Page 29 of Nikoli

I look at Gabe and see resignation in his eyes. "You're leaving?"

Willow reaches out and takes his hand. "I'm in love with Nikoli. He can't leave Boston. I wouldn't ask him to. My home now will be wherever Nikoli is, but here with you will also be my safe haven." She leans in to kiss his knuckles. "I'm not going back right away. We have things to work out here, and I want to spend time with you. In fact, I think you should come with me to Boston."

Gabe looks at me. "I'll take care of her, and as Willow suggested, you can come back with her. I have a guest room. It's yours whenever and for as long as you like."

After a short pause, Gabe removes his hands from his sisters’ grip, and offers a hand for me to shake. "I think I'll take you up on that."

Willow bursts into tears before jumping at her brother, who catches her.

21

WILLOW

EPILOGUE

I smile as I see Gabe having a lively conversation with Dario, Bradford, and Madden. Rhodes has taken Rosie to Sugar Briar to relax with his family for a few days. Lake and his wife Juniper quickly prepared dinner in their apartment. Being in a room full of strangers is a bit overwhelming. I expected Gabe to have more problems, but it seems I was wrong. I'm glad he's having a good time. I really do not want him to go back to Louisville. Although it would be painful for me to sell the house Mom worked on, I don't want to be there anymore. I'm not sure Gabe does either. We will see.

Martha is dozing in one of the lounge chairs on the balcony, wrapped in a warm blanket. She's had a full day with the company. She shed a tear as she looked out at the boats in the harbor.

Nikoli stands on the balcony talking to Lake while Juniper reappears with another blanket. She sits next to me in the two-person lounge and covers our legs.

I know Nikoli felt bad about excluding Lake from the recent events. But they seem to be okay, laughing and nudging each other.

Juniper raises her face to the dark sky and sighs. "I love it out here. The view is fantastic." She giggles. "And I'm not just talking about the one at the end of the balcony."

I grin. "Hmm, that's nice."

"There's a much nicer view on the inside," Martha says.

"I thought you were asleep." I reach out and rub her hand.

"Don't distract me, dear."

Juniper looks at me with glee in her eyes. She leans forward, "Martha's been teasing poor Dario for a while. He's okay with it though." She nudges me just as Dario comes through the door.

He grins. "How's my favorite girl?"

Martha blushes as Dario takes her hand and kisses it. "Oh, you tease."

"Now, babe, you tease me enough with those gorgeous eyes on my body."

"Oh, it's getting hot out here." Martha lifts the blanket.

"If you have to flirt with my grandmother, can you please do it out of my earshot?"

Juniper and I giggle.

"He's not flirting, Nikoli," Martha says. "He's entertaining an old woman."

"Well, Martha," Dario says, "what did I tell you about age?"

"Oh, poof!" Martha laughs. "Now, use some of those lovely muscles to pull me out of this chair. I think it's time for bed."

"It would be my pleasure to help you." Dario neatly folds the blanket that had covered Martha and places it at my feet. Then he takes her hands and places them on his shoulders. He winks and leans in close before wrapping his arms around her and lifting her out of the chair. "How did I do?" He asks when she's able to stand on her own.

"I think I feel faint."

They elicit a few laughs as Nikoli helps me to my feet. "Did you have a good time?"

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