Epilogue
T he melody of the windchimes, the cool morning breeze, and the salty ocean air had become my holy trinity each morning while I worked on our porch. I’ve always been up with the sun and Annie sleeps until almost ten. This gives me three to four hours to dedicate to work. Last week, I wrote out the timeline for PJ’s training and ran it past Curtis. He made a few changes by adding time with the training staff and a rotation through the back office departments. He was right in thinking PJ needed a broader understanding of those things. Sure, he skated before he could walk, and I had him in a hockey league as soon as he was old enough. But his on-ice career ended before playing for the Caribou. If he was going to run a professional team, he needed to know about every department.
We invited PJ to join our KSG owner meeting for the first time this morning. Historically, this meeting took place in my father’s office at the family home and then we moved to the kitchen table where my mother insisted on feeding us. My brothers and I were certain Dad kept the meeting at the house instead of in the corporate building because it gave Mom time with us every month. With each of us running a different team and having chaotic season schedules, sometimes our monthly ownership meeting is the only time the three of us sons are in the same room with both of our parents.
My mom was a bit disappointed that I wouldn’t be at this month’s meeting in person, but she understood. And because I’ve always secretly been her favorite, she overnighted homemade cinnamon rolls to the house so I could have the same breakfast as everyone else. As my screen connected to PJ’s laptop, I saw everyone at the kitchen table, including my best friend, who was now taking over my previous role with the Caribou. “Well, this is a surprise. No one told me the Brick Wall was joining us.”
Curtis checked over both shoulders for my mom before flipping me the bird. “Your dad asked me to join everyone today so we could go over our plans for transferring the reins to me and outline PJ’s training. And I’m more than willing to eat your share of these cinnamon rolls. I guess that’s the price you’ll pay for life in Oregon.”
“Mom sent a care package. It arrived yesterday. She sent Annie’s favorite tea that we can’t find here, cinnamon rolls, and sourdough starter. Virtual owners’ meetings will bring a few adjustments, but thanks to overnight delivery, I will not miss out on Mom’s baked goods.”
When Annie stepped onto the porch, I reached my arm out for her. “Sorry, I didn’t realize your meeting started. I wanted to bring your breakfast out.” She set the plate with an omelet and cinnamon roll next to my laptop. “Good morning, everyone. I’ll leave you to your meeting.”
PJ was the first to greet her. “Hey, Mama. Your hair looks pretty.”
Annie kept mentioning Meredith’s colorful hair. I noticed her eyeing a few of the employees at Churn Baby Churn and their pastel highlights. I knew she’d never go for a bold color the way Mer had, but I encouraged her to try it. It’s just hair. You can always cut it or change it back. Last week, she made an appointment at the salon and came home with two shades of light purple in her hair. She called it dip-dyed. I didn’t know what that meant, but I knew she looked beautiful.
“It’s fun, right? I helped Meredith dye hers into about seven different colors. That’s a bit extreme for me, but lavender tips are fun. I figured if I hated it, I’d trim them. But I like it so much, I think I’m covering my gray with lavender or maybe teal. Are you still coming to the festival before heading to camp?”
Once we’d told the kids about our decision, PJ changed his plans and made time for Seaside after all. Amber had always planned to be here for the festival and a few weeks this summer. Wyatt hadn’t been if he could make it, but he figured it out and will join us for a few days before heading to camp. PJ nodded his response while he finished his sip of coffee. “Wouldn’t miss it. I’m traveling with Amber and Wyatt. Then Wyatt and I will head to camp together. We thought about flying, but he needs to bring his gear, and Amber said you wanted some things from the house, so we’re bringing the Suburban. Dad said it was okay.”
“I’ll have your room ready for you. Are you bringing anyone with you?”
This made every man at the table laugh. My wife was as bad as my mother had been with us boys about encouraging us to find someone to settle down with. PJ was used to it and simply shook his head. “No, I’m not dating anyone.”
“Well, you never know who you’ll meet in Seaside. Maybe you’ll be the next Seaside summer romance story our family talks about years from now.”
I pressed my lips against her shoulder. “He has time, sweetheart.”
“Well, I’ll leave you all to your meeting. I’m going to meet Mer for a little shopping.”
Before I released my hand from her hip, I muted my microphone and placed my thumb over the camera. “Have fun.”
She leaned into my kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you more.”
“Not possible.”
“Yes possible. Because I knew I was going to love you forever the first time I saw you. What are you doing Wednesday?”
“Celebrating being married to you for thirty years. Why?”
I cocked my head toward the walking path that led to our favorite spot in Seaside. “Meet me at the beach about a half hour before sunset. Let’s renew our vows. Just the two of us.”
Her cheeks blushed a light shade of pink as she smiled at me. “Okay. I’ll be the one wearing a white sundress, standing with my bare feet in the water.”
“And I’ll be the one standing next to you, holding your hands.”
Forgetting about the camera, I dropped my hand from the top of my laptop and placed it on her cheek before kissing her. I’m sure if she’d remembered, she would have been embarrassed that our family saw us, but I didn’t care. I knew my brothers would give me shit for it, and I’m certain PJ was silently gagging, but it didn’t matter. Annie and I had done the work to save our marriage, and I wasn’t going to let anything stop me from showing her each day how much she meant to me.
When I turned on my microphone, I was greeted by my father’s voice, “Well, that’s another first for our ownership meeting. Let’s get down to business. The first thing on our agenda is discussing the changes to the Caribou. Curtis, take point on this, Jonas chime in with anything you have to add after.”
And with that, we carried on our owners’ meeting and my father and brothers voted unanimously in agreement with our plans. By the time our meeting ended, I had finished my breakfast and two cups of coffee. I put my computer on the desk in the small alcove that was now my home office. Then I turned on The Dustinator so it could do its thing cleaning the floors.
By the time Annie returned, the household chores were complete. I had packed a picnic to take to the beach. Our beach bag with a blanket, books, towels, and water bottles was waiting on the kitchen table with our insulated lunch tote. “What’s this?” she asked as she placed three canvas bags on the kitchen bar.
“Lunch. I figured a picnic at the beach.”
“Don’t you have work to do? Usually after an owners’ group meeting, you spend hours in your office.”
My arms circled her waist as I rested my chin on her shoulder. “Not anymore, sweetheart. Once the initial setup is done and we have the foundation staff trained, my role will be incredibly small. A handful of hours a week. More when I need to do quarterly reports and tax paperwork, but it shouldn’t be more than fifteen or twenty hours in those weeks. Likely less. You’re going to have so much time with me, you’ll be sick of me.”
She leaned into my embrace. “Never, my love. I’ve waited a lifetime for this.”