, and I blink back tears I don’t bother hiding, letting the pure joy of it wash over me. From across the restaurant, laughter blooms—warm, hearty, and unrestrained.
Amos bumps Jonah with a playful shove, and for a second, I barely recognize the man in front of him, caught in the game.
The laughter on Amos’s face transforms him into a new person.
Jonah’s darts clatter to the floor, and Amos spins, sending his own straight to the center of the board.
Cheers erupt from a few of the guys from the station, teasing Jonah, and for a heartbeat, I have that sense of a quiet thrill of belonging—of life, messy and imperfect.
I glance up at Cyrus, catching his eye, and for a moment, the world has dissolved away, leaving the two of us.
“Look up, love.” Cyrus’s soft voice whispers in my ear, his breath tickles as he speaks low to me, like we’re sharing a private moment, a secret between us.
“I want you to see this.” As I lift my gaze, my breathing hitches.
The massive white banner falls a way to show a new one that is covered in intricate gold lettering that spells out ‘Congratulations, Fallon and Cyrus Lawson!’ I swivel to look at Cyrus, who is grinning ear to ear.
“You won’t need to change your last name once we get married, sweetheart. I’m taking yours.”
A rush of surprise runs through me at his declaration. His taking my name after all the pain it’s caused me, suddenly makes the weight I carry from it seem. Insignificantly less.
His blue eyes practically glow beneath the lights, warmth softening every sharp edge of him. That crooked smile spreads slowly across his face, like he already knows he owns every piece of my heart. My stomach flips hard enough to make me dizzy.
God, I’m done for.
“I love you, Cyrus.”
The words barely leave my mouth before his smile breaks wide enough to crinkle the corners of his eyes. His fingers tighten around mine like he can’t quite believe this is real either, and then he’s kissing me.
Soft at first.
Then deeper.
The rest of the world fades into background noise as I melt into him completely, into the warmth of his hands, the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm, the familiar feeling of finally being exactly where I belong.
Here.
With him.
The love of my life. The father of our children. The man I’ve spent years trying—and failing—not to love. My stomach flutters wildly, heat rushing into my cheeks, and somewhere nearby people cheer and whistle, but I can’t bring myself to care. I’ve waited half my life for this moment. For him.
A dramatic throat clear finally pulls us apart.
Slowly.
Reluctantly.
Jules steps forward in a fitted gold pantsuit and impossibly high heels, her sleek bun somehow surviving the humidity. Mischief sparkles in her eyes as she points accusingly at Cyrus. “I need pictures before the future groom smudges the three hours of work I put into the future bride.”
Cyrus doesn’t even look sorry.
I laugh softly as he keeps one arm wrapped around my waist while Jules snaps a few photos of just us first. Then Billy and Liam squeeze in beside us, wrapping themselves around us from both sides so tightly my chest aches with it.
And standing there beneath the glow of string lights and drifting bubbles, surrounded by the people who love us most, I realize something quietly
devastating for the first time in a very long time, this feels like home.
As we break apart, we’re congratulated, Lani and Todd at the front of the line.
“I’ve waited so long for this, I’m so happy for you kids.
” Lani’s words bring a fresh wave of emotion as Todd claps hands with Cyrus.
The trio of women is next, and we exchange quick hugs.
Before Dotty joins her friends, she tosses me a playful glance.
“Do enjoy this moment, love; it’s been a hard-earned one.
” My curls bounce from the effort I put into my nod of agreement to the woman I’ve come to regard as an aunt.
Gratitude pours from every inch of me. I love these people so much.
A tall man approaches, his hands tucked into the pockets of the dark slacks.
The graying at his temples stands out starkly against his obsidian waves.
His dark eyes hold a hint of humor as he unfolds his hands from his pockets to wrap Cyrus in a tight hug; the flush over his cheeks makes the scar across his forehead more pronounced.
Not wanting to be rude or caught staring.
I step closer to Cyrus. “I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.
” Leaving a question there for them to answer.
The man’s dark eyes roam over me in a quick assessment before a warm, welcoming smile lights his face. “Fallon, meet Jackson. My former boss and close friend at the Bureau.”
Surprise flickers in me. I’ve heard of Jackson, and of course, wanted to meet him, especially after all he’s done for Cyrus. Reaching my hand out to meet his own, I say, “It’s so wonderful to have you in Bluestone City. Thank you for coming.”
Jackson’s smile is crooked, mischievous, all perfect teeth and bad ideas. The kind of grin that tells you he’s about to stir the pot for the fun of it.
“I wouldn’t miss this engagement party for anything,” he says. “Especially after I worked so diligently to get Cyrus back to town so Lani could work her matchmaking magic.”
My mouth falls open before I can stop it. “You did what?” I sputter, and a sense of foolishness washes over me.
Cyrus groans beside me.
Lani and Todd materialize with drinks, perfectly timed as always. We each take a beer, but I barely notice mine because Lani’s eyes are sparkling now, bouncing between the two of us, waiting for us to catch up.
And when she speaks, there’s no apology in her expression.
“My sweet, willfully ignorant children, you were both so miserable, neither willing to move on from one another. Yet, both impressively too hardheaded to reach out to the other. The kids needed their parents and each other. And well, I’m tired of keeping up the act that I don’t love and adore all of you, juggling separate holidays, trips, etcetera, when we could do all of those things…
together. So naturally, I recruited some help.
” She brushes a hand over Jackson’s arm.
We both stare at Lani, dumbfounded. She planned this entire setup?
“I have so many questions,” Cyrus states. His arms snake around me, bringing me closer to him. I bask in this moment of happiness with him.
Todd shakes his head, laughing. “Well, Cyrus, if I’ve learned one thing from Lani in life, it’s best not to question her.”
Lani throws her hands in the air with feigned innocence, “I’ve never been known for my patience, and you two were taking too long. I’m too old to wait forever.”
Todd lets out a long-suffering sigh. “No truer words have ever been spoken.” Lani swats at his arm, which only earns another round of laughter from the group.
Shaking his head, Todd’s attention shifts toward Jackson. “C’mon. Let’s head to the bar and grab a beer.” His mouth twitches beneath his beard. “Lani tells me you served in the Navy. Figure we can swap stories and argue over who had it worse.”
Jackson grins immediately. “Careful, old man. You might lose.” Todd snorts before leaning down and pressing a quick kiss to Lani’s forehead.
The entire table goes still. Lani blinks up at him, genuine surprise flashing across her face before a blush creeps into her cheeks so fast it has Betty nearly choking on her drink.
“Well,” Lou says dramatically, “would ya look at that.”
Todd ignores them all with the calm dignity of a man who’s survived decades in a small town. Before stepping away, he claps Cyrus once on the shoulder. “You two enjoy today,” he says quietly. “You earned it.”
One by one, everyone pulls us into hugs, offering warm congratulations, teasing blessings, and enough affection to make me cry.
Across the pub, Amos stands beside Liam at the dartboards, patiently showing him how to aim while Liam listens with fierce concentration. Nearby, Lou, Dotty, and Betty fuss over Billy, who’s proudly demonstrating the dance routine she apparently rehearsed specifically for today.
At the bar, Lani sits wedged between Todd and Jackson, all three of them laughing loud enough to carry over the music. Todd raises his beer in the middle of whatever story he’s telling, and Jackson nearly chokes on his drink while Lani wipes tears of laughter from beneath her eyes.
My heart feels painfully full.
Out on the back patio overlooking the river, Jonah and Jules stand shoulder to shoulder, deep in conversation. Jules gestures animatedly while Jonah watches her with the expression of a man hanging on by a thread. One more smart comment from her and he might actually combust.
Honestly, I can’t wait to watch whatever that becomes.
For the first time in weeks, maybe even years, the tightness in my chest finally eases.
The whispers are fading into background noise.
The fear is loosening its grip. And standing here surrounded by the people who love us, with Cyrus’s hand warm and steady in mine, I realize something quietly wonderful:
This isn’t the end of our story.
It’s finally the beginning.
The End.