Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
He cuts the light, lies down, and pulls me into his arms. “Can’t wait.”
EPILOGUE
Jack
One year later
This time, it was locusts. They were everywhere, covering practically every sidewalk and building in Aqua Vista. Beth claimed she’d felt their buzzing energy before they surfaced seemingly overnight. They were disgusting and creepy, and Aaron declared it was the apocalypse.
Those creatures are the reason for the pounding I hear even before I exit my truck in Aaron’s driveway. He decided to fortify all his windows so none could get inside in case it happens again.
The thing is, I would almost believe it was the coming of Armageddon, considering locusts are not native to California and no other towns were reporting locust activity. It’s a good thing Isabel has become acquainted with a wildlife expert from Parks and Recreation. Gordon did some research and found out they weren’t locusts at all but short-horned grasshoppers—which, to be fair, belong to the locust family. Apparently, they swarm when food is scarce, and they migrate in search of it.
Gordon assured us they weren’t harmful to humans, and within a week’s time, we got used to them crunching under our feet as we went about our business until, one day, they seemed to vanish into thin air. Leaving behind dead carcasses everywhere.
Walter, of course, found a way to make a souvenir out of the phenomenon, and since he apologized to Beth and they’d become friendly, she had a good laugh at the small grasshopper flags outside her shop.
I exit the truck, excitement coursing through my veins. It’s Aaron’s fortieth birthday, so I have a surprise celebration planned for tonight. Sometimes, it’s hard to believe Aaron’s been in Aqua Vista a year—and that it took him almost as long to complete renovations. Mostly because he had to move his whole life here but also because he’s a perfectionist, which I’ve come to appreciate. Even the paint needed to match the period style from when the house was built. Though he switched the order a bit—it’s now painted cream, which brightens it exponentially, with plum and sage trim.
He’s even helped me upgrade a bit of my house, which means plenty of time spent at both places. We joke that one is our home and the other our vacation place, playfully teasing each other about which is which. We might not live together yet, but we’re both comfortable enough in each other’s spaces that it doesn’t much matter right now. Besides, there are too many other plans consuming my attention.
I knock before entering the house. “I see you’re working until the last minute.”
He smiles as he places the hammer in the toolbox. “Only had one more sash.”
“You just couldn’t resist.” When he stands, I pull him to me and kiss his soft lips. He sighs, and it makes my heart leap. The way he melts against me fills me with the kind of reassurance I’ve always wanted from a partner. We fit, and it feels right. I might still have some fears about him bolting on me, but I’m easily able to bat them away.
Especially when I see how well he gets on with my family. He and June are tight, and Aunt Dina and Uncle Chuck love him. Uncle Chuck even invited him out to see the bees, and that’s a big deal for him. Aaron was so excited that he ate Honeycomb’s honey with every meal for a week, as if showing his appreciation for what nature provides. Rocco made fun of him for a while until Aaron sent him a few bottles, and then he raved about it.
Plus, Isabel made the move with Aaron, and outside of her new wildlife friend, she’s thriving at the rescue with Mae. She even fills in at the inn if Mae needs her, and her health has improved despite her asthma being the chronic kind. Like Aaron says, he’s not sure if it’s the health benefits or the lifestyle change, but maybe it doesn’t really matter. She’s happier, and that’s the important part.
“Just let me change my shirt,” Aaron says.
“Sounds good.” We have just enough time to get to the restaurant.
To fend off my nerves, I take in the furnishings. The outside looks amazing, but the inside is on a whole other level. He spent months refinishing all the wooden trim and carefully selecting paint colors. He built his dining table out of reclaimed wood and seemed to love every minute of the process. So much so that when other residents heard about the care he was taking with the property, they put in requests for design help on their aging homes or for Aaron to complete some of the work himself.
He told me a year ago he was excited about the possibilities, and it turns out he has plenty. He still co-owns the business with Rocco, but he’s taken lots of time off to figure out his plans. It’s been nice spending practically every day with him and feeding off his creative energy. It’s made me appreciate all sorts of art again.