Yours to Keep by Claudia Burgoa
Vance Epilogue
After we all read the letters, we realize William’s ultimate plan was to create a big family that would care for the town. He could’ve done things differently, but we all agree that if he hadn't forced us to come together, we would’ve ignored him and the town. We resented each other so much that we needed something to shake us.
We’re still getting to know Herbert and our new siblings. They often visit and help us make decisions about the towns and the businesses. We’re selling The Lodge to Merkel. That should take care of almost everything, except now we own three construction companies and other businesses. Maxwell, Harold, and Brie are interested in helping us, and that’s a great start.
The twelve of us spend Christmas with my family. Darren’s parents visit us on New Year’s Day. Things between them and Dare are still fragile, but they keep working on mending their relationship. By the end of February, Darren and I get married in a simple ceremony by the lake officiated by Pierce.
A week later, I’m in Luna Harbor, helping with the opening of Beacon’s bar when Leyla gives us the news she’s pregnant. I’m happy for them and happy that they live in their own house so we don’t have to deal with newborn babies. Sophia and Henry plan to have another kid, maybe two. Next May, Blaire is going to give birth to another boy.
“You should move here,” Beacon says.
“Are you making this your permanent home?”
He shakes his head. “Nah, I’m just helping Manelik. It’s not just about his grandfather but the town. It’s almost a ghost town. We have to bring new life to it. They want to consult with Henry to see what he’s done to put Baker’s Creek on the map.”
“We can visit you often. It’s not far,” Dare offers. “We can’t move. The hospital is opening next month, and I’m going to be busy.”
“How’s life here?” I ask.
“It’s different. Grace is going to start touring. I’m going to visit her often,” he answers. “The Organization keeps me busy with the consulting nonsense. Mason mentioned something about having us undercover as brothers. Has he talked to you about it?”
I shake my head. “No, but I’m not going to be babysitting your ass.”
“You’ll do it because you miss me.”
“I do,” I agree. “You need to go home more often.”
“I’ll try, okay.”
“You have to. A new show called Brie is trying to take all the clients away from Easton Rodin,” I say. “It’s fun to watch them fight.”
“If you ask me, they have a thing for each other,” Dare says. I glare at him and respond, “My sister is off-limits.”
Beacon shakes his head. “We’re becoming those kinds of brothers. Let me go and check on the sound system. We’re about to go on stage.”
Dare wiggles his eyebrows. “Let’s go to the inn. I heard the beds are old and squeaky. We should try them.”
“We can’t leave until Beacon’s band is done playing,” I remind him. “But I promise to make it good. Really good.”
He hugs my waist and whispers, “Where have you been all my life?”
“Lost, waiting for you to find me.”
“Can I keep you?”
“Always, babe. I’m yours to keep.”
