Page 127 of Love for a Lifetime

Jerry Lawrence walked in carrying a tote that read “Harvest” on the front in big black marker. He rested the tote on the front pew and walked up beside Dawson and Olivia.

“You two seem to have everything figured out,” he said with a wink at his daughter.

Olivia wrapped her arm around Dawson’s back and rested her head on his shoulder. “Not everything, but at least some.”

This was where she belonged. This was where Dawson belonged–standing beside Olivia, helping her accomplish her dreams for the rest of their lives.

Jerry extended a hand to Dawson, and they shook. Olivia’s dad had always been the father figure he’d never had in his own home, and making sure Jerry liked him was in his top five things to do for the rest of his life.

“Looks like you’re taking care of my baby girl,” Jerry said.

“Every minute, sir.”

Every minute. Every second. Every breath for the rest of his life. All of it was in service to the Lord, then Olivia.

Jerry looked at his daughter who released her hold on Dawson to hug her dad.

“Love you, Dad.”

“Love looks good on you, sweetie.”

Yeah, it did. And Dawson intended to keep it that way forever.

EPILOGUE

OLIVIA

Herbert the goat kept his attention fixated on Olivia as he munched on hay. The intense stare was getting a little weird, but she was in his territory now.

Sitting in the barn beside Dawson should have been her territory too since it was her family farm, but she was getting creeped out by present company.

She cradled Genella to her chest. “I promise I’m not going to hurt her. She likes me,” she told Herbert.

Herbert and Genella had an unexplainable goat-chicken bond, and they looked after each other in strange ways.

“Dawson, Herbert is staring at me again,” Olivia said over her shoulder.

Dawson didn’t look up from the phone in his hands. “He’s harmless. Just worried about his chick.”

“Let’s go hang out at Cluckingham Palace. I don’t think he likes me.”

Dawson looked up from his phone and pressed a sweet kiss to Olivia’s cheek. “He likes you. He just likes his lady more.”

Olivia eyed the protective goat at her feet. “If you say so.”

“I think it’s ready,” Dawson said as he turned the phone so she could see it.

An Instagram Reel played showing Dawson and Herbert as Genella strutted over. Seconds later, Olivia entered the scene, and Dawson stood as his full attention shifted to her. He pulled her into his arms and pressed a quick kiss to her lips just as Betsy bounded to their side. The words on the video read, “The Goat Guy’s got a chick (and a dog)!”

“And cue the hate comments,” Olivia said.

“Those are few and far between. I bet more people will be happy for us.”

“Tell that to Herbert,” Olivia said with a jerk of her head toward the goat.

“I think more people are going to be surprised you’ve befriended a dog than they are about our dating announcement.”

Dawson looked around. “Where is she?”

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