“Soon,” I tell him. “I just uploaded all his non-disclosure docs. We’re free to include him in filming as soon as he gets settled.”
Lauren chugs the last of her beer and reaches for the bacon. I watch as she piles a tablespoon, then two, then three on her pasta. The rest of us might favor baked goods to soothe our emotions, but Lauren’s all about the salt.
“Anyone else see Nick’s picture in the new issue of GQ?” Lana smiles, enjoying the reaction she’s getting from Lauren. “‘America’s sexiest entrepreneurs.’ They showed him shirtless on a construction site with—”
“More parmesan, anyone?” Lauren forces the words out through gritted teeth and glares at our baby sister. “Maybe enough to glue your teeth together?”
As my siblings’ conversation flows from construction to pop culture to which community members should go next for spotlights on the show, Griffin squeezes my knee.
“This is really good.” He forks up another bite of pasta. “Is this another Patti and Colleen creation?”
I wink at Soph as I twist a pile of noodles around my fork. “I had a different cooking coach this time. One who wasn’t so sure about the brussels sprouts.”
Soph grins around a mouthful of food. “They’re kinda good,” she says. “Not little green balls of death like when dad makes them.”
“Hey.” Griffin reaches over to ruffle her hair, but Soph giggles and ducks back. “I’ll challenge you to a brussels sprout bakeoff any day of the week.”
Gabe piles his plate with another helping. “That’ll make for riveting television.”
Lauren agrees. “Stranger things have made for blockbuster TV.”
Sadly, that wasn’t the case for Elle’s show, Hustlers and Housewives. Widely panned by critics, it was cancelled midway through the season. But the upside is that Elle got a small part in a sitcom filming in Portland. Now that she lives three hours away, she’s rebuilding a relationship with Soph. It’s slow going, and Griff’s cautious. But Soph seems happy to have monthly visits with her mom.
Griff squeezes my knee again, then picks up his spoon and clangs it against the side of his pint glass. “I have an announcement.” He smiles at me, and I catch something unexpected in his eye. Joy, yes, but also anxiousness. “Actually, something I want to ask.”
My sisters’ eyes widen. They glance at each other, then at me as Griff slides from his chair and drops to one knee beside me.
“Mari Judson—you are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met in my life.” His smile widens as he slips a hand in his pocket. “You are my rock. My mentor. My partner and helpmate. My friend and my favorite person to fall asleep with at night and wake up with in the morning.” He uncurls his fingers, revealing a sparkling diamond ring in his palm. “I’m wondering if you’ll also be my wife.”
Tears prickle my eyes as my siblings ooh and aah and peer at the ring. I know I should hate being the center of attention, but the truth?
I love it.
And I love this man slipping a diamond on my finger as I nod and laugh with tears streaming down my face. “Yes,” I sob, throwing my arms around Griff. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
I hug him hard, then draw back to look at Soph. “Are you okay with this, kiddo?”
“Uh, yeah.” She gives me another eye-roll and points to Leonard’s cage. “They let me push the button on the hidden camera. Also, I helped pick out the ring.”
“With a little help from some other family members.” Griff slides back into his chair and winks at my sisters. I look down at my new bling with renewed appreciation.
It’s a simple gold band with a round stone flecked by a dozen small sapphires. It’s understated and perfect and could only have been chosen by people who know me well.
These people. My people, my family and friends and the man I love.
The man I’m going to marry. Holy cow, I’m engaged.
I pull Griff to me again, arms sliding around his back as I press close enough to whisper in his ear. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me.” He moves so our foreheads touch, so he looks right into my eyes. “You’re the one who made me the happiest guy alive.”
“Same.” I never knew I could be this happy. Hell, I never even pictured myself getting married. “Kind of amazing how much things can change.”
He smiles. “A wise therapist once told me change is the first step toward growth.”
“Oh?” I plant a kiss on his temple, fluttering my fingers on his shoulder so I can see the ring sparkle. “She sounds like a very wise therapist.”
“The best.” He kisses me for real, lips claiming mine in a kiss that says forever without needing any words. “The best in the whole world.”
Leonard launches into his rendition of Tina Turner’s “The Best” while my family laughs and sings along.
I’m so happy. How is it possible to spend a whole career counseling people to find this sort of joy without knowing it myself? I’m not sure, but now that I’ve found it, I’m never letting go.
Griff breaks the kiss and smiles. “I love you, Mari.”
“I love you, too. So much.”
Leonard squawks. “Love you!” he shouts. “Forever!”
“Exactly,” Griff says, and kisses me again.
***
Thank you for reading, friend! I’m hoping you enjoyed Griff and Mari’s story and that you’re looking forward to seeing Lauren and Nick get a second shot at love. That’s coming up next in Show Down.
In the meantime, have you read my Ponderosa Resort rom-com series? It’s heaped with humor, heart, and hilarious family hijinx. There’s even some crossover into the Juniper Ridge world. You can start anywhere, since the books are written as standalones, but here’s a glimpse at one of my personal faves, Hottie Lumberjack (and stick around after, if you’d like an early look at Show Down).
Your exclusive peek at Hottie Lumberjack
Chelsea
“Here you go, Mrs. Sampson.” I slide the pink bakery box across the counter with a smile. “One dozen Guinness chocolate cupcakes with chai spice frosting, and one dozen strawberry with vanilla fondant.”
My retired math teacher pulls the box to her chest like she thinks someone will snatch it. “Did you put the penises on top like I asked?”
Her volume is a good indication she forgot her hearing aid, and the chime of my front door is a good indication of how my week’s going. I order myself to stay focused on the customer in front of me, but from the corner of my eye I see the new arrival flinch in surprise.
“I’ll be with you in just a—oh.”
Holy shit.
The guy in the doorway of my bakery doesn’t look like someone shopping for a dozen vanilla bean cupcakes. He looks like a lumberjack who lost his way to the forest. The scruffy beard, the plaid flannel, and ohmygod is that an axe?
I swallow hard and glance at Mrs. Sampson, reminding myself not to alarm her. If we’re going to die at the hands of an axe murderer, I’d like her to go out knowing she got what she wanted in that bakery box. “The cupcakes are made to order, just like always,” I assure her. “I even slipped in a couple complimentary macarons because I know Mr. Sampson loves them.”