Epilogue

Suzie stood outside, waiting for her mom to arrive at Kit’s house in Bear Creek. She was nervous. Both for herself and for her mom, knowing this was outside of her comfort zone.

When Suzie had broken the news to her mom about her relationship with Kit, her mom had tried to hide any fears she might have had over her future alone. Instead, her mom had told Suzie how happy she was for her, and she was. Suzie had no doubt that her mom was relieved Suzie had found a man who promised to stay with her forever.

But they both realized it was the end of their lives as they knew it. Their close, special relationship wasn’t over, but it was going to change in a big way. This was more apparent when Suzie began to spend more nights with Kit than at home with her mom. Eventually, it was her mom who broached the subject of Suzie moving in with Kit.

And living with Kit was everything and more than Suzie could ever wish for. They had set a date for their wedding, with Suzie insisting on waiting until the spring, for when the weather was better, and the questions of a whirlwind romance would not be asked. Not that Suzie was worried about those kind of questions, but it would perhaps draw attention to her mom, which she might struggle to cope with.

Breaking out of her thoughts surrounding the wedding, Suzie looked up as the sound of a car coming up the driveway to Kit’s house reached her. Her mom was here.

Stepping off the porch, Suzie went to meet her. “You found us OK.”

Her mom got out of the car, and put a smile on her face, but Suzie didn’t miss the way her eyes slid across to the other cars parked in front of the house. “I did.”

“Don’t worry,” Suzie said, going to her mom and taking hold of her hand. “It’s only Kit’s mom and dad.”

“Oh.” Her mom took a deep breath.

“It’s OK, they are lovely.” Suzie hugged her mom tightly. “You can do this, I won’t leave your side.”

Her mom nodded and took Suzie’s hand. “Let’s get it over with.”

“You look as if you are going to a funeral,” Suzie said gently. “This is supposed to be a celebration.”

“Sorry.” Her mom fiddled with her purse.

“Don’t be.” Suzie hugged her mom again, wanting to reassure her. “You look beautiful.”

“You are biased,” her mom said.

“I’m not. You are beautiful inside and out to me you know that.” Suzie kissed her cheek, wishing she could show her mom how lovely she was.

They walked toward the house together. The snow was long gone, but the wind whipped at the trees, and a squall was forecasted for later. The weather was one of the things Suzie loved the most living here, it was dynamic and changeable, and made her feel alive.

As they reached the porch, her mom turned to look out across the valley below. “It’s beautiful here, I can see why you like it so much.”

“You know, there is plenty of room for you to live here too,” Suzie offered, not for the first time.

“I don’t want to intrude on you and Kit. I want you two to be happy.”

“You will always be welcome.” Suzie put away the sadness in her heart. It felt as if she was having to choose between Kit and her mom, and her heart fractured a little bit more each time she saw her mom.

“I know.” Her mom paused. Suzie could feel the slight tug in her hand as if her mom wanted to turn and bolt from there.

That was not going to happen, and Suzie entered the house, pulling her mom with her. “Give them a chance.”

“Hello,” Kit was waiting at the sitting room door, and kissed her mom on both cheeks. “It’s good to see you again, Elizabeth.”

“Hello, Kit.” The smile on her mom’s face looked genuine. But then Suzie had yet to meet anyone who was not won over by Kit’s warmth and kindness.

“Can I introduce you to my parents?” Kit asked, taking Elizabeth’s hand and leading her into the sitting room.

“Sure.” Elizabeth followed, with Suzie behind them.

“This is my mom, Karen, and my dad, Scott.” Kit smiled broadly.

“Hello, Elizabeth, we’ve been dying to meet you.” Karen hugged Elizabeth, who went rigid, but then relaxed as Karen pulled away and went on. “You must be so proud of Suzie. And we cannot tell you how much we love her already. We were always worried Kit was going to be married to his job and fill his house with foster kids.”

“Not that we mind the foster kids,” Scott said, shaking Elizabeth’s hand. “But we would like a grandchild of our own, and since our other two boys haven’t settled down either, it’s good to know we have one wedding to look forward to.”

Elizabeth’s expression faltered. “Yes, the wedding.”

Suzie knew her mom was terrified at the thought of being around so many people, and there was no escaping the notion of them having a big wedding. Most of the people in Bear Creek, and Bear Bluff, were going to be invited.

“It’s a long way off,” Karen said. “I am more interested in hearing about your garden. Suzie tells me how much you love it.”

“I do. So very much.” Elizabeth smiled again.

“Which leads me to the favor I wanted to ask,” Karen said.

“A favor?” Elizabeth’s voice wavered.

“I hope you don’t mind. But we have this huge garden. When the boys were younger they pretty much wrecked it every year, all that rough and tumble, so I never had a nice garden. Would you help me make it beautiful? It’s just a patch of dirt right now, I’ve never had the time to redesign it since the boys left. We hoped to have the wedding there, and it needs some serious TLC.”

“I don’t know if I’m qualified,” Elizabeth said.

“Nonsense, Mom,” Suzie said. “You have the greenest fingers out of anyone I know.”

Karen hooked her arm through Elizabeth’s. “I don’t need anything fancy. I want it to be made with love. And I can see how much you love Suzie. Will you, please?”

Elizabeth blushed and glanced at Suzie. “I’ll do my best.”

“That’s all I need,” Karen said. “Now, I hope you don’t mind, but I’m so excited, I brought along a plan of the garden and some magazines. Oh, am I boring you?”

“No,” Elizabeth said. “Not at all.”

Karen winked at Kit. “Maybe you two can get us some coffee?”

“Sure thing,” Kit said as the two moms and Scott sat down to looked at flowers and shrubs.

Suzie smiled at him with some relief, and they went to the kitchen to make coffee. “That went better than I ever dreamed.”

“My mom is very persuasive, it comes from having three boys. You have to press their buttons in just the right order. Brute force never works.”

“I will have to take lessons,” Suzie said.

Kit pulled her into his arms. “I am already yours to command.”

“Kiss me.”

“I live to obey.” Kit dropped his head and captured her lips, his tongue slipping inside her mouth as he tasted her. Emotions welled up inside her and threatened to burst out. She wanted Kit with every fiber of her being. She always did.

When at last he broke the kiss, she was left breathless, her body flushed, and she wanted to beg for more. But the sound of her mom talking brought her back to the present. Poking her head around the door, she watched as Elizabeth pointed to pictures and spoke with confidence to Kit’s parents, and a swell of pride coursed through her.

“Do you really think it will work?” Suzie asked Kit quietly.

“Dean’s advice is never far wrong. He thinks if she creates the place we are going to get married in, she will have the confidence to be surrounded by people. People who will no longer be strangers, since my mom intends to rope most of Bear Creek into helping.”

“I can’t tell you how much it means to me,” Suzie said, her voice choked with emotion.

“It means a lot to me too,” Kit replied. “And to my parents. You and your mom are part of our family now. And we aim to never let you go.”

“Is that a promise?” Suzie asked.

“Most definitely.” Kit kissed her once more.

***

Have you read Cowboy Brother Bears?