Epilogue

Thomas

"Thomas, can we talk?"

"Sure Dad. I'll be there in just a minute. Let me finish up what I'm working on real quick."

Luke was doing a fantastic job overseeing the ranch operations. It wasn't a hands-on daily job, but just at a high-level monitoring production, expenses, and profits. And he had just given me a strong proposal towards creating the greenhouse and expanding back into farming.

Despite my initial hesitations after the storm, the data he ran was very tempting.

"So, who would you recommend overseeing this project?" I asked him.

"I initially thought of Cruz, but he and Emmett are working really well together and running a tight ship over on our cattle and overseeing the cowboys. Ruby and Clay have the dairy running like a well-oiled machine. I'm not sure he'll be interested in the task, but I was kind of leaning toward Brady taking this one."

I considered that a moment and then nodded, even knowing he couldn't see me through the phone.

"Let me make some calls and inquiries and I'll get back to you on that."

Brady was Oliver's brother and practically like family. When Peyton had mated Ollie, he came with three younger brothers and a daughter, Eve. Brady was the oldest of the boys and a bit rough around the edges at first, though I hadn't heard of any issues in years. And I made it a point to know everything that happened in my territory.

I hung up with Luke and called Emmett.

"Hey man, what's up?" he answered

"Have some ideas to run by you real quick. Are you free for lunch?"

"No, but is it confidential?"

"Not really."

"I'm meeting the rest of the Six Pack over at Kate's for lunch. Want to join us? I know everyone would love to see you. We don't often enough these days."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"I'm gonna stop you right there, boss. You do not ever have to apologize to us. We love to have you around, but you're the Alpha, Thomas. We're proud as hell of you and will always be there for you, no matter what. Don't be sorry that you've been busy. You have two newborns at home. You're working your butt off and juggling a now family of seven. It's crazy, dude. But seriously, we're meeting in fifteen. You in?"

"Yeah, I'll be there."

I got up and grabbed my keys.

"Dad, can I take a raincheck until this afternoon? I need to meet with Emmett over some things and the boys are having lunch at Kate's."

"It'll wait. No worries."

"Thanks. I'll find you when I return."

I had no idea what he wanted to discuss, but it didn't seem too pressing.

I jumped into my truck and sped over to Kate's Diner. When I walked in, she was standing at the door greeting guests. I leaned down and kissed her cheek.

"Thomas, what brings you in today. Haven't seen you around much lately. How are Lily and the babies doing?"

"Great, actually. Terra is growing like a weed and Tommy is finally putting on some weight too. Now that he's off fulltime oxygen they are trying to get him to nurse. It's a process, but they're making progress."

"Would it be okay to stop in and visit soon? I could probably give her some pointers on that. Lord knows we went through it all with the quads."

"I am sure she would love that."

My mate had been struggling since delivering the twins. She wasn't out in the community like people were used to and my sisters were constantly filtering concerns.

We were fine, just adjusting to life with two babies, one of which had extensive medical needs. For the most part that had been kept under wraps. Our Pack knew the twins were premature and that Tommy's lungs had been underdeveloped at birth and therefore we were limiting contact to him for at least the first six months. Beyond that few people knew the extent of our concerns.

"Thomas, come join us," Wyatt said when he noticed me.

"Thomas is here?" Clay asked.

"Looks like it," Austin said.

"Wait, is James going to make it? Do we actually have the Six Pack together again at last?" Clay asked.

Emmett clapped me on the back. "Welcome back, buddy. We've missed you."

Truth was, I missed them too.

My demands as Alpha had grown and were consuming far more of my time. I understood why my father never seemed to have any close friends. But I also wasn't willing to give up my boys. They'd been by my side since we were in diapers and I that was never going to change.

I may not get to see them as often, but when we did get together, like now, it was as if no time at all had passed.

Once James joined us, we'd caused quite the stir up in Kate's. I ignored the onlookers though and just enjoyed a rare meal with all of us together. These moments were precious to me and I never wanted to take even a second of it for granted.

After the initial ribbing and catchup and our food arrived, I turned to Emmett.

"So, what's up, boss? What did you need to talk to me about?"

"Boo! That's why you're here? For work?" Austin said.

"Some of us do have to work for a living," James teased him.

Austin had never been able to fully commit to just one job. Even still he held down like five part time jobs instead of settling on just one fulltime.

While they started throwing verbal jabs at each other, I turned back to Emmett.

"You've been working with Luke on the greenhouse proposal?"

"I have. Figured that's what you wanted to discuss."

"You aren't looking to move to that project, are you?"

"Me? What? No way. I love where I'm at. Why? Is there a problem?"

I chuckled. "No. I was just checking, because if you did have a new interest, you know I'd support that. But I have no plans to move you when things are going so well on the range now."

"Okay. . ."

"Cruz would be next in line for a promotion like that, but Luke tells me you two have things flowing so smoothly together that he doesn't recommend moving him. Thoughts?"

"You aren't taking Cruz from me. I'm not even sure I could do all I do without him."

"Understood. Thoughts on Brady?"

He stopped to consider that for a moment. "Probably not his favorite area. He loves being a cowboy, but we maybe could work something out."

Peyton stood over me and cleared her throat.

"Did I just hear what I think I heard?"

"Were you really eavesdropping on our conversation?"

"I just came out of the kitchen for a minute and heard you mention the greenhouse. Are you really going to expand back into farming?"

"I am, with a sizable greenhouse for year-round sustainability. Aren't you like, the biggest champion of all for that?"

"A hundred percent, and I love Brady. He would be great to help oversee the operations side of it, but it's not where his passion is and you know it. There's only one person in our Pack that has the level of passion for this that you need to truly be successful."

"Who?"

"Kenneth."

I huffed. "Pey, he's a pup. I know he's been kind of instrumental and getting things rolling, but I don't know about him running the place, not anytime soon at least."

"He's not. He's grown up when we weren't looking, Thomas. Brady can assist him while still working out on the range. It'll be a good balance, but if you're serious about this, give Kenneth a chance."

I looked to Emmett, who just shrugged.

"Peyton's right and you both know it. All those vegetables on your plate were grown right here. Take a chance on him, Thomas. I promise you won't regret it. It was the best decision I ever made."

My sister beamed like a proud mama.

"Any objections?" I asked Emmett.

"No. We can bring him in on a trial basis and see how it goes."

"Yes. And while you're at it, add Tim to the team. He has his degree in agricultural engineering. You'll need that when constructing the greenhouse."

"Really, Pey? You want me to bring in all the Smith boys on this?"

She shrugged. "You could do a lot worse."

"How about Ollie. Do I need to hire your mate too?"

"If you're smart and want to keep costs down. He could certainly build the interior planters you'll need for this project."

I grinned and shook my head. "We'll see."

"Good enough," she grinned, knowing damn well I was going to cave and call them in on this. "Might as well call it Smith's Greenhouse instead of Collier at this rate."

"I wouldn't argue with that." She stuck her tongue out at me as she walked away and disappeared into the kitchen.

"Sounds like we have a solid plan."

"You're sure about this," I asked him.

He shrugged. "Can't hurt to at least try."

"Well, let's do this."

After lunch, I headed back to the Alpha House and searched out Dad.

"Sorry. Business lunch with Emmett turned into a full Six Pack lunch."

He looked down at his watch and back up to me. "Really? You made great time for that."

I chuckled. He knew us well. In the past, a lunch like that could have turned into an all-afternoon affair.

"Now, what did you need to discuss with me?"

"Your mother and I are moving and we think you and Lily should move in here. You have six children now and you're bursting at the seams in the cabin. You'll have plenty of room for them to grow up here."

"Dad, you know how I feel about that."

"You should reconsider. Keep your boundaries in place. The Pack already respects them. It won't be the same."

"Maybe. It would be nice to have the extra space."

"It would be nice to see the actual Alpha living in the Alpha House once more."

"I don't know if Lily will go for it."

"She'd have room for her office and a room for each of the children."

I nodded. "Are you sure about this?"

"I'm positive. This place is far too big for your mother and I. Plus, she already has her heart set on one of the brand new homes just built. It's new and shiny and still big enough to host the family there. Though I imagine that role will fall more to Lily if you guys were here."

"She'd probably like that. May even try to instill full family dinner nights every Tuesday like she grew up with."

"If that includes your mother and I, then we'd be honored."

"Of course it would. This isn't a yes, but I'll discuss it with her."

"Okay, son."

*****

I didn't tell Lily right away, instead I had one of the offices on the first floor fixed up and all her things moved over to it. And then I waited for the right time to bring it up. That opportunity came one week later.

"I can't find anything around here. We're all just stumbling over each other. I'm sick of it. And I miss my office. I don't really mean any of this, I'm just having a rough day and being whiny."

"Maybe you do mean it, Slugger. And I have a solution if you want to consider it."

"You do? What?"

"Mom and Dad moved out of the Alpha House over the weekend."

Her jaw dropped and then she glared at me. "Why am I just now hearing about this?"

I shrugged. "You've been so busy I didn't want to add to your stress."

Tommy started to fuss.

I got up and picked him up, bouncing him just enough to settle him as I sat back down across from my mate.

"So what are you saying, Thomas?"

"The Alpha House is open if you would like to move there. There's plenty of room for all of us."

"I thought you hated it there."

"I don't hate it there."

"But you said you never wanted to raise the kids there."

"Dad said if we keep our boundaries in place the Pack will respect it and it wouldn't be the same as I've always feared. Anyway, it's open and ready for us if you want it. And if not, that's okay too."

"How soon can we move?"

"What?"

"I adore this place, Thomas, but let's face it, we were done at four kids. It would have been cramped here with five. The girls are already doubled up, and the nursery isn't big enough for both babies long term. We need more space. Cammie and Audrey are starting to fight and even the little girls are bickering over everything. Some of that is probably feeding off my stress, but I have nowhere to escape here. It's kids twenty-four seven. I need more room."

"So you're saying you want to move?"

"As long as you're saying you're okay with it."

"I am." I was surprised to find I truly meant it too.

"Hallelujah!"

"What's going on Mom?" Cammie asked.

"We're moving to the Alpha House!"

*****