Epilogue

Everyone was relaxed and mellow after the big meal, a few drinks, and a day spent on beautiful Georgian Bay, south of Parry Sound, Ontario, at Nick’s gorgeous cottage on the lake. They’d just finished an amazing dinner everyone had taken part in cooking—the guys manning the big barbecue out on the deck to cook the steaks and hotdogs, the women inside chatting and drinking wine while they’d prepared salads and veggies and snacks.

Calling it a cottage wasn’t entirely accurate, as Jodie had immediately seen upon arrival a few weeks ago. They’d pulled into the driveway at the back of the big house among gorgeous white pine and hemlock trees, a garage and boathouse off to the right, and outcroppings of stone on the left. Inside, she’d gazed around in awe at the cathedral ceilings, hardwood floors, and stone fireplace. Big windows looked over the deck with glass rails that didn’t obstruct the view of the lake and trees.

Chase and Jordyn had spent last night and today there, on their way to nearby Sudbury to visit Chase’s family. Jared and Sidney; their daughter, Aubree; and Max and Kendra were spending the week there; and Cam Brickley was even here for one night, heading back to Toronto tomorrow to continue his flight home to Calgary. Zyana and Aubree had swum in the clear waters, ridden in the boat in their tiny life jackets while others water-skied or relaxed on the sunny deck at the shore, or on the upper deck coolly shaded by sugar maple and beech trees.

This was the third week there for Nick and Jodie, and she was pretty sure this was paradise.

She was a city girl, but long lazy days hiking and exploring nature, laying in the sun, and checking out cute little shops in nearby towns had been so relaxing and fun. Especially since she was with Nick.

He’d taken Zyana into the woods to show her wildflowers like red and white trilliums, lady’s slippers, and wood lilies. They’d seen raccoons, beavers, and squirrels, to Zyana’s delight. And she’d taken to the water like a little mermaid. What an amazing experience for her.

Evenings, when Zyana was in bed, Jodie and Nick cuddled on the deck and watched the sun set over the bay, listening to owls and loons and the quiet lap of the water on the shore.

She was on vacation, but she’d also done a little work thanks to the Wi-Fi.

Jodie moved over to where Nick leaned on the railing by himself, a beer in his hand. “Hey. Having fun?”

“Yeah.” He smiled at her. “This has been great, having everyone here.”

“I know you were worried about being here, being reminded of Aleks.”

“Yeah. The last couple of summers were hard. But it’s okay being reminded of him—in fact, it’s good. He loved it here. He was doing so well that summer, and those are good memories.”

He’d told her that Aleks’s ashes were scattered out on the water of the bay.

“So I kind of feel close to him here,” he said. “It’s good.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m glad.”

“So have you decided?”

Jodie smiled. She knew what he was talking about. “Well, we’ve managed to spend three weeks together, twenty-four/seven nearly, and haven’t killed each other. Are you sure you still want to do it?”

“I’m sure.” His voice went low and rough. He set his beer on the railing and lifted his hands to her hair, sliding through to gather it at the nape of her neck.

“Are you sure Zyana and I won’t drive you crazy with nonstop talking?”

His lips quirked. “It’s a big house. I can go hide in the garage if it gets to be too much.”

He wanted Jodie and Zyana to move into his house with him. She wanted that too. But it seemed fast. It had been only a couple of months since they’d admitted their feelings for each other. She didn’t want to rush into something that might be a mistake, especially since she had Zyana to consider, not just herself.

But with Nick being done for the season they’d spent a lot of time together, back and forth between the big house and the coach house all the time, and it actually wouldn’t be that much different.

It felt right. She’d seen the relationship develop between Nick and Zyana, and her heart overflowed with love for both of them. Surely this was something good and lasting. It felt that way.

“Okay then, yes, we’ll move in with you.”

“Thank you.” He bent his head to kiss her, long and sweet.

“Dude, get a room,” Cam called to them from the other side of the deck.

Nick lifted his head and smirked. “He’s just jealous,” he said into Jodie’s ear.

She laughed and patted his chest. “No, he’s not.” Clearly, Cam was way over wanting to date her, seeming to always be with a different girl every time they saw him. She was happy there were no hard feelings about that between him and Nick.

“You’re the only single guy here,” Nick called to Cam, turning to the group and sliding an arm around Jodie’s waist as they sauntered back toward their guests.

“Here we go again,” Cam muttered. “Guys, if you’re really concerned for me, that’s nice, but you don’t need to be. Don’t shame me for being single—I like it.” He’d taken a bit of teasing from the others all day.

Jodie frowned. It sounded like it was actually getting to him. He said he liked being single…but maybe that wasn’t true…

Even Nick, the diehard loner, had admitted that love and family and belonging somewhere were important. But pushing that onto someone else wasn’t fair. So she changed the subject. “Let’s get these girls to bed, and then we can play a game. I picked up this board game that sounds really fun. It’s called Are You Normal?”

“Huh?”

“What?”

“There are a bunch of questions you answer, and you compare yourself to a survey of people to see how normal you are.”

“Are these sexual questions?” Cam asked with a grin.

She laughed. “Actually, some of them are.”

Zyana ran to Nick, and he bent to pick her up as she leaped into his arms. “Will you wead me a stowy, Nick?”

“You bet I will, sweetheart.”

Jodie followed Nick and Zyana into the cottage and down the hall to Zyana’s bedroom.

“Nick…” Zyana leaned back in his arms to peer at him. “Jawed is Aubwee’s daddy. I want you to be my daddy.”

Nick’s feet stopped.

As did Jodie’s heart. Her hand flew to her throat. Too soon, too soon…

Nick turned slightly and glanced over his shoulder to meet Jodie’s eyes. The look on his face—pride and happiness and love—made her heart expand. She also knew he had no idea what to say to that. But she couldn’t speak for him.

He looked down at Zyana’s little face. “I would love to be your dad. Maybe someday we can make that happen.”

She nodded, accepting his response, and they continued into her room.

My heart. Jodie pressed her hand there, feeling the fast beat, the ache of love that filled her chest. Maybe Zyana hadn’t waited for the perfect moment to ask that question…but Nick had taken the moment and made it perfect.