The night passed catching up around the campfire. With how busy things had been in Briar’s life – fitting college applications and trips to camp in between her bartending shifts – she hadn’t seen her siblings since the spring.
The twins were back in California, working on a video game together. They refused to tell Briar the concept of the game, since they were superstitious about sharing things before it was finished, but the illustrations Briar had seen in the background of their FaceTimes made her suspect that it took place in a forest. She had also caught Laurel furiously dictating a voice note as she studied some cool-looking moss on their hike to the campsite.
RJ was still in New York, still working on Wall Street, but Briar predicted he was only a few years out from quitting. His therapist agreed that the job was bad for his health, so thankfully Briar wasn’t the only one constantly reminding him to look after himself anymore.
At some point, Noah pulled out his guitar and started quietly strumming a tune Briar recognized but couldn’t quite place. Harper leaned into his side, her head resting on his shoulder. The picture the two of them made by the fire pit reminded Briar of the final hours of their wedding. In the end, Alice had suggested having it at the camp, and they had gladly accepted.
‘Ahem.’ Cook cleared his throat, clanking a knife against his tankard of beer. ‘I’d like to propose a toast.’ They all dutifully raised their glasses. ‘To Susan.’
‘To Susan.’
‘And,’ he continued, ‘to the entire Elwood family.’
‘The Elwoods.’
‘And finally,’ Cook said, looking at Alice. ‘To Miss Alice Hughes, without whom our most beloved camp wouldn’t be what it is today.’
‘To Alice,’ they all cheered, the twins whooping and stomping their feet. Briar couldn’t stop smiling, reveling in everyone’s collective understanding of how great her girlfriend was.
‘Speech!’ Sierra called, hiccuping into her cup.
‘Speech!’ Freddie echoed.
Alice looked at Briar for help, her face glowing red, but Briar just grinned traitorously back.
Alice stood. ‘Um. When I came to the US, I thought I’d be back in London by the end of the weekend.’ She glanced at the faces around the fire, her eyes resting on Briar. ‘I had no idea that I’d still find a home here. I thought I’d lost it forever. Susan gave me a lot of presents over the years, but I think her best one was giving me a good reason to come home and face my mistakes.’ Briar reached up to grab Alice’s hand, squeezing it. ‘I’m so glad to be back in your life,’ Alice said quietly. Then she turned back to the group. ‘In all your lives.’
‘Hear, hear,’ Harper said.
The group raised their glasses and drank again, but Briar couldn’t stop staring at Alice, at the firelight flickering in her eyes. She was amazed by how much time the two of them had ahead, of how many choices they could make together to build the life that they’d always dreamed of.
