Page 116 of Risk It All
“Are you adopting Red?” Jules asked hopefully as she turned toward Cooper, referring to the German Shepherd my brother had been visiting at the animal shelter.
While he hadn’t fully committed yet, he was basically there. He’d spent evenings at the animal shelter over the last couple of weeks to get extra time with Red and make sure it was a good decision for the both of them.
“Yeah, I am,” Cooper said with a grin. “I’m going to head over there for an hour to take him on a walk and figure out a good weekend to bring him home.”
Jules let out a squeal, and I grinned. “I always thought you’d be more of a golden retriever guy, but I love that you’re getting a German Shepherd, especially one who’s a little older,” she said with a warm smile.
Cooper laughed. “Well, my best friend is grumpy as hell, and we get along great. Figured I should stick to what I know.”
“I’m not that grumpy,” Wes said. He paused for a moment before adding, “Anymore,” while he looked down at Jules.
She wrapped an arm around his waist while he stood next to her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“Oh, one sec,” Wes said, reaching into his pocket. “Jade’s calling.” He brought the phone to his ear and said, “Hey, sis.” His brows rose, and he stepped away to continue the conversation.
I looked at Wes, then at Jules, and finally at Cooper, who had a clenched jaw and hand wrapped tightly around his beer can, which I presumed was empty by the way he crushed it under his grip.
Within a few minutes, Wes came back, pocketing his phone in his jeans with an expression none of us could read. “That was, uh, well, I should probably tell Lily, too. I don’t want her to find out from someone else with how quickly word spreads here, but that was Jade. She’s…she’s coming back.”
“When?”
All our eyes darted to Cooper then to Wes as he answered.
“Soon. Maybe in the next couple of weeks. I don’t know for how long, but she said her current contract is up.”
We were all stunned into silence that no one noticed when Lily and Gabe walked up.
“What’s going on with all of you?” Lily asked with a laugh. “It’s like you’ve all seen a ghost.”
Wes turned toward his youngest sister, his expression softening. “Jade’s coming back.”
Lily’s face fell and lips parted. I didn’t miss the way Gabe’shand immediately grabbed hers, rubbing smooth circles over the back with his thumb.
“What?” Lily blinked rapidly, and my heart hurt for her, knowing how her relationship with her sister had gotten rocky over the last few years with Jade not visiting often or being as present in Lily’s life.
Lily pulled out a stool and set her bag on the counter, looking right at me. “I think I could use a drink.”
“Make that two,” Cooper said.
My eyes darted to my brother, hoping he’d be okay.
“Coming right up,” I said, setting Jules’s Aperol spritz in front of her and grabbing a seltzer for Lily and another beer for Cooper.
Gran’s psychic had told her there’d be a rainstorm, an engagement, and a homecoming.
The last piece we’d been waiting on was the homecoming.
Guess we got our answer.
BONUS EPILOGUE
TWO YEARS LATER
The Golden Falls Gazette
Lake Ridge’s Leo Rivers wins prestigious James Beard award
Chef Leo Rivers earned the title of Best Chef: Midwest, highlighting his innovative, sustainable cuisine.
