Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“This wedding has got me thinking,” I say as soon as Greer looks at me.
A soft smile spreads over her ruby red lips. “About what?”
She knows the answer to that question. As we were getting ready to come to Krista and Howie’s wedding today, I dropped to one knee to tie my shoe. I heard her breath catch as I did, so I know we’re edging closer to the day when I can finally ask this beauty to be my wife.
“When I get married, I have three solid choices for a best man,” I tease.
Her eyes light up. “I have one choice for a matron of honor.”
Since Olive is the flower girl today, she has already made it clear that when we get married, she’s reliving that role for us.
“Martha?” I ask with a soft smile.
“You know it.” She glances at Olive again. “It’s been a month since she found out you’re her dad. She’s been asking me a question, Holden. She’s going to ask you tonight.”
“About?”
I expect her to say marriage or our living arrangements since I’ve been spending a few nights a week at Greer’s home. She’s come to my apartment, too, but she’s always in a rush to get back to her house before Olive wakes up.
“Her name.” Her eyes lock with mine. “Olive Irwin-Sheppard is what she’d like to be called.”
There’s an instant lump of emotion in my throat. I knew this was coming when my mom met Olive last week. My daughter made a point of mentioning that she loved our surname. My mom pulled me aside to tell me that she thought Olive would make the request for a name change soon. Her grandmother’s intuition was spot on.
“How do you feel about that?” I ask Greer.
“It has a nice ring to it.” She smiles softly. “Olive Irwin-Sheppard. Greer Irwin-Sheppard. It all sounds good to me.”
“Does that mean…”
I’m about to drop to one knee to ask her if it means she’s ready for a proposal. I’ve been carrying an emerald and diamond ring engagement ring around with me for a week.
“It means one day after you move in with us, you’ll get on one knee and it will have nothing to do with tying your shoe.”
“I can move in tomorrow,” I offer.
“We’ll talk about when you should move in tomorrow,” she counters. “We’ll make it soon, Holden. We’re a family. I feel it.”
“Me too.” I tilt my chin toward the dance floor. “Let’s join our daughter out there.”
She moves to stand, so I follow suit. I take her in my arms to kiss her deeply before we dive into the dancing crowd.
“I love you,” I whisper. “I love you so fucking much.”
“I love you, too,” she says. “Until the end of time.”
EPILOGUE
Holden
Three Months Later
I glance at Greer as we drive up to the beach house in East Hampton. It’s our first time here since we met.
“Is this it, Dad?” Olive asks from the back seat of my car. “This big house is our house?”
I reach for Greer’s hand to kiss her palm before I answer. “It’s our house. I think you’re going to like it here.”
“Like?” She laughs as she unbuckles her seat belt. “I already love it here. Is the water close?”
“Very close,” I tell her. “We have a pool, too.”
“No way!” She taps the back of Greer’s seat. “Maybe Kirby can come with us next time, Mom. Can you ask Uncle Rook if she can come next time?”
Witnessing Greer become an integral part of my friend group has been a gift to me. She effortlessly fell into step with all of them. Rook and Carrie’s daughter, Kirby, has become fast friends with Olive. They’re about a year and a half apart in age, but that hasn’t stopped them from making plans to make friendship bracelets together, go to the park for playtime, and even arrange sleepovers.
Greer has been coordinating all of that with Rook and Carrie.
It took Greer some time to adjust to Krista’s move to Los Angeles, but they talk on the phone every day. Greer cried when Krista told her that her daughter would be named Ceci when she’s born. It’s a fitting tribute to the friend they both loved and lost.
Greer has been working closely with Rocco on mapping out a path forward for Sweet Indulgence. Before she officially signed on the dotted line to approve the sale of Krista’s share to Rocco, we briefly discussed the idea of partnering on the business.
At the end of the day, and after hours of discussion, we decided our personal partnership would always be our priority. Adding the extra layer of a shared business interest to that is not something either of us views as a priority right now.
I’ll always be available to offer her advice if she asks for it, but her business is going places and I couldn’t be prouder.