Babies were on the someday list. Which meant using her sister’s children to stave off the craving that had begun to simmer deep inside.
Getting engaged was enough excitement for right now.
“Don’t get run over,” Tucker warned with a chuckle when she shot to her feet and went to rush forward.
Ginny held herself back long enough for Jesse to put the truck into park, and then she hauled open Dare’s door and swamped her sister with a massive bear hug. “You’re finally here. Oh God, it’s so good to see you.”
“Can you see anything but my backside?” Dare teased, but she squeezed just as hard. “Welcome to your thirties, babe. The water’s fine.”
“Tucker,” Jesse called. He walked from around the truck carrying one of the twins in his arms while three-and-a half-year-old Joey blasted forward out from under his feet and headed at a toddler sprint toward his cousins up the hill. “Come and shake my hand then buy me the drink you owe me.”
Ginny frowned at Tucker. “Why do you owe him a drink?”
Her brother-in-law adjusted the infant he held. “It’s a permanent debt. I plan to collect from now to eternity.”
Tucker raised a brow but turned to answer Ginny. “You told Dare about us fooling around. She told him, which means for the past three plus years, he’s had to keep it secret.”
“You know how hard it’s been to know such a juicy tidbit and not spill the beans every time I saw your brothers? You totally owe me.” Jesse wrapped an arm around Ginny’s shoulders and squeezed. “Hey. How’s my favourite poisoner doing?”
“Peachy,” she said with a smile.
“That’s a fine flavour. Distracts from the convulsions and paralysis that follow.” Jesse held out a hand to Tucker. “About time you proposed.”
“I didn’t know you were waiting,” Tucker deadpanned. “Sorry, sweetheart, I’m taken.”
Laughter welled around them as always. The four of them, carrying the nearly year-old twins, moved up the hill to join the party. Tamara came forward, hugged her cousin and Dare, then handed toddler Royce to Kelli before stealing little Ryan for herself.
Ginny and Dare ended up sitting outside the cottage minutes later, babies safely off in the arms of their sisters-in-law. Joey played with Tyler under Sasha’s watchful eye.
Tucker and Jesse stood on the lawn halfway between the party and the cottage, as if ready to move at a moment’s notice whichever way they were needed.
Which—pretty much summed it up, Ginny realized. Their guys and what they stood for. Ready to do what was right.
Dare glanced behind them at the cottage where she’d lived while growing up. “I’m glad she’s yours now. Yours and Tucker’s.”
“It’s a sweet sadness to be here without you, but I swear I can still feel love radiating from the walls,” Ginny said softly.
Dare nodded. Then she thrust out her hand. “Show me.”
Placing her fingers with the shiny new engagement ring in her sister’s hand made bubbles dance in Ginny’s belly. “I really had no idea he’d already gotten me a ring.”
“You happy?” Dare waved off the question. “What am I saying? Of course, you’re happy. You’re so perfectly happy you’re glowing.”
No denying the truth.
Dare pointed at Ginny’s other hand. “Now the treasure ring.” Ginny switched hands, and Dare let out a hum of happiness. “It’s beautiful. Eight stones and all.”
Ginny tilted her hand as the sunlight caught the stones, sparkles flashing bright. “I really love it, but it’s not just the ring. It’s how every time I see it, I’m reminded of everything connected to it. The puzzle, and Mom’s planning, and her journal, and the one she made me.” She lifted her gaze to Dare’s. “Reading Mom’s thoughts has reminded me over and over how lucky I really have been. I had good roots. I’ve been surrounded by people who truly love me. I have a forever friend and sister in you—that makes me so happy.”
Dare wrapped her arms around Ginny’s neck and squeezed tight. “I love you, too. I love that you’re my sister.”
The sweet joy of hearing that was a rush like the river in the spring.
A mischievous expression slid onto Dare’s face. “You have one hell of a sexy man at your side. Add that to your list.”
That was a funny part of the past six months. “I actually have lists these days. I guess Tucker’s been wearing off on me.”
“Ha, try again. You’ve always had a list when it came to that man,” Dare said. “And he’s always thrown his lists to the wind to make you happy. It’s part of what makes you perfect for each other.”
Another sweet thought.
“Even after all the frustrations involved in solving the puzzle, I don’t wish any of it away,” Ginny confessed. “In fact, I’m a little sad I don’t have more boxes to open. More things from Mom and Dad. They really did give us good roots.”
“They did, and I’m grateful too, but mostly, thank God.” Dare let her head fall back and let out a groan that hung on the air. “I thought you’d never say it.”
What was going on? Ginny mentally repeated her words, but had no idea what Dare was talking about. “What did I say?”
“Jesse.” Dare leaned forward and shouted at her husband. “A miracle just happened. Get it out of the truck and bring it here. Please?”
Jesse hooted, then motioned to Tucker. “Come on. It’ll be your responsibility to haul around from here on, so you may as well get in training.”
Tucker glanced at Ginny, but all she could offer was a shrug. “No idea, but if he shoves you in the back and drives off, I promise I’ll find you before he can hotwire a tractor to dig a hole and bury you.”
“So bloodthirsty, that one,” Jesse said with a wink at Ginny. “Nah, I’m not getting rid of the body. He seems well behaved. So far.”
“Relatively,” Tucker said.
Jesse was still laughing when he marched up and deposited a banker’s box at Ginny’s feet. “Right here, Tucker.”
A second box landed on top of the first. “You pawning off financial records, Dare?” Tucker asked.
Dare cleared her throat and looked Ginny in the eye. “When I moved to Rocky, I cleaned out this cottage. Everything, including stuff my mom had tucked in the tiny attic area. These two boxes were up there.”
Ginny eyed them, but still had no clue what was going on. “And you brought them back because…?”
“She brought them back because I said it was okay to cheat a little,” Jesse said quietly. “If she had to.”
“Didn’t come down to that.” Dare grinned widely. “There’s a tag on the side that says Do not open. Give to Ginny or Deb when they ask for them. Until now, you didn’t ask. When your mysterious present showed up at Christmas, I wondered if the two things were connected. Which is why I kept pestering you to solve the puzzle page.”
Tucker settled beside her, and Ginny felt another pulse of excitement. “Do you think?”
“That this is your missing number three gift?” Tucker shrugged. “Only one way to find out.”