Epilogue
SAMANTHA
It’s been two months since I met Weston. Two months since I managed to fix the life that I was certain was falling apart. Two months since I rediscovered the meaning of happiness.
Now, we’re taking our first trip away together. Eric and Madeline are coming too. We’re heading to the Hamptons to meet Weston’s parents. Usually, he waits until Christmas to visit, but I’ve persuaded him to attend his father’s sixty-fourth birthday party. I think it will be good for him to see his parents more often. Plus, all of his siblings will be there. After so much time avoiding contact with the people that matter most to him, I know it’s time for a change.
Weston is nervous about the trip but understands that it’s not right to avoid people who care about him the most. Eric too deserves to have a closer relationship with his grandparents. Besides, the moment Weston mentioned me to them, they insisted that we all attend the party weekend. Eric’s excited, mostly because he’s taking a day out from school to go on this trip. Madeline is excited to be reunited with Weston’s mother, Margaret, after years apart. I’m excited, though quite nervous, to be officially introduced to the family. And Weston is excited to meet my family as well.
My phone buzzes. It’s a text from Ashley.
Are you ready to meet the parents?
I chuckle to myself, typing back quickly.
More ready than Weston is, I think.
Oh dear. That bad?
That bad.
Well, if it all goes well, come back to New Jersey. I miss you so much!!
I sigh, a tinge of sadness nudging at me. I do miss her, sometimes. I’ve only been back once since I moved to the ranch, and it was mostly because Ashley wanted a girl’s night out. But I feel like I belong here now. I love waking up each morning to views of the mountains and the shimmering lake. I love being beside Weston when he’s still asleep and reading my book, or waking to him stroking my hair gently. I love playing with Eric, taking the horses out with him from time to time, or cooking with Madeline in the kitchen and gossiping about our neighbors, most of whom I have met now. It’s a far cry from my life in New Jersey, but that’s not a bad thing at all. Weston was wrong about me - I’m a country girl through and through.
He pops his head around the door of our bedroom, finding me texting Ashley. He tries for a smile, but I can tell he’s flustered about the trip. “You ready?” he asks.
“Ready when you are, babe.”
“So never?”
I slip my phone into my pocket, moving to put my arms around Weston. I kiss his cheek. “Don’t worry so much. You’re overthinking this. The moment you see them all, everything will fall together. I promise.”
Weston chuckles. “I’m supposed to be comforting you about this, not the other way around.”
“It’s alright. It turns out I’m a tough cookie. And I’m super good with parents.” I bat my eyelashes at Weston dramatically. “How will they be able to resist this?”
Weston rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling. “You definitely don’t need to pull any tricks to impress my parents. They’re going to adore you. And Georgia will be stuck to you like glue. One mention of Broadway shows, and she’ll be your new best friend.”
“Better not let Ashley hear you saying that,” I warn him, only half joking. She takes a lot of pride in being my oldest friend. She made sure to mention that at least five times when she came to visit me here. She’s so clingy that she was practically competing with Weston for my affections.
“My mistake. I’ll keep it on the down low.” Weston cups my cheek. “Hey, listen...thanks for being so patient with me these past few days. I know I’ve been acting a bit crazy about visiting my parents. You’ve been great putting up with me.”
I stand on my tip-toes to kiss his lips. “Through thick and thin,” I remind him. His eyes soften.
“You’re something else, Samantha Asher.”
We head out to the car. Madeline is fussing around, getting Eric into his seat. She gives Weston a sympathetic look, patting his cheek.
“You alright?”
Weston nods. “I’m okay. Let’s go!”
Our disjointed little family gets settled in the car and we set off for Weston’s private jet together, ready for our next big adventure.
***
I manage to sleep a little in the taxi from the airport to Weston’s parents’ house. The plane journey was tiring. Everything was so fancy on board that I didn’t want to miss a thing. While Eric snoozed, I played an epic game of poker with Weston and Madeline. It was a crazy experience, especially realizing that Weston’s wealth really does extend further than the ranch. Of course, I’ve been aware of his riches since the beginning, but flying on a private jet really puts things into perspective. We drank enough champagne to put me in a happy sleepy mood and practically knock me out for the drive to East Hampton.
When I wake from my nap, we’ve nearly arrived. We cruise along the coastline, where the golden beaches have me dreaming of summer. We pass plenty of golf courses, and Weston quietly points out to me his father’s favorite golfing club. There’s a whole row of seafood restaurants too, and they let off a pungent, but not unpleasant aroma. It’s the kind of place I can imagine retiring, with beautiful vistas and plenty of activities to do in and around the area. I guess that’s why Weston’s parents chose to move here.
We slow down as we drive along the coast. There are huge houses here, all complete with pools and large garden areas. I asked Weston not to show me any pictures of his parents’ house - I wanted it to be a surprise. But nothing could’ve prepared me for the moment we arrive at the house. Or I should say mansion. It’s made of golden brick with large windows, revealing expensive furniture and chandeliers inside. The guests won’t arrive for the party until tomorrow, but I can see a large gathering in one of the downstairs rooms, with people in designer clothes milling around with flutes of champagne. I feel nerves settling in for the first time as the taxi comes to a stop. Now, I’m certain we’re in the right place. I look at Weston in astonishment and he laughs.
“I know it’s a bit daunting...but my family is pretty good. Don’t worry. They’re going to love you.”
“I hope so,” I mutter as I clamber out of the car. Eric bounds out after me and takes my hand, smiling sweetly at me.
“Let’s go!” he says enthusiastically. Somehow, with Eric leading the way, I feel much more confident. He knocks on the door - using a large, lion shaped knocker - and waits. Moments later, a handsome man with dark graying hair answers the door. He grins at us.
“Get over here!” he booms to Eric, who immediately drops my hand and leaps into his grandpa’s arms. Oscar Redwood laughs heartily, scattering kisses over Eric’s face affectionately. He holds Eric up with one arm and extends his free hands to me.
“And you must be the lovely Samantha.”
“Pleased to meet you,” I say, taking his hand and shaking it. Weston appears at my side and Oscar turns his grin to Weston.
“Good to see you, son,” he says, shaking Weston’s hand. “I’d hug you, but I’ve got my hands full with this little tyke.”
Oscar starts tickling Eric who wriggles and writhes loudly, secretly enjoying all the attention. After a moment, Oscar sets Eric down and ushers him inside. Then, he hugs his son.
“I’m so glad you came,” Oscar says more seriously. “Come inside! Samantha, I’m sorry for how loud it is in here...Georgia and the boys have been drinking for hours.”
Weston threads his fingers through mine as we head inside. It is definitely loud as we head through the hallway to the living area. Three people catch my eye immediately - a young man sitting at the grand piano with a pained expression, and a young woman who is arm wrestling an older man, their elbows rested atop the piano. Weston shakes his head affectionately as we approach the room.
“That’s Georgia and Aiden fighting...then the second eldest of us, Brandon.”
Brandon hears us approaching and looks up with a smile. He straightens his suit jacket and then walks over while the other two continue their battle. He leans in and kisses my cheek politely.
“Hi, Samantha. I’m sorry, you seem to have arrived at a bad time. My siblings can be pretty rowdy after a few drinks,” he says, sounding disapproving despite the fact he’s clearly had a few drinks himself. He smells strongly of whiskey and he’s adopted the same dopey expression that Weston often wears after a drink.
“Stop being rude and come and say hello!” Oscar orders the fighting pair with a hint of amusement in his tone. Georgia finishes the arm wrestle with a flourish as she slams Aiden’s hand against the piano, walking away with a swagger.
“I could’ve done that five minutes ago if I’d wanted, just so that you know,” she calls over her shoulder to her brother, who is clearly busy licking his wounds. Then she turns to me with a huge grin and throws her arms around me.
“Sammy!” she says, coming up with a nickname before we’ve even spoken to one another. She steps back and looks me up and down, chewing her lip with a smirk. She’s maybe five years younger than me. “So you’re the girl Weston won’t stop talking about…”
“Play nice,” Weston says, ruffling his sister’s blonde waves affectionately. It’s only now that I realize how different she looks from her siblings. While the men are dark and handsome, she’s striking and aggressively beautiful, filled with a kind of energy that I wish I could possess. Still, she may look different, but she fits right in. The entire Redwood family is clearly devastatingly beautiful.
“Samantha, dear!”
I turn to see Weston’s mother, Margaret, approaching me with her arm wrapped around Madeline and a glass of champagne in her other hand. I smile, though I’m feeling a little overwhelmed by this family. There’s so many of them, and they’re all so headstrong. But Margaret seems to sense my nerves and untangles herself from Madeline, taking my hand gently.
“You must be so crowded right now. Why not come to my library? Madeline and I were planning to go up there for some wine and quiet time...just us girls. What do you think?”
The idea is certainly less daunting than staying here. I look to Weston for approval and he smiles gently.
“I think that’s a great idea,” I say. Georgia pouts her lip like a child.
“What about me? Am I not one of the ladies?”
Margaret scowls at her. “You can come with us...when you learn not to arm wrestle at dinner parties.”
Georgia scowls and the men laugh, but Margaret winks at Georgia to let her know she’s joking. Then, Margaret pulls me from the room and I head upstairs with her, Madeline and Georgia.
Georgia is chatting Madeline’s ear off about her latest endeavors in theatre, but I’m barely listening. I’m too preoccupied with looking at the decor. This house is a far cry from the ranch, and it’s bigger and grander than I ever could have imagined. It’s so beautiful that it makes me want to live somewhere like this. On a teacher’s salary, I guess that’s not likely any time soon, but I guess it’s something to work towards.
Margaret shows me down the landing to a large room filled with oak bookcases and red leather chairs. Unlike the rest of the house, it’s quite dark in here, but also more private without the large windows. Margaret smiles, seemingly able to read my mind.
“I thought you’d be more comfortable in here, out of all of the hustle and bustle,” she says kindly, offering me a seat. I take one, as does Madeline. Georgia doesn’t bother, exploring the room with a bored expression on her face. I get the feeling that she’s not easily impressed and that she struggles to channel all of the energy she possesses. While Margaret takes a seat opposite me, Georgia makes herself busy pouring us all drinks and handing them out. I thank Georgia, but I keep my eyes on Margaret. She’s scrutinizing me as she sips her champagne.
“You’re just as lovely as Weston says you are,” Margaret says. “And I’ve had shining reports from Madeline, too. I trust her word above anyone’s. You’ve certainly made an impression, young lady.”
I feel my cheeks heating up. “Thank you. That’s so kind of you.”
Madeline smiles at me encouragingly. “Margaret has long been a friend of mine. I’ve been talking about you since the day you first showed up. I just had this feeling about you...I knew you were going to be the one to mend Weston’s heart.”
I feel tears well up in my eyes. Margaret leans forwards.
“She’s right. He’s been miserable these past few years. He’s been avoiding us all ever since the accident. He wouldn’t admit that he was hurting, wouldn’t admit how much Cheryl’s death had destroyed him. But you...you listened to him, which is more than we could do for him.”
“They’re right,” Georgia says, leaning against one of the bookcases with a glass of wine in her hand. “You’ve brought my brother back. We can’t thank you enough.”
I sniff. “You all played a part. I’m just sorry it’s taken him so long to come back. He talks about you all the time, but he’s found the idea of returning here hard. He was so nervous of coming today.”
“We know,” Margaret admits. “That’s partially why I thought we better come upstairs for a while. Give him a bit of time to settle back in, without us all suffocating him.”
“In a family like this it gets pretty crowded,” Georgia says. “We all need our space sometimes. We didn’t blame him for staying away. I mean, we wish he hadn’t, but it’s not our place to tell him how to react to it all.”
“I know this is hard to hear, knowing you’ve stepped into Cheryl’s place,” Margaret says gently. “But we hope you know how welcome you are in this family. You’ve already proved your worth, and we couldn’t have chosen anyone better for him.”
I try for a smile, swallowing back tears. “That’s...that’s really lovely. I know how much Cheryl meant to him, and I would never expect to replace her. There are some things that just can never be. But I’m proud to be a part of his life. And I’m really happy he brought me to meet you all.”
Georgia comes over and sits on the arm of my chair, nudging my arm. “I was sold the second he said you’re into theatre,” she says, clearly trying to lighten the mood a little. “And a primary school teacher? Adorable.”
“Well, I’m out of work at the minute...but I’m starting up at Eric’s school after the Christmas holidays! There’s a woman going on maternity leave, so I’ll be able to work there until I find something a little more permanent.”
“Well, money is of no issue,” Margaret says, sipping from her flute. “You needn’t force yourself to have a job. You can take your time. We’ll fund you up until then.”
“With all due respect, I would never wish to take anyone else’s money,” I say calmly. “It’s a kind offer, but I love my work. I would never want to give it up. At least not for a long time. I’m looking forward to going back to a job I adore.”
“I like that a lot,” Georgia says, knocking back her glass of wine. “A career girl like me, eh, Mom?”
Margaret smiles at her daughter. “Damn right. Both of you should be very proud of yourselves.” Margaret raises her glass to us. “Cheers. To family and success!”
“I’ll drink to that,” Madeline says. We all raise our glasses. We’re toasting to family, but I’m toasting to happiness. I’m toasting to Weston. And I’m toasting to love.