Epilogue
“It’s like watching an episode of Sister Wives,” Tess confided to Rachel as they huddled at the dining table and watched Jill and Beth socialize like old friends on the McSpurling sofa. Beth had Baby Aaron in her lap and was clearly in love with him. Jill was making a fuss over Ryan. And the other boys were running back and forth from the nursery, plying their new cousin with foam balls and stuffed animals.
Rachel laughed. “I thought it would be World War Three but they’re committed to making this work. Still,” she added under her breath, “I think Beth’s doing the right thing about the wedding. It would just be so awkward.”
“Especially because she has a new stud to run off with for the week. It’s so hilarious she’s dating the team doctor.”
“They bonded last December over Jayce’s shoulder, but it was platonic. At least Bethie thought it was. But apparently, when Mac heard she was free to date, he deluged her with flowers and candy. After getting Jayce’s blessing, of course.”
“So funny. And romantic.”
“He gets along great with the boys, so she’s in heaven. Plus—well, have you seen him?” Rachel wagged a playful eyebrow. “Tall, bald and handsome. And supposedly very passionate.”
“Ugh, that’s enough.” Tess grinned. “No wonder she’s ditching the wedding.”
Rachel nodded. “When do your parents arrive?”
“Tomorrow at two. My brother and his wife are flying with them. Then as they say, one thing will lead to another, and Jill will be married again. This time to a fully functioning male.”
“You’re so bad. Oh!” She giggled as Bam strode to the middle of the room and announced to Beth, “Sarge! We’re gonna be late so move that sexy ass.”
Tess laughed at the big man’s antics. “It’s so sweet of him to drive her to the airport.”
“He loves her,” Rachel said wistfully. “Which is lucky for me, since she’ll always be my best friend, even when she’s not a Spurling anymore.”
They watched as Beth reluctantly returned Baby Aaron to Erica, gave the new mom a one-armed embrace, then hugged Johnny, who had been treating her like a queen.
“I’d better say goodbye, too,” Rachel said, standing and patting Tess’s arm. “Are you coming?”
“I’ll stay here and protect Sean. You know how afraid he is of Beth.”
They laughed, then Rachel hurried after the group, which was moving onto the front porch, while Tess joined her sister.
“That went well,” she told Jill with a slightly arched eyebrow. “Are you stressed out?”
“Not at all. She’s a handful but I’m really starting to like her.”
“Now she has a week in Alaska with a sexy doctor, and you have a week on the coast with the Brady Bunch. Otherwise known as the worst honeymoon ever.”
“Stop it,” Jill warned. “The decision has been made.”
“By you. Everyone else thinks it nuts.”
“Hush,” Jill scolded her as Jayce ambled over to them. “Do not tease him about it.”
“Hey, Colbys,” he said with a mischievous smile. “Looking good.”
Tess patted his cheek. “I’m not allowed to make honeymoon jokes, so I’ll just slink away for now.”
“Bam already roasted me about it,” Jayce said with a grin. “So take your best shot.”
“I’ll save it for my toast tomorrow,” Tess promised. Then she squeezed Jill’s hand and left the lovebirds alone.
• • •
Jill stared up into Jayce’s sparkling eyes. “Hey, ball hawk.”
“Hey.” He pulled her close and kissed her. “Can you believe you’ll be Mrs. Ball Hawk in less than twenty-four hours?”
“Yum.”
He arched a teasing eyebrow. “Pop wants to talk to you.”
“Oh, no. Did I do something wrong already?”
“He says he has a favor to ask.”
“Oh, okay.” They walked hand in hand out onto the porch, then stood with Jill’s future father-in-law and watched Bam’s car pull away with the boys running after it and shouting their goodbyes.
“Use protection!” Alex yelled mischievously.
Jayce roared, then explained to his father, “He doesn’t know what it means.”
“He’ll be the death of us,” Aaron muttered.
“That’s what you used to say about me.”
“I still do,” the patriarch assured him, then he took Jill’s hand. “Hey, sweetheart. Ready for the big day?”
She nodded. “Are you?”
“Happiest day of my life,” he assured her, and while she knew he was just being diplomatic, it still brought a mist to her eyes.
“Jayce says you want to ask me something.”
He nodded. “I love having all five of my grandsons under one roof. So leave the kids with me and John tomorrow, will you? As a personal favor?”
She sighed. “That’s sweet. But it’s a confusing time for them. Right, Jayce?”
Jayce shrugged, then called out, “Hey, Rick! Jay! Come here.”
They bounded onto the porch and demanded, “Is it time to eat?”
“You just ate two hours ago,” Jayce complained. “Anyway, I have a question. Do you want to go to the coast with me and Jill tomorrow after the ceremony? Or stay here with Grandpop and Uncle Johnny? Be honest.”
Chagrined, Jill told them quickly, “We want you with us.”
JJ exchanged looks with his brother, then said diplomatically, “You guys are fun. But we’ve got a ton of stuff to teach Aaron. Baby Aaron,” he corrected himself with a grin at his grandfather. “Not you.”
Ricky laughed at the joke then added his vote, saying, “Uncle Bam said he’d take us sailing on his lake. If we stay. And we can help Aunt Erica a lot. If we stay.”
Jill smiled ruefully. “Sounds like you’re staying, then. As long as you wear life jackets on the boat.”
“I’ll go along,” her future father-in-law promised. “To make sure there’s no shenanigans.”
“Thanks, Coach.”
“You can start calling me ‘Pop’ any time,” he reminded her. Then he cocked an inquiring eyebrow at his grandsons. “What are you boys going to call Jill?”
Ricky’s eyes twinkled. “Uncle Bam says to call her Jillie-Mama.”
Jayce and JJ cracked up, but the family patriarch growled, “Not on my watch.”
Jill gave him an impulsive hug. “Thank you.”
To her surprise, he teared up as he said, “Anything for you, sweetheart. It’s like my son told me that first day—that I should thank God he found you. And I do.”
Humbled, she hugged him again and fought back a sob.
“This is pathetic,” Jayce joked. “Are we having a wedding or a funeral?”
“Smart-ass,” his father muttered. Then he told the boys, “Your uncle’s setting up the badminton net. Should we help him?”
They agreed eagerly and took off with their grandfather, leaving Jill alone with her sexy fiancé.
“Sorry about the honeymoon,” he said with mock sincerity. “Guess you’re stuck with just me.”
She wanted to say something playful in reply, but the wonder of the moment overwhelmed her, and she returned to her usual refrain: “Is this really happening?”
“Yeah.” He nuzzled her ear, then admitted, “I’m stoked about tomorrow. But today’s kind of awesome, too. Right?”
“Mmm . . .” She melted in his arms. “I love you, Jayce Spurling. More every day. Every second of every day.”
“Sounds about right,” he agreed. “Thanks for marrying me, Ivy League.”
“My pleasure, ball hawk,” she assured him. Then she glanced around, felt a tingle of familiar excitement, and dared to ask, “Did you notice that little bathroom overlooking the river? I wonder if it has a lock on the door . . .”