She flashes the crowd a cheeky grin and gets back down to the business of explaining where we have volunteer students manning lemonade and ice cream tables.
“I still don’t understand what’s so special about the damn cow that they had to have a whole hullabaloo for it,” Maisey’s mom mutters behind us.
“Because it’s Gingersnap, Grandma. Come on. We saved a special seat for you between the sheriff and the mayor.”
Yep.
Maisey’s mom is out of prison and has moved into the original cabin on the land. We’ve installed the same software on her computer and phone as they use on the kids’ laptops that get distributed through the Hell’s Bells school system, so Maisey can monitor her mother’s activities.
Junie just finished her senior year and is headed to engineering school just a few hours away. With her driver’s license. For the record.
I won’t say helping her through driver’s ed was my favorite part of the past year and a half, but it might be one of my proudest accomplishments.
That, and being in the stands beside Maisey when Junie led the Hell’s Bells soccer team to the state championship win this year.
Turns out there was someone else willing to take over as soccer coach.
Had no idea that Kory’s boo was just as obsessed with soccer as he is with drag, but all’s well that ends with a championship trophy.
Maisey’s split Wit’s End into two parts. The smaller part is a true training ground now for ranchers of the future, which is also useful for letting about a quarter of the high school population blow off steam by helping take care of chickens, goats, and the three horses that we have now. The other part of the ranch had a soft opening last fall when she hired part-time staff to run classes in basically everything that every woman in Hell’s Bells wanted to learn or try for a hobby.
It’s been an interesting school year.
But mostly, it’s been fun.
“Ice cream?” Maisey asks me as the crowd starts dispersing away from the statue of Gingersnap, which will eventually be moved into the park where I cut Maisey out of the swing almost two years ago now.
I slip an arm around her shoulder. “Or we could go make out up in the loft.”
She smiles. “We could.”
“Unless Junie’s planning on kicking any soccer balls that way . . .”
“At least they’d know we went out happy.”
I grin at her again and press a kiss to her forehead. “Would your mother or your daughter be more embarrassed?”
She pretends to think about it. “Ooh, tough question.”
“What’s a tough question?” Opal asks.
“Strawberry or cookies and cream,” I answer instantly, which sends Maisey into a fit of laughter.
“That is not what you were discussing,” Kory says behind her.
I shrug. “And that’s a problem because . . . ?”
The two of them team up on us and shoo us out of the barn, not letting us get away with sneaking up to the loft for alone time. So instead, we mingle with our friends and fellow citizens of Hell’s Bells, with more stories about Gingersnap and Tony getting told than we’ve heard in a while.
Maisey’s mom is new enough here that she’s the novelty now, and every time I check on her, she’s telling another story about prison.
Safe to say life won’t be boring, even with Junie leaving us for college in a few months.
Gradually, most of the townsfolk head home after we get the refreshments tables cleaned up, until it’s just a small group left.
Charlotte and her kids and their dog. Kory and his lovebug. Regina and her kids and their dog. Opal. Junie and her boyfriend, who’s headed to the Colorado School of Mines with her. Maisey’s mom.
The most important people, all gathered around, eating sandwiches we ordered in advance.
I pull Maisey into my lap as she attempts to walk past me. “Hey,” I murmur. “Good day?”
She loops her arms around my shoulders and kisses my forehead. “The best. You?”
“Not quite done yet.”
“No?”
“Lot changing.”
She sighs, and this time, instead of kissing my forehead, she rests her head against it. “There is.”
“Think I want one more.”
“Day?”
“Change.”
She pulls back and frowns at me, like she can sense the way my heart’s picking up and my veins are starting to buzz. “What kind of change?”
“A good kind.”
Her brows lift. “There’s more good change?”
“There is if you marry me.”
Her mouth forms a perfect O.
Junie squeals softly. “He finally did it,” she whispers to Vivian.
“Oh my God, this is so romantic,” Vivian squeals back. “Say yes, Ms. Maisey!”
“I did not approve this question,” Maisey’s mom says.
“Sit down, Grandma,” Junie replies. “I did.”
Maisey’s still staring at me, her eyes going shiny. “Are you serious?”
I pull her hand to my mouth and kiss her knuckles. “You’re already my wife in my heart. The woman who makes my soul complete. I want to make it official. Share it with the world. Celebrate. Love you. Forever.”
She stares at me a moment longer, and then the brightest, biggest, most beautiful smile lights her entire face. “Yes!” she shrieks, and when she throws her arms around me, tackling me in the chair, we topple backward together, landing in the dusty earth with a thud.
“That’s not a very auspicious start,” Maisey’s mom murmurs. “But I suppose if—”
“Don’t start, Grandma,” Junie says while Maisey peppers my face with kisses. “He’s gonna be the one helping Mom pick your nursing home in a few years.”
Everyone cracks up.
Charlotte and Regina help us out of the broken chair.
Opal kisses Maisey on the cheek. “I knew you were special the minute I saw you, and I’m so glad to have you in my family.”
Junie tackles me in a hug. “She said yes! I’m so proud of you. Look how far you’ve come.”
I hug her back. “Thank you for your permission.”
“I wouldn’t give it to anyone else.” She turns to Maisey. “I’m so happy for you. And I want you to know, I only agreed because he said he’d take you somewhere tropical to elope, and I get to come along.”
Maisey wheezes out a laugh. “I’m sure that was your only consideration.”
“You two are so cute together. I’m so happy for you.”
“You are amazing,” Maisey whispers to her daughter.
“Because I learned from the best,” Junie whispers back.
Yep.
This is my family.
All my family.
And they were all worth the wait.