Epilogue
DRIFTWOOD BAY—DECEMBER—TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER …
Kylie stepped into her black cocktail dress and then fastened the diamond earrings Zane had given her for their tenth anniversary onto her earlobes.
She glanced in the mirror, wondering where the time had gone.
They had been married twenty-five years now, but he still made her heart race any time he walked into a room.
Like now …
“Would you zip me up?” she asked.
He came toward her, sliding the zipper up, and then slipping his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder as their gazes met in the mirror.
“Happy?” he asked.
“Always,” she replied. “Especially because the kids are here this weekend.”
They had purchased a home in Driftwood Bay the first year they were married.
Kylie had accepted a position at Wagner Enterprises, working in advertising and marketing.
She had been awarded both the Stevie Award for Marketing Campaign of the Year and an Addy, the American Advertising Award.
While she enjoyed being in the office and the camaraderie of working with her team in person, her job did allow her to work on the road.
Because of that, she and Zane had traveled frequently in those early years, both in the US and abroad.
She loved the freedom of travel and all the experiences which came with it.
Meeting new people. Tasting new cuisines.
Immersing herself in different cultures with the man she loved by her side.
When Everett and Hailey came along, they continued traveling for work, simply bringing their children with them, with the help of an experienced nanny who had become like family.
Everything changed five years into their marriage, though. Alexander decided it was time to step aside and let Zane lead the company. Alexander continued to hold a seat on the board until his death three years ago, and it was still hard at times to think of him as being gone.
They’d spent a couple of months each summer in the Bay, both of them wanting their kids to experience small-town life and the close bonds to be built with friends in Texas.
Everett was now twenty-three and would graduate next May with his MBA from Wharton.
He was close with Mila’s son Henry, who had gone to work in sales and marketing for the Dallas Mavericks.
The third in their tight trio was Bryan, Layne’s son.
Bryan had gone to his mom’s alma mater and graduated from SMU last May and now worked for one of the Big Four accounting firms in Dallas.
Hailey had come in from Austin for the weekend, where she was a sophomore at UT, majoring in biomedical sciences.
Though research was still a slight possibility as a career, Hailey leaned more toward going to med school and becoming a pediatrician.
Her best friend was Lizzy, Piper’s daughter, a musical theater major at TCU.
Lizzy had landed the starring role in her campus’ production of The Sound of Music in October, and Kylie had held hands with Piper, both of them thrilled as they sat in the audience and watched Lizzy soar on stage.
“We should get going,” she said, just as Zane brushed a kiss along her neck. “Plenty of time for that later.”
“Promise?” her husband said, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
“I guarantee a good time will be had by all,” she told him, causing them both to laugh.
They went downstairs, where Everett scrolled through his phone.
“Bryan just picked up Henry,” their son said. “They’re swinging by for me.”
“Where’s your sister?” she asked.
“In the kitchen. FaceTiming with Cam.”
Cam was Hailey’s boyfriend, and he played on the Longhorns’ football team. He hadn’t been able to join them since his team had played in the SEC championship game earlier today.
Kylie stepped into the kitchen and made a ‘wrap it up’ motion.
“I’ve got to go, Cam. It’s time for the party.”
“Sorry I’m missing it, babe. Tell your parents hi for me.”
“Will do. Bye.”
Hailey closed her tablet. “I wish Cam could’ve come tonight. I wanted him to meet everyone.”
“There’ll be plenty of time for that later,” she assured her daughter.
Everett appeared. “Want to ride with me and the guys?” he asked his sister.
“Sure,” Hailey said.
“Then I guess it’s just us,” Zane said, taking Kylie’s hand and leading her out to one of the two SUVs they kept at their Texas house.
In the car, he asked, “How serious do you think Hailey and Cam are?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. They both have career goals that neither of them are going to put aside. Still, I like Cam for her. He’s smart, polite, and really driven, both on the field and in the classroom. Time will tell.”
They arrived at the Wagner Event Center, fondly nicknamed WEC by the residents of the Bay.
In a move which surprised them all, her parents had sold Mayfield Charters to Wagner Enterprises shortly after Tidewater had opened, and the couple had become co-coordinators for WEC.
They had managed the center for a decade before retiring, and her brother Danny had taken over its management.
Danny had agreed to open early tonight for their family and Kylie’s friends to have a brief time to celebrate together before the doors were opened to the public to celebrate WEC’s twenty-five years of serving the Driftwood Bay community.
As they parked, Mila and Carson pulled up beside them. Kylie jumped out of the car, and she and Mila hugged tightly.
“I’m so glad to see you,” she said.
In the years that had passed, Mila had moved from coaching to administration, eventually becoming the principal at Driftwood Bay High School.
Five years ago, her friend had been named superintendent of schools, a role Mila’s dad had served in years earlier.
Carson was still the district’s athletic director and head basketball coach, and his teams had brought home eight state titles over the years, making them a perennial powerhouse in high school basketball.
“How are the girls? I know Henry is here. He’s stopping by for the kids.”
Mila beamed with pride. “Lily’s volleyball season just came to an end.
They were runners up at state this year.
She credits a lot of their success to hiring her sister as her assistant coach.
Lily also thinks with another year of seasoning, Jess will be ready to begin applying for head coaching positions.
Who knows? Maybe she’ll come back to the Bay one day and coach at her alma mater. ”
They entered the WEC, and Danny greeted them.
“Karl and Annie just arrived. They brought Mom and Dad.”
Both her parents were eighty-three and had given up driving a couple of years ago.
Mom now used a cane, while Dad had been convinced to start using a walker last Thanksgiving.
Karl still managed Mayfield Sports Center, while Annie still owned Tidal Treasures.
The twins had remained in the Bay, with Kevin becoming Karl’s assistant manager and Keira landing a job as a chef at Tidewater after attending cooking school.
Kylie went to say hello to them and stole a few minutes talking to Amber, who was an esthetician at Tidewater’s spa.
Amber also had a side gig doing makeup for brides and bridal parties who married at WEC.
August, who’d played on his high school and college golf teams, now managed the golf course at Tidewater, and Danny and Denise were thrilled that their children had remained in the Bay.
Layne and Keaton arrived with Piper and Sullivan. Keaton still owned an art gallery near the water and painted several landscapes a year. Two were on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
Kylie hugged Layne. “Congratulations on the Hasselblad Award,” acknowledging the prize Layne had won last week.
Layne shook her head. “Who would have thought that I would find such success after switching careers? When they announced my name, I went numb inside. Keaton is helping me put together the photographs to display.”
“You said Allie got to go with you?”
“She did. Her jewelry design business has really taken off. Allie decided to stay in Europe for a couple of weeks. She’s traveling around, checking out different jewelry on display, from small market stalls to large department stores.”
Piper joined them, giving Kylie a hug.
“How are s college apps going?” she asked, knowing Piper’s youngest, who was a senior at DBHS and its band’s drum major, was applying to different universities.
“He had an interview at A&M last weekend. Another one coming up next week at UNT.”
“Do you think he’s leaning in any particular direction?” Kylie asked.
“If he is, he hasn’t shared that with his mom,” Piper joked.
“How’s your new play coming?” Mila asked.
“We open next weekend.” Piper sighed. “I’m living my best life. I still enjoy directing and producing plays for the local theater, and I even took a small role in this production.”
“Ooh, I want to come see you in it,” Kylie said. “You haven’t been on stage in quite a while.”
“I’m sure you’re headed back to New York,” Piper said. “I’ll send you the video we shoot at dress.”
She kept quiet for now.
Sullivan and Zane joined them. Kylie smiled, knowing these two, longtime friends would soon be spending a lot more time together.
“Tell them, Sullivan,” Zane urged. “Don’t be so humble.”
Sullivan looked at them sheepishly. “I guess it’s not bragging to share good news.” He paused, slipping his arm around Piper’s waist. “I was just notified that I’ve been awarded an IDSA. That’s the Industrial Designers Society of America.”
Piper beamed at her husband. “This is a milestone in Sullivan’s career. His work will be elevated to a global stage. His category was furniture and lighting.”
Everyone congratulated Sullivan, who seemed embarrassed at all the attention and good wishes.
Denise rolled out a large cart filled with champagne flutes. “Everyone grab one,” she called.
Soon, their large group all held flutes in their hands, and Zane said, “We’re here tonight to celebrate twenty-five years of the Wagner Event Center being a part of the Bay’s community. Many a celebration has been held here, all under the organization of my in-laws and now Danny.”
Zane paused. “But I wanted everyone in our families to gather tonight before the town’s celebration begins because I wanted each of you to know how much you’ve meant in our lives.”
He slipped his arm around Kylie and looked to her. His eyes conveyed the deep, abiding love they held for one another.
Turning back to their guests, Zane said, “I also wanted to announce that while Kylie and I will keep our apartment in Manhattan, we are moving to the Bay full-time. I’m retiring as CEO of Wagner Enterprises.
I’ll still sit on the board, as Dad did, but we’re ready to become permanent residents of Driftwood Bay, with occasional jaunts to New York. ”
“Here-here!” Keaton said, holding his glass high. “To family—both blood and chosen. And to Zane and Kylie. May we all enjoy growing old in the Bay together.”
As Kylie sipped her champagne, she looked out over those gathered, feeling fortunate she still had her parents, as well as sharing a closeness with her two brothers and their families. She also felt tremendous love for her friends, the Three Musketeers, and their husbands and children.
Turning to Zane, she said, “You have given me everything I could possibly want. A lifetime of love. Two wonderful children. You’ve always supported my work, and you became friends with my friends and their husbands.
Now that we’ll be living in the Bay most of the year—except for traveling—I can’t think of a better place to be.
Especially with the man I love and adore. ”
Zane cupped her cheek. “You are my world, Kylie. Every day, I’m blessed because you are my dream come true.”
“To coastal dreams,” she declared. “And the dreams yet to be realized.”
Kylie pulled her husband down for a tender kiss, knowing they would continue to make their dreams come true for a very long time.