Page 123 of Come Back for Me
I lean down and pull Hadley up into my arms and then grab ahold of Ellie. “This is what’s perfect.”
Ellie gives us each a kiss. “What do you think, Hadley?”
She grabs both our necks and pulls us close. “I love our family.”
“Me too, Squirt.”
“Me three.”
And everything I have in my arms is everything I need.
Epilogue
Ellie
~Two months later~
“Dealing with these contractors is driving us crazy. But it’s a huge relief that the Walcott farm sold and now I don’t have to worry about Kevin living next door.”
“Yeah.”
“Connor took me out for dinner last night, and I swear, Syd, I thought he was going to propose.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready, but then I wonder about what more I need to be ready.”
“Right.”
It’s been an hour of us sitting here in the farmhouse. We’re supposed to be having a girl’s lunch since Connor is at the build site and Hadley is at riding camp, but Syd is being a grump. Instead of eating, she keeps moving the food around the plate and giving one-word answers.
I pick up my napkin and toss it at her. “What is up with you?”
“I’m fine.”
I know she isn’t, and I have a feeling I know what is bothering her. “Declan comes this week.”
Sydney’s eyes light up for the first time. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“You never do, but I think you should.”
I can’t imagine this is going to be easy on her, and she’s been doing her best to pretend, but time is up. Declan has cleared the next six months so he can do his time on the farm.
The brothers decided that when the conditions of the will were met, they were going to split up the land into quarters and if one wanted their portion, they could have it, but they forfeited all rights to any proceeds for the other three. When Declan, Sean, and Jacob go to sell, they’ll split it three ways since Connor is keeping his.
The section we’re building on is perfect. It’s Connor’s favorite spot and where Hadley’s ridiculous tree-mansion sits.
Still, we’re nowhere near done with building since they broke ground only a month ago. Instead of taking Declan in as a roommate, which he refused to even consider, he had a sort of tiny home built out by the barn, which is now completely finished and functional.
“I’m sorry, I have a lot on my mind.”
“Okay . . . like, Declan?”
She gives me a pointed stare, which I’m sure intimidates some people—just not me. “I need to figure some things out.”
I hate that she’s clearly upset. “Syd, you know you can tell me anything.”
She releases a deep breath and then looks away. “I made a mistake.”
