“Yes, Ashton Storm, I would be more than happy to become your wife.”
“Let’s go home, my love,” he said before kissing her again.
Savvy’s life could truly begin now that she had everything she hadn’t even known she wanted.
Epilogue
The boat swayed gently on the water as lightning flashed in the sky several miles away. The clouds were high and dark, but no rain dared to fall while Joseph and George Anderson and Richard Storm settled back in their deck chairs and enjoyed a nice scotch. A storm over the Pacific gave a good show when it didn’t come too close.
“I have to admit I was worried there for a while,” Joseph said. He wasn’t worried anymore. And he wasn’t talking about the weather.
“I know,” Richard replied with a shake of his head. “I wasn’t so sure that Ashton was going to take the bait, to go over the edge when he thought Savvy had found someone else. But I had to do everything in my power to get those kids back together.”
“We’re only helping them out. It isn’t like we’re doing anything wrong,” George told his brothers.#p#分页标题#e#
“Of course we aren’t doing anything wrong. We haven’t had a miss yet, but those dang kids — none of them appreciate all we do for them, or the amount of time and effort that goes in to making sure they’re happy,” Joseph grumbled.
“Someday they’ll see how much we’ve done for them,” George replied. “Until that happens, whatever will be will be.”
“Well, the best decision I could have ever made was moving to the West Coast,” Richard said. “Not only have I gained two brothers — ones I seem to have known my whole life — but I have a slew of nieces and nephews to boot. And with all the babies popping up around here, we could start up our own town.”
“I like that idea,” Joseph boomed. “It could be Andersonville. Not the first town by that name, but one of the best.”
“With a giant lake called Storm Pond,” Richard said.
“I have to admit I wouldn’t mind getting out of the hustle and bustle of the city,” George told them. “I’ve really enjoyed spending time on these islands the last few years.”
“Yes. The city was great in my working years,” Joseph said, “but now it takes me so dang long to get anywhere in all this traffic.”
“Don’t forget that we have one of my children to go,” Richard told the boys, “and then maybe we can spend a few months a year out in Montana with our good friends there.”
George was clearly fascinated. “Hmm. That doesn’t sound like such a bad idea. I know that our pal Martin Whitman is struggling to get his youngest two sons married off. If those young men are still single by the time Lance is putting a ring on some girl’s finger, we might just have to head out there and give him some more help.”
“There’s nothing that says we can’t do both at the same time,” Richard told them.
“That’s true,” Joseph said. “We’re crafty men, and great at what youngsters call multitasking. I think the goal this year will be to get both Lance and Martin’s boys, Michael and Cam, married off.”
“Ah, I wouldn’t mind another wedding like the one we just had. Savvy looked absolutely breathtaking in her beaded ivory gown. Her blushing cheeks and those eyes so full of love brought tears to my eyes,” said the bride’s father-in-law.
“Yes, and in a couple of months more we get another baby added into the family.” Joseph raised his glass in celebration and triumph.
“How many children does that make now?” George asked after clinking glasses.
Both Joseph and Richard sat back.
“Dang. That might take a minute for me to figure out,” Richard finally said.
“Maybe if we’re losing count,” George replied, “we can say we’ve accomplished our goals.”
Both of his brothers turned to George, and their look was suggestive — was he insane?
“You must be kidding. There could never be enough toddlers running through the halls of our houses. Because someday, you know, they are going to grow up, and then they’ll need to find their own true loves,” Joseph said with a sly smile.
“Your Jasmine sure has come into her own over the years. I can’t believe she’s fifteen years old already,” George said with a sigh.
“Yes, Jasmine will always hold a special place in my heart as my first grandchild,” Joseph told him. “Plus, she’s just as sweet as her mama.”
George now guffawed. “She’s stubborn like her grandfather, you mean.”