After All
Page 32
“Look at her, Bowie; she’s having the best time.”
“She’s so beautiful, Brooklyn. Thank you.”
“For what?” she asked, meeting his gaze.
“For coming back, for being here. I love you both so much.”
“And we love you.”
Hours later, Brooklyn moved the broom back and forth, pushing everything to the center of the floor, while Monroe and a few teachers let the helium out of the balloons and pulled the linens off the tables. By all accounts, the dance was a success. No one got caught making out or doing anything they shouldn’t have, and very few students left early. Toward the end of the night, parents came in and admired the picture boards, laughing at their hairstyles. Some even took to the dance floor, despite protests from their children. Bowie had tried to get Brooklyn to dance, but she had refused to embarrass Brystol like that, at least not at her first dance.
As much as Brooklyn wanted to leave the mess until tomorrow, she couldn’t. They had back-to-back baby showers booked in the ballroom, and she would rather sleep in as long as possible. There was something about waking up in Bowie’s arms that made everything feel right.
When she came to the large windows, she noticed a trail of candles outside on the beach. Not just any part of the beach, but the part the inn owned. She set the broom down and told Monroe she would be right back. It wasn’t uncommon for people to set up on the beach, but they couldn’t do it without her permission. She grabbed her sweater and wrapped her arms around her torso to ward off the nighttime chill.
“Excuse me,” she hollered as she descended the stairs. She followed the candle path around the small shed to find Bowie there on bended knee, illuminated by the moon and soft white lights hanging from the eaves of the shed. She gasped and covered her mouth, walking slowly toward him. Resting in his palm was a black box. “What are you doing?” she whispered.
“What I would’ve done years ago if I had the chance. Brooklyn, I’m not perfect, but I feel pretty damn close when I’m with you, and if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to continue to feel this way forever. Will you do me the second-biggest honor of my life and become my wife?”
She nodded, but the words to follow weren’t exactly what he was expecting. “Wait, what was the first?”
Bowie stood and peered over her shoulder.
“Me, of course,” Brystol yelled as she came out of the shed. She hugged her dad and then turned to her mom. “I helped him pick it out,” she said, pointing to the ring.
“What do you say, B? Wanna share your life with me? With us?”
“Without a doubt, yes. God, yes I do.” Bowie pulled her into his arms and swung her around. When he set her down, he fumbled with the box until he could get the ring out. She held her hand out and cried as he slipped the three-gemstone ring onto her finger, one stone to represent each of them. “It’s beautiful,” she said, holding her hand up to catch the light of the moon.
“I love you, B.”
“I love you too, Bowie.”
“What about me?” Brystol asked, holding her hands up. She laughed as her parents pulled her into a hug. “Hey, what do you think about me changing my last name? I’m already using Holmes at school; might as well make it official.”
Bowie leaned back so he could look at his daughter and then stared at Brooklyn. She could see it in his eyes, wondering how he . . . no, how they . . . got so lucky.
Deep down, they both knew. Time. It was time they had needed to grow up and accept themselves for who they were all along.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
I hope you enjoyed your visit to Cape Harbor. Some of you may recognize a few similarities to La Conner, Washington, which was the basis for the setting of this series, along with Skagit Valley and the tulips! Naturally, I took some . . . okay, a lot of creative liberties with the details since Cape Harbor is a fictionalized location. However, Washingtonians and Oregonians will find a lot of well-known and fun facts related to the Pacific Northwest, the coast, and the lovely, lush Olympic forest. Some of the shops I mention do exist, just not in La Conner. Susie’s Sweet Shoppe (made-up name) was a cute little ice cream parlor that recently closed in Stowe, Vermont. O’Maddi’s is a family-owned deli where I write sometimes in Northfield, Vermont. Ellie’s is a roadside farm stand where I buy my flowers, vegetables, and pumpkins. The memorial wall of past fishermen you’ll find in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you to Lauren Plude for this opportunity and for giving me Holly Ingraham. I’m so eager about our teamwork, partnership, and this adventure. I’m excited for everything our future together holds. Thank you to Marisa Corvisiero for pounding the keyboard and networking like crazy to make this book happen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo © 2015 Sara Eirew
Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Beaumont, the Boys of Summer, and the Archer Brothers series.
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs. In 2012, McLaughlin turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career and has since written over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl. When writing isn’t occupying her time, you can find her sitting courtside at either of her daughters’ basketball games.
McLaughlin’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe. It opened in theaters on January 19, 2018.