Chapter 51
In the three weeks since Rowan had returned to Refuge Cove, the mountains had gone from the bare gray-brown of late winter to the first soft green of spring. The air still carried a chill before noon, but by midmorning the sun had found its full strength.
Rowan stood near the back porch with a cup of coffee and watched as the property came to life around her.
Today was the groundbreaking on the new cottages that were being built.
The whole family would be here as well as some lead members of the construction crew.
Their guests had also been invited, but only Dana stood outside.
The others had decided to watch from indoors, which was understandable with the newcomers on the property.
Caleb had strung simple white flags to mark the footprint of the new cottages. It was nothing fancy—just a gesture, a way of making the invisible visible, of saying: This is what’s coming. A small excavator sat at the far edge of the property.
Rowan caught Wes’s eye across the yard, and warmth spread through her. He talked to Wyatt near the fence, his coffee in one hand, and he looked . . . settled, she supposed. Content. Maybe even at home.
She was still getting used to being in such close proximity to him.
Though Wes was headquartered out of Baltimore, he found every excuse he could to work from Blue Ridge Hollow. Rowan wasn’t complaining. They had a lot of time to catch up on.
She was also traveling back and forth to LA to wrap up Silent Witness—with a new director now. Wes planned to go with her whenever he could. But she’d decided to establish her homebase here in Blue Ridge Hollow.
She wasn’t giving up on acting. She still wanted to be in new movies. But when she wasn’t filming, she planned on living in Virginia.
Naomi appeared at her shoulder. “Can I steal you for a second?”
Something in her tone made Rowan set her coffee down.
They drifted toward the far end of the porch, and Naomi turned to face her. “I was waiting for a moment alone to tell you this. I have an update on Sissy.”
“What’s going on?” Rowan’s eyes narrowed.
“She told us that the Hardings have filed a formal custody petition for Grace.”
The warmth of the morning pulled back slightly. “What?”
“She’s been hearing things through her lawyer.” Naomi’s jaw tightened. “She doesn’t want Richard’s family anywhere near Grace. Whatever else you can say about Sissy—she knows exactly what she wants and doesn’t want.”
Rowan looked across the yard to where Grace sat propped against Hadley’s chest near the refreshment table. The baby blended with the family so well. She was loved and adored.
The thought of her being taken away by the Hardings . . . Rowan could hardly stomach it.
She looked back at her sister. “What happens now?”
“Our lawyer says we have a strong case. Caleb and I have been Grace’s primary caregivers since she was born. Sissy’s testimony will help.” Naomi paused. “But the Hardings have money, and they have motivation, and nothing they do comes from a good place.”
Rowan could read between the lines. “They want Richard’s legacy.”
“Exactly. They want control. They’re not getting her.” The certainty in her voice was quiet and absolute. “We’re going to fight this. I just wanted you to know.”
Rowan put her arm around her sister’s shoulders. “You’re not fighting it alone.”
Naomi leaned into her before straightening. “Thanks.”
“Of course.”
“Okay.” Naomi exhaled once. “Now I’m done being sad. Today is a good day, and I refuse to let Richard Harding ruin it.”
“Good.” Rowan flashed a reassuring smile. “You ready to join everyone?”
“Let’s go.”
They looped arms with each other and were halfway back across the yard when Micah fell into step beside them.
“Morning,” he told Naomi.
Naomi practically glowed as she looked up at him. “Morning.”
He murmured something to her and pressed a soft kiss on her cheek.
Then he turned to Rowan, his expression neutralizing. “Rowan . . . I was actually looking for you. I have an update.”
Rowan looked at him. She’d known this was coming, but she wasn’t sure if it would be good or bad news. Either way, she’d face it.
“I’m ready,” she told him.
“I wanted to let you know that Vince Furlough was formally arraigned this morning. The DA filed charges—involuntary manslaughter, evidence tampering, witness intimidation. Lauren Holt is fully cooperating, and the evidence against him is very hard to ignore.”
Relief flooded through her so quickly that her shoulders slumped. “That’s good news.”
“There’s more.” He paused. “The helicopter ownership trail finally resolved too. Blackthorne Risk Management—the firm Vince used for private security—ran the charter through three shell companies. But it ultimately came back to them.”
So that was how Vince had found her. She’d wondered in the weeks since everything had unraveled exactly how Vince had located her so quickly.
He’d had people looking for her before she’d even crossed the state line. He’d known about her family since she’d often talked about them. In some ways, she’d practically handed him the map herself.
The men Vince had hired had also admitted, after they were arrested, to shooting at them in the woods. They’d mentioned Vince’s name as well—which further solidified the case against Vince.
“What about Travis Henderson?” she asked. “Did he have anything to do with any of this?”
“He’s still under investigation for the arson and the break-in at Hollow House,” Micah said. “Nothing filed yet. But we’re not done.”
Rowan nodded. It wasn’t a clean and tidy resolution. But it was something.
She was just glad that Vince was now behind bars—where he deserved to be.
As food for the celebration was being placed on the tables, a dark-blue truck with “King Construction” on the door rolled through the gate.
Rowan’s pulse quickened.
She abandoned the food and darted across the yard. The truck door swung open, and Luke King unfolded himself from the cab just in time to catch her when she threw her arms around him.
Her oldest brother was solid and broader than she remembered. In so many ways, even though he was only eight years older, he’d been like a father figure to her while growing up.
His arms came around her and held on tight.
“If it isn’t my famous little sister.” His voice was low and warm against the top of her head. “Making time for us peons.”
Though she wasn’t usually at a loss for words, she couldn’t speak for a moment.
She hadn’t realized how much she’d needed this hug until she was in the middle of it.
When she was ready, she pulled back and looked at him. His eyes looked just like their father’s. Rowan had forgotten that. Or not exactly forgotten. She just hadn’t been close enough to remember in a long time.
“I’m so glad to see you,” she murmured.
“Not as glad as I am to see you.”
“You do know I’ve been in town for most of the last three weeks now . . .”
He shrugged. “I know. I’m sorry that work was so busy. In my defense, I did come a couple of times, but those just happened to be when you were back in LA.”
“Likely excuse.” She flashed a grin.
He studied her a moment. “You look okay.”
She raised an eyebrow and grinned. “Such high praise.”
The faintest smile. “Don’t push it.”
The truck doors burst open before she could retort.
“Aunt Rowie!” The voice belonged to Cora, age six. The girl covered the distance between the vehicle and Rowan in approximately four seconds.
Rowan barely had time to brace herself before Cora’s arms locked around her waist.
Thankfully, Rowan had been able to keep up with the kids via video calls. She tried to chat with them at least once a month so they didn’t forget her.
“I saw you in a movie,” Cora announced, tilting her head back to look up at her. “You had a red dress. Do you know any princesses? Real ones?”
“I’ve met one—at least she claimed to be a princess,” Rowan said. “It’s hard to trust these things sometimes. But she wasn’t nearly as interesting as you.”
Cora’s eyes widened before a wide smile stretched across her face.
Eight-year-old Liam climbed out of the truck at a more measured pace. He stopped a few feet away with his hands in his pockets, a posture so precisely like his father’s that Rowan nearly laughed.
She decided to play it cool with him and kept her voice casual. “Hey, Liam.”
“Hey.” He looked at the ground then back up. “I watched The Harbor last weekend. It was pretty good.”
High praise clearly ran in the family.
“That might be the best review I’ve ever gotten.” Rowan winked at him.
Something flickered in his expression before his composure reasserted itself. He nodded and looked toward the excavator with studied casualness.
Jonah, who was four and had no interest in composure, took a more direct approach. He’d walked straight to Rowan, wrapped both arms around her leg opposite Cora, and looked up at her with an open, uncomplicated certainty that completely melted her heart.
“Hi,” he murmured in a high-pitched voice.
“Hi, yourself, little man.” She crouched down to his level. “The last time we met in person, you were only one.”
He studied her face with a serious expression. “You have pretty hair.”
“Thank you. You have excellent taste and a keen sense for beauty.”
He nodded, satisfied with her response and missing the playful undertone—as she’d expected. He reached up to take her hand.
Luke watched everything from a few feet away with a grin. “You’ve always had a way with kids and animals.”
She shrugged with mock self-importance. “What can I say? I relate to their adorableness.”
Luke laughed. As the sound faded, his gaze remained on her. “They’ve heard good things about you.”
“From Mom,” Rowan guessed.
“She may have mentioned it.” The faintest trace of a smile. “Several times.”
She started to say more when a bell rang in the distance.
It was time.
The groundbreaking ceremony was beginning. She’d have to catch up with Luke and the kids more later.
Caleb started the ceremony by saying a few words about the legacy of Refuge Cove.
As he spoke, Wes found his way to Rowan’s side. His hand found hers.
Rowan had spent a long time thinking of this place as where she was from rather than what had made her into who she was.
The mountains, the community, the family that showed up even when you didn’t ask .
. . She’d treated all of it as a launching pad, something to push off from on the way to somewhere bigger.
She understood now that she’d had it backward.
This was where she’d learned everything that mattered. How to be brave. How to tell the truth even when it cost something. How to love people without keeping score.
She’d walked into the hardest days of her life and found the instincts she’d needed most weren’t the ones she’d developed in Hollywood.
They were the ones she’d been given here, long before she knew she’d need them.
Training grounds, she thought. That was what this place had always been.
She just hadn’t recognized it until now.
After Caleb finished speaking, he turned the first shovel of earth. Everyone applauded. Pictures were taken.
Then he put the shovel down and turned to Millie.
His expression changed as he reached into his pocket. When his hand emerged, he held a small box. He dropped to one knee.
A grin stretched across Rowan’s face. Caleb had told her he was going to do this. He’d even asked for her advice.
She couldn’t be more thrilled.
Millie’s eyes widened, and her hand went over her heart as she seemed to realize what was about to happen.
“Millie, I’ve been trying to figure out the right moment for this.
” Caleb’s normally steady voice cracked.
“I’ve decided there isn’t one. There’s just now.
I’d like to spend whatever comes next with you, Millie.
Every part of it—the good and the bad. You’re the biggest blessing in my life and a true gift.
I thank God every day for bringing us back together.
That said, Millie Anderson, will you marry me? ”
Millie froze, moisture filling her gaze.
Then she nodded—and she kept nodding. “Yes. Yes, absolutely. Yes!”
A huge grin spread across Caleb’s face as he slipped the ring onto her finger. She stared at it for just a second. The next instant, the two had their arms around each other in a joyous hug.
Ruby let out a half laugh/half sob and rushed to them. “We have a wedding to plan!”
Rowan glanced at Wes and grinned. She was so happy for her brother—and Millie. They both deserved only good things.
Three weeks ago, she would have never thought she could feel this happy. But she did.
And she was forever grateful for that. She was grateful for happy endings . . . not just in movies but in real life.