Epilogue

Over the next few days, I fielded several offers for new coaching positions, one even at the high-school level. I wasn't sure I wanted to teach older kids. But I had time to make a decision.

It was all from the article in the newspaper and online and how the kids on the team supported me. It made me feel good. That what I had to offer was important and necessary.

The best part was that Mr. Miller and Mr. Elias had both called to apologize. Mr. Elias offered me the coaching position, but I turned it down, telling him that the kids had transitioned to a new coach and should finish out the season with him.

I talked to Owen about it and decided it would be best to coach a different team. That was the healthiest option for all of us. I wanted to create a family with Claire and Owen, and I didn't want to deal with any questions about my loyalty.

It would be good for Owen to have someone else coach him. That way, I could be the father figure he needed at home. That was the dynamic I wanted with him. I could still coach him at home and be a fan in the stands at his games.

I could substitute teach at Claire's school, but after talking with Claire, decided not to accept any positions there. That way, there wouldn't be any more accusations about our relationship. We were free to be in a relationship and didn't have to worry about it affecting our jobs.

I'd hired Cole's contracting company to break ground on the house and hoped it would be ready in the summer. By next Christmas, we'd be living in the house we'd built together as a family, and I couldn't wait.

For once in my life, I felt settled in my decisions and happy. I spent most nights at Claire's place: cooking dinner, throwing the ball around, and helping Owen with homework. It wasn't a particularly exciting life, but it was exactly what I'd always wanted—a family to come home to, one I loved with everything inside me.

In the evenings and on the weekends, Owen tagged along with me to work, and we often shared meals with my family. We'd fallen into a nice routine, and I couldn't wait for the future. It was only going to get better.

Aiden and Fiona's wedding was held on Christmas Eve at his family's inn. The ceremony itself was held outside on the grand stairs leading to the front porch. Even with heaters, it was chilly. Immediately after the ceremony, the wedding planners moved guests to the ballroom where the reception was being held.

I was ecstatic that my oldest sister had come home last Christmas and reconnected with her high school sweetheart. I just wished all my siblings were home for the holidays.

Ryder was here with Faith, but his wife, Stacy was noticeably absent. He didn't say why that was. It was probably too much to hope for that their relationship was on the rocks and they would be getting a divorce soon. I shouldn't wish bad things for them, but I missed my brother and wanted to see my niece more often. He seemed down, not like the easy-going brother I remembered. But he wouldn't talk to us about what was going on, and everyone was afraid to bring it up, especially since Faith was usually around.

For the reception, Ryder and Faith, Wes and Sutton, Teddy, Claire, Owen, and I were seated at table together. Faith was running around the room with Izzy, happy to be free of their flower-girl responsibilities. Owen had paired off with the other lone teenager in a corner, probably discussing football or video games.

When Claire and Sutton excused themselves to go to the bathroom, I asked, "Whatever happened with Sutton's grandmother?"

"You mean on Thanksgiving?" Wes asked, looking around like he was afraid someone would overhear our conversation.

"You said they were supposed to have some kind of family meeting, and Sutton was upset." I'd been so preoccupied with my relationship with Claire and everything that happened after that video of us was released, I hadn't had time to ask Wes about it again.

Wes huffed out a breath and lowered his voice, "You're never going to believe this. Her grandmother sat at the dining room table with everyone present and said that no one appreciated her; they just wanted her money. When Sutton interjected to say that she loved her and adored the estate and the family's history, Grandma said if she wanted to inherit, she had to get married before she kicked the bucket."

Teddy whistled. "You're fucking with us."

Wes leaned on his elbows. "I'm not. And the worst part is that it has to be soon because her grandmother said she's sick and only has a few months to live."

Ryder's forehead creased. "Who would require someone to get married to inherit? Relationships are so difficult. Why would she think forcing someone to marry someone would be a good idea?"

I exchanged an uncomfortable look with Wes. That had to be a confirmation that he was having issues with Stacy, but this wasn't about them at the moment. "Someone who comes from a lot of money and uses it to control people around them."

"What's she going to do?" Teddy asked.

Wes shrugged. "She's not dating anyone, so she doesn't have many options."

"She could meet someone. Maybe go on one of those dating apps." I chuckled. "Heck. She could be upfront about it, tell the guy she has to get married, and offer him money to do it. She could draw up a contract, make it all legal like."

Irritation flashed in Wes's eyes. He clearly didn't like that idea, but I had to probe to see where he stood on the issue. He claimed they were friends, but would he stand by when she married someone else?

"What guy in his twenties would date someone who has to get married in a few weeks? Even if it was for a ton of money." Teddy sipped water.

"No one I can think of," Ryder agreed. "But then again, I'm surrounded by married couples or divorced ones."

I tugged on my constraining tie. "What happens to the estate if she doesn't get married?"

Wes shifted in his chair. "Everything will be sold, some minor inheritance doled out, and the rest donated to charity."

"But Sutton loves that house." I couldn't understand it because her grandmother had always been so difficult, dictating where she went to school, her major, and even how she wore her hair. And her parents were just around for the money and the designer brands they could buy.

"That's the problem. Sutton's been a wreck since this was announced."

"What do her parents want?" Teddy asked.

"They want the money. They're trying to convince Grandma to give them a higher percentage of the estate. It doesn't sound like she's going to budge. So now her parents are pressuring Sutton to get married. I don't like it because Sutton is the one who stands to inherit the most, and her parents might pressure her to marry someone else, then give them the money."

"They just want the cash," I said ruminating over the situation.

"I don't have a good feeling about it. Sutton said they're already parading eligible bachelors in front of her. These are wealthy men, but ones that her parents think they can control. None of them would be a good choice for Sutton."

I fixed my gaze on him. "What are you going to do about it?"

Wes raised his hand. "I have an idea, but I haven't talked to her about it yet. So please don't say anything and keep an open mind."

I nodded. "You can trust me."

Teddy touched his shoulder. "You know the Calloways stick together."

"In this case, it's the Calloway brothers." Wes tipped his head toward Daphne and Fiona, who sat at the head table. "Let's leave our sisters out of it. They have significant others, and I don't want them involved in this."

"Whatever you want." Sutton had been a part of our family since she and Wes were in first grade. I'd do anything to help her now.

"I'm going to offer to marry her—" Wes began.

Teddy leaned forward and bellowed, "You're going to do what?"

A few people at neighboring tables turned to look at us, but when they didn't see anything else happening, averted their attention.

Wes leaned in closer and lowered his voice. "We get married, she inherits the estate when her grandmother dies, then we get a divorce."

"Are you sure you want to do that? Marriage is a big deal. What if her grandmother lives for years?" Ryder asked.

Wes winced. "That's the risk we'll have to take."

"I don't know if this is a good idea—" I said the same time that Teddy said, "It's a terrible idea. What's in it for you?"

"I want to help Sutton. She wants to hold onto the house, the things inside, and her family's legacy. It's important to her."

"I can't believe her grandmother would threaten to take it away from her." I could see her wanting to keep money from Sutton's parents. They'd always been greedy and only cared about wealth and status. But Sutton cared about the house itself and everything inside of it.

Teddy shook his head. "It shouldn't be a surprise. Her grandmother has always done crazy shit like this."

"Not quite like this," I said.

Wes's gaze snagged on Sutton and Claire, who were walking side by side into the ballroom. "Don't say anything to her. I want to get a chance to talk to her first."

"You think she'll go for it?" Sutton was a strong woman, who didn't take shit from anyone. I wouldn't think she'd be okay with a plan that took things out of her hands, that forced her to marry her best friend.

"I don't think that she has any other options if she wants to keep the house and the property in the family."

The table fell silent because it was an impossible situation. Especially if Sutton wasn't willing to walk away from it all.

Claire walked toward me with a smile on her face. I stood.

"Would you like to dance?" she asked.

I grinned. "I'd love to."

I placed my hand on her lower back, guiding her toward the dance floor. When I took her into my arms, Claire asked, "What were you talking about? Everyone looked so serious."

I glanced over at the table where Sutton sat next to Wes. His shoulders were rigid. He was worried about her, and I couldn't blame him. "Wes is worried about Sutton. She's going through some family stuff. Her grandmother's always been a ballbuster. She's the puppeteer who holds the strings on everyone in the family, and Sutton isn't willing to walk away from it."

"That sounds awful." Claire chewed her lip. "I think I prefer my parents to keep their distance rather than have ones that were overbearing."

Next to us, Faith was dancing with Izzy on the dance floor, and it was giving me all kinds of fizzy feelings in my gut. "What do you think about having more kids?" I was willing to do whatever Claire wanted. But I hoped she was on board with having one or even two more.

She smiled softly. "I've been thinking about a boy with long dark hair and a mischievous grin."

I raised a brow. "Really? I was thinking of a girl with dirty-blond hair and blue eyes."

"Maybe we could try for one of each?" Claire said, wrapping her hands around the back of my neck, pulling me flush against her.

"Are you being serious?" I tended to joke around a lot, and it made people not take what I said seriously. But I very much wanted to have a real conversation about this.

"We talked about it on Thanksgiving. Remember?"

I nodded slowly. She'd mentioned something about kids, and when Dad had come onto the porch, I'd taken the distraction for what it was and gone inside, not bringing up the subject again. "I worried it was too soon to talk about it."

Her forehead creased. "I thought it meant that you didn't want kids."

"I want kids with you. You know how much I love them."

She ran a hand through my hair. "I always wanted more kids, just not with Eric."

"How does Owen feel about it?" Everything hinged on his feelings. I wouldn't do anything that made him uncomfortable. I didn't want him to think his feelings weren't being considered.

"He's worried he'll be too old for them, but I think it will be perfect. He'll be the protective older brother. Can you talk to him about how important his role will be?"

Pleasure flowed through me at the confidence in her words. "I will. There's nothing better than siblings. We all came together after Mom died." There were moments when I felt pressure to be or do something different, but they had my best interests at heart.

Her hands stroked the back of my neck. "There's no one else I want to walk through this life with than you. You were unexpected but the best thing that's ever happened to us."

"I feel like that's my line," I joked.

"I was trying to be serious."

I sobered. "So was I. You see, I had this whole thing planned out. I talked to Owen for his permission to ask you, and then I talked to Fiona and Aiden about stealing their thunder."

Her brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

I took her hands from around my neck and held them while I slid to one knee.

Claire gasped.

"Claire Coleman, I love you with my entire heart. There's no one else I want to walk through this life with."

She smiled when I repeated her words from a few seconds ago.

"Will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

She nodded, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. "Yes."

She tugged me to standing, and I pulled her against me and kissed her. When I pulled back, I said, "I had this whole thing planned, and you tried to steal my thunder by saying all my lines first."

Claire gazed at me with affection. "Did you really talk to Owen?"

"He asked why I waited so long."

Claire laughed. "We've only been dating a few months."

"I guess he feels like we're a sure thing."

"Where's the ring?" Teddy shouted from our table.

I flipped him off, then dug the box out of my pocket. "If you care about things like this?"

Claire grinned. "I actually do."

I couldn't help teasing her. I held the box just out of reach and slowly opened the lid. Inside was a simple diamond solitaire surrounded by a cluster of diamonds. I had plenty of money in savings for this and the house since I'd lived at home my entire life. And I couldn't think of a better way to spend my money, showing my fiancée how much I appreciated her.

"I love it," Claire said as I slipped it on, then lifted her hand to kiss the diamond. "The next wedding we attend will be ours."

"I can't wait," Claire said, and I didn't mention that my dream was to get married on the Calloway property. Maybe in front of our new house. But there'd be plenty of time to talk about the details later.

When we broke away for a second time, Fiona stood next to us, holding Aiden's hand. "Congratulations, little brother."

I let her hug me. Then I said, "I'm not little."

Fiona merely shook her head, her lips tugging up in amusement as she hugged Claire next. "Welcome to the Calloway family. We're loud and crazy, but we'll stick by your side no matter what."

"Thank you," Claire said. Then we were bombarded by my dad and my other siblings. Each one wanted to congratulate us and give us unnecessary advice.

Finally, I ended it by saying, "If you don't stop giving us a hard time, I'm going to set you up." I pointed at Wes and Teddy since Ryder was already married. "And you're not going to like who I pick."

Teddy waggled his brow. "You know any hot teachers?"

"Not any without warts. But I do know a sunny marketing consultant who'd be perfect for you."

Teddy glared at me, then walked away.

"Well, that got rid of them quick."

"You always know exactly what to say," Claire said as we moved into a slow dance.

"Hmm. I know exactly what to say to my brothers to get rid of them."

"You also know exactly what to say to get into my panties."

"Oh, I do, do I? Hmm. Are you ready to head back to our room?" We'd rented one in the inn for the evening. Owen was staying with Dad at the main house with Izzy. They'd developed a sweet relationship, and I hoped it would translate when Claire and I had kids.

"I thought you'd never ask."

I hope you loved Claire and Jameson's story!