Epilogue
THANKSGIVING
JACK
Patty's house was perfect for this—big enough to hold twenty-three people without anyone feeling cramped.
The long dining table stretched from the front room to the back, with extra leaves added to accommodate everyone.
The Colonel and Mrs. Garrison sat with Patty and Mr. Ellis near the fireplace, discussing whether Colorado winters were worse now than twenty-five years ago.
Mara orchestrated the kitchen with Suze and Molls, managing the flow of dishes.
Julio kept most of the kids entertained in the den with “Moana,” and everyone quietly absorbed.
Jack stood by the window, bearded now and with longer hair, but still short. He watched Luke help Nita fold napkins at the kids' table and show her how to make swans.
Luke looked up, caught his eye, smiled that easy smile, then went back to swan-folding.
Jack's hand went to his jacket pocket. The ring was there, a simple silver band he'd bought in Denver three weeks earlier. He'd been carrying it ever since, waiting for the right moment.
And tonight was it.
Dinner was warm and full. Good food, overlapping conversations, no flaring tempers. When Patty asked everyone to go around the table and say what they were grateful for, Jack looked at Luke across the table.
"I'm grateful to be here with Luke," he said. "With all of you. Building a life I didn't know I could have."
Mrs. Garrison's eyes went bright. The Colonel nodded once.
Luke's turn came next.
"I'm grateful for second chances," Luke said, his eyes on Jack. "For forgiveness. And patience. And for all of you."
After dinner and pie, once the dishes were cleared and everyone had settled into pleasant exhaustion, Jack found Luke on the back porch.
"Need some air," Jack said.
"Yeah." Luke leaned against the railing. The afternoon was fading into autumn twilight—golden light slanting through the yellow aspen leaves, long shadows stretching across the yard. The air carried the scents of wood smoke and fallen leaves. "Good dinner."
"The best."
They stood in silence for a moment as Jack felt his heartbeat soar. He kept turning the ring box over and over in his pocket.
"Hey," Jack said.
Luke turned.
Jack presented the small box. By now his heart was hammering.
"You were my first love," Jack said. "Way back when, we were kids who didn't know how life would turn out. And now..." He opened the box. A simple silver band caught the fading light. "Now I want you to be my last love. My only love. For the rest of my life.”
He got down on one knee.
"Luke Calder, will you marry me?"
Luke's breath caught. His eyes were wet.
"Yes," he said. "God, yes."
Jack stood and slipped the ring onto Luke's finger. It fit perfectly. Luke pulled him into a kiss that tasted like pie.
When they finally pulled apart, Luke looked at the ring, then at Jack.
“I picked silver because of that day at the mine,” Jack said. “It’s part of your life—part of ours. But we can exchange it later if you want gold or something else.”
"It’s perfect,” Luke said, kissing Jack slower and deeper. “I’m yours, and you’re mine.”
“Forever, baby.”
"Should we tell them?" Luke said.
"Yeah. Before Mara sends out a search party."
They walked back inside holding hands.
Jack cleared his throat and said loudly over the din, “Excuse me, everyone. Excuse me.”
When the room had quieted, he said loudly, "We have some news."
Luke held up his left hand, the ring catching the light.
For a moment, nothing. Then the reactions began to unfold, like a wave through a stadium crowd.
Mrs. Garrison sobbed immediately, and Patty was right behind her. Suze and Molls hugged, Mr. Ellis grinned, and Mara clapped a hand to her mouth. The Colonel stood, walked over to Jack, shook his hand, then pulled him into a hug.
"Proud of you, Son," he said quietly.
Jack's throat tightened. "Thanks, Dad."
The Colonel turned to Luke and extended his hand. Luke shook it, and the Colonel pulled him in, too.
"Welcome to the family. Officially."
Champagne arrived. Julio found sparkling cider for Luke. Nita wanted to see the ring up close. "Where's yours?" she asked Jack.
"I'll get mine at the wedding," Jack said, smiling at Luke. "We'll match."
Marco asked very seriously if they were going to have a cake.
“Not today,” Jack said. “At the wedding. We just had pie!”
Mara hugged Jack, then stepped back, smiling through tears. "I'm so happy for you both."
"Thanks, Mar."
"You're good together," she said simply.
Toasts were made. Plans were discussed. Mrs. Garrison asked about timing. Patty offered the lodge for the reception. Suze mentioned that winter weddings and evergreens were in vogue.
Jack stood amid the warmth of it all, watching Luke in the center of the celebration, laughing, showing off the ring, absolutely radiant.
This was what he'd come home for, Luke and his family, this community, and a sense of being home at last. Life had led him on a long, circuitous path to get here, but he’d made it.
They had made it. The long way found together.
Later that night, back at Luke's house—their house—they lay in bed in the dark, with Marley snoring in the living room.
"You sure about this?" Luke asked quietly.
Jack found Luke's left hand, ran his thumb over the ring.
"I've never been more sure of anything," he said. "You're it for me. Always have been, always will be."
Luke turned to face him. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
They fell asleep like that, hands clasped, the ring warm between them.
Outside, the first snow of the season began to fall, blanketing Calder Ridge in white.