Her eyes stung with tears.
“Plus, I knew the eight tentacles would look really incredible against my biceps, so …”
She laughed and smacked him on said bicep, allowing him to deflect the emotion away with a joke. This time. “You’re not wrong.”
“Of course I’m not.” He kissed her quickly, leaving her wanting more.
“Round two!” Grandpa bellowed.
“That’s my cue,” Eliana said with a sigh, not wanting to leave Asher’s arms.
“You coming over tonight?” Asher asked. He was living in Julia’s apartment, and loving her kitchen, which was apparently better equipped with appliances than the bungalow had been. “I’m making bacon-and-butternut-squash ravioli.”
“Marry me now,” she deadpanned.
“Elly!” Grandpa called out. “We’re waiting!”
“Hmm. I like the sound of that. A lot.” They kissed again as everyone groaned and splashed them. “We still on for October?”
“October seems so far away. How do you feel about September?” she said.
“I’ve got that work conference in September,” he reminded her. “I can blow it off,” he said hopefully.
“No, you’d better not.” Mr. Richardson had made himself scarce since the infamous meeting—the one Grandpa Horace said he’d always regret missing, especially since it was all anyone talked about for weeks. And Samantha, eager to continually improve their medical department, had advocated paying for Asher to fly out to a speech language pathologist conference in Seattle to learn some new techniques. He was really excited about it.
“But we are going to have to name our first child Louisa May Alcott, Junior,” she teased.
“We’re not even married, and you’re naming our nonexistent children?”
She shrugged. “I like to think ahead.”
“Elly!” Grandma, Grandpa, and Cameron all yelled together.
“Duty calls,” she said, swimming away. “Future Junior’s pride in her mom depends on me winning this cannonball competition.”
“Oh boy,” Asher said. “Then you better get practicing, because you have a long way to go.”
She squealed and splashed him, then raced away when he growled and lunged after her, wrapping his arms around her tight.
“I love you,” she whispered, her nose pressed against his.
“I love you too,” he said.
“And I love you both,” Grandpa said dryly from where he sat at the edge of the pool, only a foot away. Oops. “But can we get this show on the road? This boy is ready.” He hooked his thumb back toward Cameron, who took that as his signal to go.
“Baaaaall!” he yelled as he threw himself over Eliana and Asher and into the pool with the most epic jump yet.
Epilogue
Winniesatbackinher chair in the conference room, a satisfied grin on her face. The secret seven had done it again. Not only were Asher and Eliana in love, but Eliana had never been happier. She’d finally let go of the demons in her past and was embracing what the future might hold.
And that future grandson-in-law of Winnie’s? Asher Brooks was a delight in every way. She still chuckled to think how out of character it was for him to tow Eliana’s car, and yet she was grateful he’d done it. Without that, would they have ever gotten together? She wouldn’t say anything to Don, of course. She didn’t want it to go to his head. But they were so good at matchmaking, they were matchmaking without even trying.
“Should we get started?” Walt asked. “It’s getting late.”
Nancy sat at the front of the table, in her usual spot, staring at her phone with a frown. “Oh, sure. Yes,” she said, setting it down, but still looking distracted.
“Are you okay?” Winnie asked.
