Epilogue

EPILOGUE

F our Months Later

"It's time to do it," Van heard before he woke up. It was his grandfather standing next to his mother.

He hadn't dreamed of them in months. He wasn't surprised they'd shown up today of all days.

"I'm so proud of you, Van," his mother said. "I always knew you'd step up and do the right thing. Be the person I should have been."

His mother looked at his grandfather and they hugged, then started to fade away.

In his mind, it might have been the best ending he needed from the past year.

And what a year it'd been.

Crazy how so much had changed since he moved here last May.

Christian had been terminated immediately and charged, but his attorney got him out of jail time.

Van didn't expect any differently, but the guy was out of his life.

The last piece of the puzzle had been solved that Barry had actually drafted that amendment to the will but changed his mind when his grandfather found out that Christian had a gambling addiction and some less-than-honorable character traits. It wasn't half of the hotels but just part of one. A quarter for Christian of the biggest and most profitable.

Barry decided that he couldn't risk everything he'd worked so hard for that should have gone to Lauren being lost over carelessness. Nor have Kyle deal with it, knowing Kelsey's father was the one that gave Barry what he'd wanted in his life.

Christian hadn't known that the amendment was never filed, just that Barry confronted Christian about the gambling.

Kyle had confessed that part, the gambling, but hadn't even known about the amendment. Van found it himself in the storage unit in an envelope marked"foolish mistakes caught in time."

He found it pretty hilarious of his grandfather to leave the evidence of it and that writing along with it.

Guess his grandfather was a great guy in the end. His heart was in the right place and he'd been willing to admit when he was wrong.

Van had been lying in bed long enough and got up to run and shower, then get Kelsey.

"What's this surprise?" she asked, all but bouncing on her front porch with Frankie by her side. "And you've got your grandfather's truck. I'm so glad we're taking it."

"Seems the thing to do," he said. "Great day for a picnic. Isn't that what people do on Memorial Day?"

"They do," she said. "But it's breakfast time. I'm not sure I know too many people having breakfast picnics."

"I'm not sure I know too many women like you. It'd be your thing, don't you think?"

"Ahh, aren't you just a Squishmallow of my own."

"Squishmallow?" he asked.

"Yeah, these pillows that are so soft it's like squeezing a cloud. They come in funny animals. I was thinking of getting one for Frankie, but I know I'd steal it."

She probably would. "Let's get a move on," he said. "I want to get there before anyone else does."

"Do you have food?" she asked. "I'm hungry and you told me not to eat."

It was the cute pout on her face.

"Food is covered," he said. Thanks to Duke.

She hopped into the truck and they drove around ten minutes to a place he'd finally found that was in the pictures. A place his grandfather brought his grandmother and mother to for picnics.

No one was around and he pulled off the road and got out.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"We are going to eat in the back," he said.

"Just like your grandparents did," she said, jumping in place. "This is so romantic."

He wasn't going for romance as much as being sentimental.

He helped her climb in the back with Frankie, then pulled the basket over.

"Your brother did this for me."

"I can't believe he didn't tell me," she said. "But I'm going to eat like a queen."

"You are," he said. He held back the words of calling her his queen. It'd be silly and that was one thing he wasn't.

He'd put the tailgate down and they sat there with their legs swinging back and forth and ate their breakfast in silence. He knew it was killing her, but he was trying to work up the courage.

"When are you going to ask me?" she finally said.

"What?"

"Come on, Van. I know what you're doing."

"You do?" he asked.

Her shoulders were wiggling back and forth. "I do," she said. "I'm all but living with you now. Just ask me."

So much for the surprise.

He pulled the ring box out of a pocket in the basket where he'd been hiding it.

Her jaw dropping shocked him though.

"Why are you surprised?"

"I thought you were going to ask me to move in with you. Holy shit. That's an engagement ring, isn't it?"

He laughed. A true free laugh. "It is."

"I figured it'd be another year or so before you could work up to even thinking of that. We know you're slow."

"Guess you're wrong," he said. "Admit it."

"I'll admit it. I'm wrong. I'm so freaking wrong!" she squealed.

She was laughing as she put her hand out. Not even waiting for him to flip the lid and ask.

Guess he got his answer.

He opened the box, showing her the princess-cut diamond with two triangle-shaped diamonds flat on each side. It was over the top at four carats total, but she deserved it.

"I knew the moment you could make me laugh in the worst of times that you'd be the one for me," he said. "Don't ever change. Don't ever be anyone other than who you are. I want you to be my wife. To have children with me and maybe they'll get the best of both of our traits. Will you do that? Will you take the journey with me?"

"Yes!" she said.

He slid the ring on her finger before she could yank it out of his hand and put it on herself.

"Mr. Franklin, this is gorgeous."

"I thought for sure you'd swear," he said.

"I did. In my way. Unique and all," she said. She launched herself at him. "Maybe we can make a baby in the back of this truck too. Starting now."

She was giggling when she said it. He knew she expected him to say no.

"I think we need to do that," he said. "Why do you think I made sure we were isolated up here?"

"That's my man!" she said.

Yes, I am.

The End!