“Oh, that sounds fun. Absolutely,” Scarlett said before she turned to me, fake-whispering, “You don’t mind, right?”
“We’re probably just staying in with the girls this year,” Wyatt said.
“The girls can come too. They can sleep in one of the bedrooms after they pass out,” Reid said. “And no, you don’t mind. You’re coming too,” he added to me.
I met Wyatt’s eye, his look saying the same thing as me:When did he get so bossy?
“Yeah, alright. I’ll come to your New Year’s party,” I said.
“Good. I need to convince Lydia to come to town for it,” Reid said. “Luke, you call her. You were always her favorite brother. She might actually listen to you.”
I laughed, partly because no one could convince Lydia to do something she didn’t want to do and partly because he wasn’t wrong. Lydia used to follow me around like a stray puppy when we were younger, always tagging along with me and Seb. “I’ll give her a call and ask. She’s been pretty good at avoiding this place though.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Seb laughed. It didn’t sound like his usual easy laugh. Something more bitter about it, sharper.
“It’s important that she comes. Please try for us,” Claire said.
“What’s going on? What’s this about?” Wyatt asked.
Another look passed between the loving couple. “Just a housewarming party.” Claire shrugged.
We all agreed to go to their party since it seemed to be a big deal to the two of them. I got to my feet, offering my hand to Scarlett and pulling her up as well. We said goodbye to the family, not feeling the least bit guilty about being the first people to leave the dinner.
Scarlett placed her hand in mine as soon as we were in the car. I glanced at her from the corner of my eye. To think that six months ago, I was unhappily married to the wrong woman, not even aware of how I was falling for my best friend. Little did I know how everything would change. That I would find the love of my life right before my eyes, creating a brand-new life with her—within her.
I brought her hand to my lips, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. “I love you, Letty. I couldn’t do this life without you. You are my partner in every imaginable way.”
“Does that mean we’re finally going to start our own Luke & Letty, Crime Stoppers, business?” She grinned.
“Hell no. My heart couldn’t take you being in mortal danger ever again. I thought I was going to stroke out seeing you through the window with only a broom as a defense. And the sound of your screams…”
“Warrior cries,” she corrected.
“Oh, of course. My apologies.”
Her airy laughter filled the car. “I love you, Luke. I promise I’ll try not to put myself in the sights of a murderer again.”
“That’s all I can ask.”
Epilogue
8 Weeks Later
“Knock, knock,” I said, entering the house without waiting for a response. A couple of people were already here.
Dad and Sheila.
Wyatt and Wes, along with the girls.
Claire’s boss from the Delano Library. David Pratchett from the Historical Society.
My brow furrowed a bit at those two, but I didn’t spend any more time thinking about it.
Jane waddled up to me, raising her hands straight into the air until I scooped her up and placed her on my waist.
“You run to Uncle Luke now instead of Uncle Seb? My heart is broken,” Seb complained. He hitched a ride with me to Reid and Claire’s new house, Scarlett having come by earlier to help with the preparations or something.
We strolled up to Wyatt, baby Veda asleep on his chest, already so big at only five months old. The older she got, the more she looked like Maeve, but I could see Wyatt in her too. In the shape of her mouth, the way she crinkled her nose.
