Life wasn’t going to turn out exactly the way they had planned it, but they were ready to adjust course together. They were already discussing adoption options and scheduled to visit the adoption agency in a couple of weeks. For the first time, this direction feltright. They’d decided it together, and that changed everything for Laurel.
“Hurry up and grab that last box so we can start the movie,” Chase said, breaking apart the mind-melting kiss. “Zeus is threatening to eat all the popcorn.”
Laurel hurried back to her car, sporting a swoony smile. It was impossible not to be filled to the brim with hope and happiness. She was so distracted thinking about the many, many years ahead for her marriage that she didn’t notice Ed until she closed the car door.
She squeaked and dropped the box. Thankfully, only clothes were inside it. He was enormous this close up.
The moose, standing little more than five feet from her car, tilted his head in her direction like a curious dog.
“I don’t have any coffee in that box if that’s what you’re wondering,” she said with a laugh. Maybe she should be more afraid of his proximity, but he didn’t appear to be a threat to her. He seemed to be looking for a handout. “Even if Ididhave a white chocolate mocha, there’s no way that’s good for your diet.”
Ed snorted, as if in disdain.
“I’ve created a monster.”
Zeus whined from the front door, drawing Ed’s attention. The moose lifted his head and looked at the door.
“I know it’s hard to believe, but he doesn’t have coffee either.”
Ed maneuvered his massive body until he pointed toward the street, and trotted down driveway. He was heading in the right direction to pass Black Bear Coffee. Laurel chuckled, wondering who he might startle today. “I never said thank you,” she called after him.
The moose didn’t look back, but she smiled anyway.
Epilogue
Cody
Cody Evans was the last to arrive at his parents’ thirty-fifth wedding anniversary party at the Sunset Ridge Lodge. It was the last full day of kayaking tours for the season, and it was a busy one. He’d scrubbed his hands three times but they still smelled like the bay, and sand was likely in his hair. But he was here. That was what was important.
The party room was packed with half the town, and it made him smile to witness the turnout. Jerry and Beth Evans were well-loved in the community and it showed. As much as he admired his parents for sticking it out this long together, Cody would never know what that felt like. The adventurous lifestyle he preferred made committed relationships hard, which was reason enough for him to avoid them.
A quick scan of the room and he locked gazes with Haylee holding a wide-eyed Melly. The baby lit up like a lightbulb at the sight of Cody. He’d never given much thought to what it’d feel like to be an uncle before meeting Melly for the first time four months ago. Now he couldn’t wait to spoil his niece with treasures from his travels.
Weaving his way through the crowded room toward Haylee, Cody spotted a woman with jet-black hair sitting in a corner chair, head tucked into what he suspected was a book.Odd. He couldn’t see her facial features to determine whether he knew her or not, but he thought he’d remember a woman who preferred reading a book to mingling during a noisy celebration.
“Thought you weren’t going to make it,” Haylee said, bumping him with her shoulder when he got close enough.
He laughed. “Yeah, right. I have to sleep in the same house you do. At least for a few more nights.”
Melly kept staring at Cody, even after Haylee handed her over. Those big blue eyes were going to melt some serious hearts.Probably break a few too. Cody glanced at his youngest sister, reading more in her mostly blank expression than she probably cared to know.
“So, you’re really going for three years this time?” Haylee asked with a slightly sad smile.
“That’s the gig.”
“Dad’s okay with that?”
“We got it all worked out.” Cody fished his phone out of his pocket, suspecting a view from the back porch of his soon-to-be Maui home would cheer her up. “Could you say no to this?” He turned the screen displaying an ocean sunset toward her. “I’ll get to see that every night.”
“I really hope that isn’t some photo they stole off the internet to entice you to take the job. You might get there and find out you really only have a wonderful view of a fence or a brick wall.” As pessimistic as she sounded, he caught the excitement dancing in her eyes.
“You can come visit anytime.”
Haylee took Melly back into her arms. “That might not be on the agenda for a while.” She ran her hand over Melly’s forehead, planting a soft kiss there. “Melly’ll be walking before you come home.”
“Three years old, she better be running in the Moose Days marathon.”
“You’re not going to get to meet your new nephew either.” Haylee nodded at Laurel across the room. Chase held his arm protectively around her, as if he weren’t about to let her get away again. They were days away from meeting a little seven-year-old boy they hoped to adopt before Christmas.
