Carter looked at his uncle. He was frowning but didn't say anything.
"I don’t know. I think we just started spiraling in this negative feedback loop. And it’s not your fault," he said. "I never should have let it happen. I don’t want us to be like the Burbanks with the way they pick at Finn. I don’t want that for us. I am really proud of the man you’ve become, Carter. I understand if you still feel you want to go, but I’d like you to stay."
Carter looked down at his feet. "There’s nothing for me here."
"Not even Allie?" Kate asked.
Nancy looked meaningfully at Jack.
"Of course I approve of your relationship with her," Jack said hastily. "She is very much welcome here."
"Of course she is," Walter snorted. "This is my house."
"She's not coming back. There is no relationship. She doesn't care about me that much."
"Did you explain that it was Jack’s fault?" Grant said.
Carter nodded. "I asked her to marry me, and she said no."
"Well, that's a big step," Grant said with a chuckle. "Maybe you could make a smaller ask."
"Like what?"
Walter smiled. "I think I have the perfect idea."
A couple of weeks later, the Holbrooks gathered at Carter's parents' house to look at the newly finished restoration.
Carter had been working remotely, but he and Allie had been texting. He tried to send her several funny pictures of Margot throughout the day.
"I cannot believe this renovation is finally finished," Nancy said after greeting Kate, Grant, and Allie when they arrived.
"It looks great!" Allie told her.
While everyone helped themselves to pre-dinner drinks, Carter cornered Allie.
"How are you?" she asked him.
He smiled at her and kissed her. "Better now that you're here."
He cleared his throat and announced to the room, "Now that we're all here, I just want to say something."
He got down on one knee.
"I already told you no," Allie said, sounding exasperated.
"You don’t even know what I’m going to ask," he said and whipped out a printed photo of the luxury condo his uncle had just purchased.
"Allie, will you do me the honor…of moving in with me?"
She laughed and nodded.
"It's two thousand square feet, killer views, private elevator, lobby entrance," he said. "And we can fully renovate it how we see fit. Unlimited budget."
Water waved his hand.
"Sort of unlimited."
Allie was grinning from ear to ear as she looked at the pictures of the condo.
