Epilogue

Nova, two weeks later…

N ova glanced up from reading and caught his boyfriend chewing on his thumbnail. Golden amber eyes met his and widened.

"You're finished reading already?" he asked nervously.

Too choked up to speak at first, Nova nodded. Then he glanced across his mother's desk and caught the smug expression on her face as she trailed a finger over the treasured sextant Jimmy had given her.

"My guy is brilliant," Nova said, smiling when he heard his boyfriend's sigh of relief.

It was true. Jimmy hadn't just written about his family dynamic in a typical fashion. The article he'd aptly titled "Invisible Strings" read like a beautiful love letter between mother and son, defining how the stars unified and healed them. He'd wanted their approval before submitting it to his editor.

"Old soul Pisces," his mom replied.

Nova chuckled and read the final paragraph once more.

Is love a principle of proximity or is it written in the stars? Who cares? Whatever the reason, whether it's for an eternity or a season, bravely embrace the journey with all that you are and everything you will be.

God, how he loved this man.

"You know, I think it's time you admit the truth, Nova," his mom said.

"Which is?" he asked, although he knew the answer.

His mother smiled. "The stars don't lie."

Nova would do no such thing, but he did mime tugging Jimmy to him by the invisible strings for a kiss.

Jimmy, two months later…

His grandmother sniffled and Jimmy glanced over in time to catch her wiping her eyes.

"It must be dusty in here," she said, then looked around the spotless and empty turret room.

Jimmy wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "You know, I thought this room was my safe place, but I realize now it's always been you, Grandma." The sniffling got louder, so Jimmy kissed the top of her head and looked at every corner of the space he'd loved so much. "I used to curl up in that window seat to spy on the neighborhood kids just to feel less lonely. You were always in the room next door, reading or sewing. I'd hear you humming and would wander in to see what you were up to. Remember?"

His grandmother nodded. "We'd play cards or a board game," she said. "Sometimes you'd color beside me on the sofa while I sewed."

"Later, we converted the tower into a home office so I could pursue my dream of becoming a journalist," Jimmy said. "We filled this space with incredible antiques that we restored together."

His grandmother wrapped her arm around his waist and squeezed. "And now those treasures will go with you to your new home with Nova and Millie."

Jimmy and Nova had carefully packed and hauled them all downstairs to the truck Nova had rented. He was excited to set up a home office in the spare bedroom at Nova's—um, their —house.

"This isn't goodbye, Grandma," Jimmy said. "There are plenty of antique adventures ahead for us."

"I know," she whispered. "I'm not going to be losing a grandson. I'll be gaining a second grandson and a remarkable great-granddaughter."

Jimmy chuckled. "You might be putting the cart before the horse."

"Poppycock," she replied. "I know true love when I see it. There's only one direction this is heading." She hummed "Canon in D."

His first reaction was to downplay her assumptions, but Jimmy shut himself down. Why shouldn't he shoot for the moon?

Millie's jubilant cheers reached them from the first floor, making them both laugh.

"I think Georgie is about to give June Bug her big surprise," his grandma said.

"Which is?"

"Best to experience it firsthand," she said, then smiled up at Jimmy. "You've taught me that."

Millie's excitement continued to grow, and with it came the sound of her jumping in circles. Jimmy and his grandmother hastened down to join the celebration in the sitting room.

"What's going on?" Jimmy asked.

Nova slipped his arm around his waist and pulled him closer. "Georgie told Millie she has a surprise for her."

"I love surprises," Millie said. "Is it another puppy?"

Jimmy looked down at the Great Dane puppy who was watching her best friend spin and twirl at a dizzying rate. "Can you imagine?" he asked Nova.

His boyfriend chuckled. "Hell no. I'd consider a cat."

Millie heard him and stopped spinning. "Georgie is giving me a cat?" she asked.

"No," Jimmy's mom said. "I'm giving you my Victorian dollhouse." Everyone stared at Georgie in stunned silence.

"Really?" Millie asked.

Georgie nodded. "If it's okay with your father. It's a pretty big piece." She looked at Nova and mouthed, "Sorry."

Millie June turned her big blue eyes on Nova, and Jimmy knew his boyfriend was toast. "Oh, Daddy, can I? Can I?"

"Are you sure, Georgie?" Nova asked.

"I've been saving this dollhouse for someone special to come along," she replied. "There's no one more special than Camilla June."

"Millie, do you promise to take good care of the dollhouse?" Nova asked his daughter. She nodded frantically. "Okay. There's still room in the truck."

There were hundreds of little pieces to pack up, and Millie insisted each room be stored individually. She wanted to set it up the same way his mother had it, so Nova took pictures on his phone to refer to later. His grandmother showed Millie the proper way to wrap and tuck away the treasures.

"Now, if we could just figure out a way to get that bathtub down from the second story," Nova whispered in Jimmy's ear.

Jimmy's back hurt just thinking about it. "We both have vivid imaginations," he whispered. "Maybe we could pretend your garden tub is a clawfoot, and I'll still ride you like a bull."

Nova stared into Jimmy's eyes before pressing a quick kiss to his lips. "Deal."

Nova, four months later…

"Daddy," Millie yelled from her bedroom. "Violet chewed up one of my frog boots."

Nova begrudgingly lifted his lips off Jimmy's neck. "Oh darn," he whispered to the laughing man in his arms. "Those aren't the shoes you're supposed to wear with your dress anyway," he called out. "Better hurry up, June Bug. The best man and flower girl can't be late to Papa's wedding."

"But I want to wear them to your gagemen party, Daddy," Millie replied.

"We haven't asked him yet, Camilla June," Nova shouted back.

Millie bounded into the kitchen, wearing one bright yellow and one frog rain boot. Her beloved Violet clumsily ran behind her. Nova figured one day the pup would grow into her legs. "Do I look pretty?" she asked.

Her ivory dress had a lacy overlay with dozens of dusty-pink roses sewn into the skirt. A satin sash matching the color of the embroidered flowers tied around her waist and hung down the back. His daughter had insisted on mermaid hair for the big day, and he'd added an ivory headband. Nova thought it was his best work yet.

"The prettiest princess to ever princess," Nova replied.

"Daddy," Millie said, "just tell Jimmy he's going to marry us like Papa told Kai."

Jimmy's body shook with laughter, and Nova tightened his hold. "This kid," he said. "I have no idea where she gets such ideas."

Millie put her hands on her hips and looked at Nova like he was dumber than a box of rocks. "‘Cause we bought Jimmy a shiny ring. You tucked it in your dresser drawer, remember?"

Nova groaned. Why in the hell had he spilled his plans to the little imp?

Jimmy's smile was bright enough to outshine the sun. He knelt down so he was at eye level with Millie. "Tonight is Papa and Kai's special celebration. It wouldn't be appropriate for Daddy to ask me to marry him on the same night."

She tilted her head and pondered for a moment. "How about tomorrow?" she asked.

Jimmy lifted his head and met Nova's gaze. "I'm available."

"Fine," Nova said. "Tomorrow morning, we're going to ask Jimmy to marry us."

"Yay!" Millie cheered, then jumped around in circles. She stopped suddenly and stared at Jimmy with big blue eyes. "What are you going to say?" she asked.

Jimmy lifted her into his arms and kissed her nose before meeting Nova's eyes. "I'm going to say yes."

The End!