The night was unusually cool for late June. Even for Northern California. It made the heat from the grill a pleasant sensation. I marveled at my life. I would’ve never predicted spending so much time in Lavender Shores, much less actually enjoying it. But I was. I avoided the people I needed to, but it felt good to be really part of my family again. I hadn’t been the best uncle, only visiting a few times a year, not the best twin, not the best best-friend.

Walden had not only brought love to my life, in many ways, he’d given me back my family. My heritage.

Donovan appeared beside the grill, tapping his beer bottle on the open lid. “If you had told me that one day I’d be watching you grill in your boyfriend’s backyard….” He just shook his head.

I grinned at him. “What? You’d have charged me more all these years?”

“Definitely.” He laughed. “Speaking of, we still on for tomorrow?”

It had been a couple of months since our last session. They were growing further and further apart, which was good. I didn’t see a time where I wouldn’t need them occasionally, but it was amazing to not feel in constant need. And Donovan was slowly slipping more and more into a friend role than therapist. I narrowed my eyes at him. “I don’t know, Doc. You seem a little off tonight. Maybe you should book an appointment with me tomorrow.”

His smile was kind but obviously forced. “We’re not crossing that boundary. My problems get talked through with my therapist, not my clients. Even if I am at their barbeque. Walden insisted I come, even if I’m not officially part of the tribe.”

My mother’s appearance helped me avoid that landmine. “I’ve never seen a red grill before. I just love it! I wonder if they make one in purple, well, lavender. I’d get one for your father for his birthday.”

A squeal of laughter caught our attention, and we all looked over.

Just on the other side of the bridge, Walden threw Olive up over his head and caught her, causing another giggle. Both of my nephews waded in the stream, though how they could handle the cold, I couldn’t guess.

My throat clenched as I looked around. Walden’s backyard and his garden was filled with every person who mattered to me. My entire family and all the Kellys. I couldn’t see Andrew and Joel, but I had a suspicion they’d wandered the path to a secluded spot to make out. They were still sickeningly sweet together. At least Walden and I kept that stuff private. Well, except for when we made a trip to the steam room, or the showers, or on the bank of Lake Tahoe.

“You okay, darling?”

Mom brought my attention back to her and Donovan. “Yeah. Just… happy.” For some reason, admitting that was embarrassing. I suppose after all those years of being miserable, I hadn’t quite gotten used to being seen any other way. I flipped one of the burgers, drawing the attention away from me. “There was a nicer grill, but this was the only one in red. It just seemed perfect, considering those ridiculous glasses Walden wears every now and then.”

Mom smiled, not deceived. Nor was Donovan, but neither called attention to it. Thankfully.

Donovan took another sip of beer and leveled a gaze at me. “I’m assuming there’s an announcement in a bit, since you gathered all of us up at once. You two adopting or something?”

Mom must not have noticed his smirk, because she let out a squeal that rivaled Olive’s. “Really! More grandbabies!”

“No, Mom.” I dropped the spatula in my effort to grab her arm. “Don’t even say that out loud.”

Disappointment cut across her face. “Are you sure?”

“Oh my God, completely.” I pointed to Lacy, who was crossing the bridge to join Walden playing with the kids. “Talk to my twin about that. No babies from me. Ever.”

She wasn’t distracted. “Then you’re moving back full time?”

“No.” I sighed. “I’m back often enough that I started renting my cabin by the week at times. Let’s count our blessings, okay?”

She glowered.

I scooped up the spatula from the ground, gave a matching look to Donovan, and handed it to him. “This was your fault. Go wash it up.”

He plucked the spatula out of my hands. “We’ll talk about this attitude problem tomorrow, and I’m charging double.” With a wink, he sauntered away.

“I wasn’t trying to complain, dear. I’m so happy to have you back more often. I’d given up hoping that would ever happen.” Mom slipped her hand into mine and leaned her head against my shoulder as she joined me in looking out at our family. “And I love Walden. He’s… he’s just lovely.”

“Yeah, he really is, isn’t he?”

“So….” Her tone grew cautious. “There is some sort of news, isn’t there? This isn’t just to show off the new grill.”

“No, we just wanted to get everyone together. Not everyone had seen Walden’s garden; it’s not to be missed.”

“Hayley and her family were the only ones who hadn’t seen it.”

“Well, they shouldn’t have to miss it just because they were at Disney World last time.” Even I wasn’t buying my excuse. But thankfully, Mom let it go.

Burgers had been eaten, the sun had fallen, and the lights were glowing. Soon it would be time to serve mom’s pies, but Walden and I had managed to sneak off to the lamppost. Clearly everyone knew where we were but left us alone, probably assuming we were taking a page out of Andrew and Joel’s playbook and having a make-out session.

Walden chewed on his lip. “Are you sure you’re ready to tell them?”

For some reason, I wasn’t. Just like it felt strange to let them see me happy, it was oddly exposing to let them in more. That was what I planned on talking to Donovan about the following afternoon. “I think we’re risking getting killed the way it is. If we wait any longer, I’d say my mother would murder us for sure.”

Walden chuckled. “Maybe. Although, I’m guessing Lacy or Andrew might beat her to it.”

“Yeah. You’re probably right.” I searched his eyes in the dim light, trying to find doubt or regret. “What about you? You sure you’re ready?”

“Oh yes. Completely.” Nope. No doubt. No regret. In his eyes or in his tone.

“I’m sorry your parents wouldn’t come.”

He shrugged, and there wasn’t even a glimmer of sadness. Walden was better at just accepting what was than me. “I’m happy, babe. More than I ever dreamed. I don’t want anyone here who wouldn’t be just as happy for us.”

I kissed him. Under the strings of lights overhead, amid the night sounds around us and the chatter and laughter of my family just a few yards away. “I love you, Walden Thompson-Bryant.”

He smiled, such a beautiful, content smile. “And I love you, Gilbert Thompson-Bryant.” He shook his head. “Wow. That’s really something.”

“It really is, huh?” So strange. And wonderful. “Mom and Donovan both suspect something is up.”

He shrugged. “I’m sure everyone does. What’d you tell them?”

“That I really, really love raspberry preserves.”

He gasped. “You did not. You can’t tell them that.”

“I don’t know why you’re embarrassed by that.” I took his hand, running my fingers across his knuckles.

“You deserved better. I thought it was perfect at the time. But really? I proposed to you over breakfast. Talk about lame. And by putting the rings on top of the jar of raspberry preserves?” Walden shook his head. “I should’ve done it at the lake at least or here. I should’ve done it here.”

“No, you said that was when you fell in love with me. Over burnt breakfast and raspberry preserves.”

“Well, I should’ve lied. Or fallen in love with you somewhere better.”

“I think it’s perfect.” I let go of his hand and reached into my back pocket. “Speaking of, here you go.” I held out a silver envelope.

He took it, glancing at me questioningly. “What’s this?”

I shrugged. “The bill for the new grill. You didn’t think that was a present, did you?”

He laughed. “Shut up.” Without waiting he ripped open the envelope and held up the paper rectangle to the light. He sucked in a breath, then flipped the pages back and forth, reading them again. “We’re going to London?”

I nodded. “You proposed. I figured the least I could do was plan the honeymoon.”

His eyes were wide, huge. “But London? I’ve never even been out of the country.”

“Well, to be honest, I do have to spend a few hours working. I have a new client. I figured I wouldn’t mind meeting her face-to-face. And it was a perfect location for a honeymoon.”

He studied the tickets again, then flinched and looked at me suddenly. “A client? In England? As in… the queen?”

I chuckled and shook my head. “God, you’re adorable. No. Not the queen. I don’t think my skills are surpassing the royal jewels yet.” I patted his leg. “No. Victoria Beckham.”

“Oh, that’s really….” His eyes widened even further, and his words were barely a whisper. “Does that mean we get to meet David Beckham?”

“Seriously? I give you tickets to London for our honeymoon, and you’re thinking about another man?”

Walden actually blushed and looked ashamed. “Good point. Sorry.”

“I’m just teasing you. I know I’m hotter than David Beckham, come on.” I winked and kissed his cheek. “And, no, we won’t meet David. I already checked. He’ll be out of the country. Do you really think I’d ever introduce you to someone that looked like him? Did you somehow get the impression I wanted to lose you to another man?”

“As if you could.” He kissed me, gently rubbing his thumb over my jaw, then pulled back and met my eyes. “Thank you. For everything.”

“No, sweetheart. Thank you. You’ve made my life wonderful again.” I gave an exaggerated shudder. “All right, before I gag on all the sweetness, I might as well get it over with all at once.” I dug into my pocket and pulled out a small box. Walden had used cheap rings to propose but asked me to design rings for us. I stood up. “Come over to the light so you can see.”

Walden let out a shaky breath. “You told me this morning they weren’t ready.”

“I know. I wanted to give them to you here, in your garden.”

“Oh. I’m glad you did.” He sniffled, already close to tears. “I don’t know why I’m nervous. It’s not like I didn’t know they were coming sometime.”

“You’re nervous? I’m the one who hopefully didn’t fuck this up.”

“You designed them. There’s no way you fucked them up.” He took the box from my hand, opened it, removed the rings and held them up to the light. He sighed, glanced at me, then looked back at the rings. Then sighed again. A good sign. “They’re gorgeous. I like that you went simple.”

“I thought it fit us.” I’d crafted a wide silver band. I pointed to the narrow ring of rose gold that cut through the top third portion. “That color kinda reminded me of raspberry preserves?”

He choked out a laugh, but I could tell he was close to tears. “Really?”

“Yeah, really. You falling in love with me is the most astounding thing in my life, and if it was over raspberry preserves, then I wanted that represented in what binds us together.” I cleared my throat. I was not going to cry. “Then I pounded it. One, I think it’s just prettier that way, but I also wanted to remind you that I love you the way you love me. With all your dents and bruises and blemishes. It makes you more beautiful. It makes you able to love me.” I wiped the back of my hand over my eyes. “They okay?”

He nodded, nearly frantically, unable to speak. He grabbed my hand, chose the smaller one and slid it over my finger. He sniffled loudly and managed to croak, “I will always choose you.”

I plucked up the matching larger ring and put it on his finger, having to press a little harder to get it over his knuckle. “And I will choose you, always.”

Then we kissed, his arms around my neck, me pressing against the small of his back to get him closer to me, so I could feel every firm curve of his body. I hadn’t been looking for anyone like Walden. Hell, I hadn’t wanted anyone at all. But now that he was there, I wasn’t going to let one day go by where he didn’t know exactly how perfect for me he was.

Finally, Walden broke the kiss, wiped his eyes, cleared his throat, and slipped his hand into mine again. “You ready to tell them we eloped in San Francisco this morning?”

I wasn’t sure that I was, but I nodded. “Yeah. Who do you think will scream louder? Mom or Andrew’s dad?”

Walden laughed. “Oh, no doubt. Andrew’s dad. No doubt.”

With that, we stood, and walked down the path, out of the garden and headed toward the bridge to break the news to my family.

To our family.