Ben

Stella Martinez’s funeral is poorly attended, but it’s raining heavily outside, which seems fitting.

Logan and I are the only two who stick around to witness her burial. The priest shakes our hand when it’s over and then walks off.

“This is so sad,” Logan sniffs. I look over and realize there are tears running down that beautiful face.

“Why are you upset?” I move the umbrella so it covers her fully. “You didn’t even know her.”

“She’s a human being who died tragically, Ben. Am I supposed to be happy about that?”

I keep quiet because I am.

Stella was a complication that worked itself out, but something tells me if I share that opinion with Logan, I’ll be in the doghouse for at least a year. Which would suck since I haven’t been officially invited into her heart to get thrown out yet.

“Poor Reece. She’ll never have a chance to meet her real mother.”

“You plan on telling her about this?” I ask.

“When she’s older. Maybe in her twenties. Or forties.”

“So more like never?”

Logan elbows me in the side.

I wrap my arms around her shoulders and pull her to me. She doesn’t complain and even snuggles nearer. Though I’m no closer to getting Logan to admit how she feels about me, I’ll take all the crumbs I can get.

“Since we’re here, should we visit Harry’s grave?” Logan asks.

“If you want to.”

We change directions and slog through the mud to Harry’s grave. The flowers Reece left on her birthday two weeks ago are dying on the tombstone.

Logan frowns. “I should have brought flowers or something.”

“He’d probably appreciate having you here more than having the flowers.”

“I guess.” She walks forward and touches the head of the stone. “Do you think he can hear us?”

I shrug. “Not sure. Why? Do you have something to say?”

“Yeah.” A tear courses down her cheek. “I never got to tell him thanks for… being my family. And allowing me to take care of Reece. I really—” She sobs. “I appreciated that. More than he’ll ever know.”

I soothe her shoulder, moved by her words. It feels like Logan’s finally getting her closure.

I nod to my brother’s grave. “Hey, Harry. I wanted to say thanks too. For calling me to Belize. Allowing me to meet Reece and this stunning woman that you were too stupid to snatch up.”

Logan gives a snort that’s part laugh and part cry. “Ben!”

“I’m talking to my brother here.” I face Harry’s tombstone again, growing serious. “I miss you everyday, bro. And I’m trying my best to honor the things you did—family, integrity,” I meet Logan’s gaze, “and love.”

She smiles slightly and hugs me.

I squeeze her tight. “You will never be forgotten.”

“You will never be forgotten,” Logan whispers.

We stand in the rush of the Belizean storm, the scent of the rain and damp earth filling the air. It feels like a new beginning.

And in a sense, it is.

When we go back home, something inside me is calm. Quiet. Like I’ve finally found myself, where I belong and I don’t need to run around chasing temporary things to find it.

Not that everything is perfect. Ha! Not by a long shot.

Life with a kid is always chaotic, but Reece is mature beyond her years, and I love taking care of her—even if her rare but intense tantrums drive me crazy.

Dad’s still, well, Dad. His respect for the path that I chose is subtle, but the pride is evident in his voice whenever he calls once a week to check up on Reece and ask how I’m doing.

I think he expected me to flake a year in and is pleasantly surprised that I’m still working at Sara and Hilton’s and our online launch is doing spectacularly.

And Logan? Logan is making me work for it, but I finally got her to admit that she might like me. Just a little bit. That’s enough for now. I’m planning on turning that ‘little bit’ into a ‘whole lot’ in the near future.

And who knows? That future might be here sooner than you think.