Yet again, I’m taking the ferry over the probably more sensible train back to Boston to catch a flight back to New York. But somehow, it feels like a fitting bookend to this debacle of a trip.

I look out at the breakers at the mouth of the harbor, running the tally inside my head. Let’s see, minus one shitty boyfriend, minus one arguably shittier assistant, I’m being sued for breach of contract by my management company, and I may or may not be needed for questioning in conjunction with a possible armed robbery.

Nice, Ivy. Nice.

I’ve also lost the only man who ever truly had my heart.

Again.

Stella strokes my back as we all stand there on the pier, my parents off to one side as we all wait for the ferry that’ll take me away from here.

“You’ve got Beth’s number, right?”

It’s the fifth time Sierra’s asked if I have her lawyer-friend’s number. I nod.

“It might not be her kind of case, but she’ll know people.”

She means my upcoming fight with my own management company over the whole gala debacle.

I smile at her. “I got it, thanks.”

“Bye-bye?”

Carter tugs on my shirt, and I reach down to snatch him up.

“Yeah, buddy, I’m going bye-bye.”

He pouts.

Yeah, I’m definitely going bye-bye. I think I’ve done quite enough mayhem to my own life in the span one trip to Shelter Harbor. It’s time to head back to New York and see if I can try and put things back together.

And at least there, there’s no family around to get the blowback from any of my self-destructive decisions.

“With the fish man?” Carter says earnestly.

I raise a brow at Stella.

“Translate for me?”

My older sister gives me a wry look as she takes Carter into her own arms. “Eh, it’s nothing.”

She looks away and I furrow my brow.

“What?”

Stella glances at Mom and Dad, who’re still standing apart from us, looking out at the Harbor.

“Silas taught him to catch a fish. He hasn’t stopped talking about it.”

I swallow. “When did he meet Silas?”

“Yesterday, when you were in Boston. I thought he should meet his nephew.” She gives me a guilty look. “Sorry, Ivy, I was just trying to help.”

“I know,” I smile. “Thanks.”

“You sure you want to leave?”

I nod. “I think I’ve had enough Shelter Harbor for a while.”

Sierra makes a face. “How long of a while?”

“Ask me at Christmas.”

“Fish man!”

Sierra laughs, and Stella rolls her eyes.

“Yeah honey, the fish man.”

She gives me a look. “Sorry. He’ll be onto something else next time you see him.”

“Fish man!”

She glances at her son. “Carter, honey-”

“Fish man!”

Carter’s grabbing her arms, pointing over her shoulder.

“Carter, what is-”

But I’m following his little finger as I turn and look down the pier.

And there he is.

He’s running towards us, his face fierce and his eyes grim, looking right at me.

“Silas?” Sierra says incredulously.

Our parents turn, and Dad suddenly scowls as he moves between me and the man running towards me.

“Hold up there, son.”

Silas stops short, sucking in a breath of air before meeting my dad’s eye.

“No, sir.”

Jacob Hammond’s face darkens as he draws his full frame up.

“Excuse me?”

Silas holds his ground.

“I said no, sir. Respectfully.”

“Son, you need to-”

“You’re the only family I’ve ever known,” Silas says, his voice almost breaking like the heart in my chest.

“And this is the only place where I belong. Right here, with the only people who’ve ever felt like home.”

Rowan comes jogging up behind him, puffing as he winks at me.

My dad eyes Silas. “You gave that up when you walked away from it, Silas,” he says gruffly. His face darkens. “When you walked away from my daughter.”

Silas shakes his head. “I’m not that guy anymore, sir,” he says fiercely. “I was a dumb kid, and I screwed up.”

He steps right up to my dad.

“I’m done screwing up, Jacob,” he says firmly. “I’m done being that kid.”

“Silas,” Dad shakes his head, “son you have no idea how much I want to believe you.”

“Then believe me.”

I push past Sierra and Stella.

“What do you want, Silas.”

He turns to me, his eyes locking right on mine.

“I want you to know it’s not too late, not for me, not for us.”

He steps towards me.

“I’m not lost, Ivy,” he says quietly. “Not if I’ve got you.”

I look at him. “Silas, we all know where you just were.”

He shakes his head. “I wasn’t.”

“Silas, I watched you there with Declan, and there was an FBI agent at my parents’ house.”

“I walked.”

He moves towards me, his eyes still locked on mine.

“Declan-” he looks away, his face grim.

“He said he’d hurt you, all of you. I didn’t have a choice.”

“Oh, Silas,” my mother’s voice breaks as she grips my father’s arm.

I stare at Silas. “You walked?”

He nods.

My dad clears his throat. “Looks like you did have a choice then,” he says quietly.

He sizes Silas up before just the faintest hint of a smile comes to his face. “And I think you made the right one.”

“Thank you.”

He takes a breath. “Sir?”

Dad raises a brow as Silas turns to look him right in the eye.

“I’d like to ask for your blessing.”

Dad laughs - a belly-shaking, chest rumbling, actual laugh.

I smile.

“Little late, wouldn’t you say?”

Silas grins. “Never too late to make up for it.”

Dad eyes him.

“I’m not going anywhere.” He turns back to me. “This is the only family I want, and you’re the only one I want.”

And quite suddenly he’s on his knee, right there on the pier.

The world starts to spin a little as I watch in almost slow-motion as his hand slips into his pocket and comes back out.

With my necklace.

“Ivy Hammond?”

Oh what is happening.

“Marry me.”

He looks up at me, his eyes full, his lips slightly parted.

“Again, or, I don’t know, stay married to me.”

I’m speechless for one second, feeling the eyes of my whole family on me.

Another second ticks by as I try and even comprehend what’s happening, and try and slow the thudding of my heart enough to even say the word I’m trying to say.

Sierra sighs loudly behind me. “Oh say yes. We all know you’re going to no matter what anyone says anyways.”

My dad chuckles, and Silas grins.

“Marry me, Ivy,” he says, reaching out and holding my hand. “Stay with me.”

And then the word does manage come out. The only word I’ve ever been able to say to the man kneeling in front of me who was once the boy doing the same thing.

“Yes.”

It comes tumbling out before I’m falling into him, feeling his arms go around me, feeling him spin me around as my mom and my sisters go nuts and Rowan and my dad grin and nod.

Yes.