Epilogue

Two Months Later

Kelsey popped open one of the bottles of champagne she’d brought to Mack and Jessie’s house. It might not be the drink of choice for a poker game, but tonight wasn’t any other night. Nope, today had been the last day of school. This afternoon she’d turned in her school badges and closed the door on a chapter of her life. Her friends would understand her desire to celebrate.

She handed Cat and Ella each a glass. “Anyone else?”

Both Mack and Sean passed, opting for beers instead. Dakota and Drew accepted glasses. Tonight marked the fourth time Dakota had joined them for a poker game. Kelsey hoped he continued to come. He was a good addition to the group.

“To the end of the school year,” Jessie said, raising her glass of lemonade. “I know Grace would be here celebrating too if she could. She couldn’t wait for summer vacation.”

She’d noticed the lack of noise that often signaled Grace was in the house. “Staying with her grandparents tonight?” Kelsey asked.

Jessie’s frown was all the answer she needed. “No, she’s with her mom until Tuesday.”

Kelsey knew there was no love lost between Jessie and Mack’s ex-wife. For Grace’s sake, Jessie did her best to get along with the woman.

“I miss her already, and she’s only been gone a few hours,” Jessie said.

She’d seen firsthand the tight bond Jessie had with her stepdaughter. “Grace isn’t the only one missing tonight. Sean, where’s Mia?” Kelsey had last seen Mia at the grocery store. The poor woman looked ready to pop any day. “Is Angie visiting again?”

Sean set his beer aside. “No. She wasn’t feeling well. I offered to stay home and keep her company. She told me to come because this will be my last game for a few months.”

Mia was due this month, so at least for the foreseeable future they’d be skipping the monthly poker game. It was another reason she was glad Dakota was now joining them. Especially since in another two months Jessie and Mack would be temporarily leaving the group too.

Across the table, Dakota shuffled the cards and began dealing. “Did your sister-in-law like the house on Grove Street?”

Since the spring, Mia’s younger sister had been coming to town and checking out various homes. Kelsey had heard she’d even spoken with a contractor about building one in North Salem. This was the first time she was hearing Angie had looked at the old Federalist-style home that had gone on the market in May.

Sean accepted his cards and nodded. “Angie surprised me when she looked at it. Her home in California is one of those futuristic-looking places. I was afraid to sit on anything when we visited. But she put in an offer and it was accepted.”

“Mia must be psyched.” By the way Mia talked about her two sisters, it sounded like she was close to both.

“Yeah, she’s happy.”

Kelsey got the impression Sean wasn’t as thrilled. Considering the relationship he had with his mother-in-law, he probably feared she’d be visiting even more with two of her daughters living in town.

Sean tossed a few chips into the middle of the table. “Angie’s keeping her home in California though. She doesn’t plan on living here year-round.”

“When’s the closing?” Dakota asked.

Kelsey’s ears perked up at the interest in his voice. As far as Kelsey knew, Dakota had only met Angie once, and it’d been at Sean’s wedding. Was he making conversation tonight, or was there another reason behind his questions?

“First week in July. They already did the home inspection.”

“An extra set of hands to help out with the baby,” Cat said, echoing Kelsey’s thoughts.

“Maybe. But if so she’ll stay with us. She hired an interior design firm out of Boston to come in after the closing and redo the place. Not that it needs it.”

“Is your mother-in-law staying with you too when the baby is born?”

Tony’s question earned him a murderous glare from Sean. Before he could comment, his cell phone rang. Usually the group as a whole avoided taking phone calls during a game. Sean checked the screen and then set his cards down. “Mia,” he greeted the caller.

Kelsey held her breath. Judging by the expressions around the table, everyone else was doing the same. Mia’s due date was two weeks away. In reality though, the baby could come at any time.

“Be right home.” Sean lowered the cell phone, and she noticed his hand shook slightly. “Sorry, guys, I’m out. Mia’s water broke.”

Having a baby was a big deal, especially if it was your first. She could understand why Sean might be nervous.

“Keep us updated,” Tony said as Sean raced out of the room. He checked his cards again and tossed in his bet.

Kelsey looked around the table. More change had happened in the last few years than she could ever remember in North Salem. It just kept continuing. Right now, Sean was on his way to be with his wife as she delivered their first child. Mack and Jessie would soon be welcoming twins to their family. Cat and Tony were happily married. Kelsey knew they planned to try for a baby after Ella and Striker’s wedding. The only reason they hadn’t already was because Cat didn’t want to be pregnant on Ella’s big day. Come August, Ella and Striker would be married, leaving Dakota the single guy in the bunch.

“Dakota, how’d you know Mia’s sister looked at the house on Grove?” Kelsey asked, her brain circling back to their earlier conversation.

“I was out for run when I saw her and the real estate agent pull into the driveway. At first I thought it was Mia, so I stopped.”

Kelsey agreed. Mia and her younger sister resembled each other a lot, so much so they could be mistaken for twins.

Maybe it was time she took a page out of Jessie’s book and played matchmaker. She could enlist Mia’s aid and set Dakota up with Angie. The questions he’d asked didn’t prove Dakota was interested in getting to know Mia’s sister better, however his tone of voice made her think he did.

***

“I wonder how Mia is doing?” Kelsey asked.

He’d wondered the same thing since Sean had bolted from Mack and Jessie’s house. As of when the poker game ended, no one around the table had heard from Sean. Cody’s wife had been in labor for six hours with Joey. He didn’t know if that was the norm or not. Someday he’d find out.

Kelsey kicked off her sandals. “Sean will probably call Tony right away. Cat will let me know when he does.”

“I already feel bad for Sean’s daughter. I still remember how protective he was of Charlie. He was worse than Ian. And Ian took the protective big brother role seriously.” Over the past several months, talking about Ian had become easier. Whether it was because more time had passed or because he had Kelsey, Drew didn’t know. “If he could, I bet Sean would lock his daughter up in a tower to keep her safe.”

She nudged him in the side. “Like you’d be any better if you had a daughter.”

Drew refused to admit she was right. “Guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

“Are you sure you’re okay waiting?”

They’d discussed it and agreed to wait until after she finished her doctoral program. It didn’t mean he wasn’t anxious for them to start a family. “What’s a year?” He moved closer and kissed her. “Besides, this way I’ll have you all to myself longer. Once we have kids, I’ll have to share you, and I’m not ready for sharing.” Drew undid her braid and ran his fingers through her hair. “But I’m warning you, the moment you have your degree in hand, we’re going to concentrate on getting pregnant.”

“I plan on holding you to that.”

“Won’t be a problem, sweetheart.”

She grinned and leaned into him. “You know better than most the importance of practicing.” Kelsey dipped her hands under his T-shirt and across his stomach. “What do you say we do some now?”

“You read my mind.”

The End