Marty’s eyes crinkled at the corners, and his jowls wobbled as if he didn’t know what to say.
“You going to keep staying away when she comes to the diner?”
“Yes.”
“Then you have my blessing … fuckwad.”
Gavin knocked on Silas’s door.
Silas opened the door with a friendly smile. “Why did you knock? Come on in.”
Gavin stepped inside, seeing all Ginny’s brothers were there for their Sunday dinner. They were lounging in the living room.
Silas looked at him curiously as he stood there formally.
“I love Ginny, and I know how much Ginny loves you. If I can convince her to marry me, I will no longer have one brother but eight. I promise Ginny won’t never need for anything, and I promise to provide for her and any children we may have to the best of my abilities. May I ask Ginny to marry me?”
Silas looked to each of his brothers, receiving their nods, before he walked toward Gavin and held out his hand. “You have our blessing. Welcome to the family, brother.”
Ginny’s brothers all shook his hand in the order they were born. After Fynn’s handshake, Gavin excused himself and went outside. With Suki following, he walked across the property until he came to a fenced-off area. Unlatching the gate, he walked in until he knelt at the grave of Ginny’s father.
“Freddy, my name is Gavin James. I’m in love with your daughter. I don’t deserve Ginny. I’ll never deserve Ginny. You raised a wonderful daughter.
“One of my biggest regrets is that I never had the opportunity to meet you. Ginny talks about you every day, as well as Leah. She keeps both of you in her heart. The lessons you taught her will be passed down to our children. I only pray I have the ability to be as good a father as you were. I can’t receive your blessing in person, but I pray the blessing we are able to receive is you watching over us until one day we are able to meet in person.”
Gavin stood to look down at the grave. “You’re going to have a grandson, your first one. We plan to give him your given name. Rest in peace, Freddy.”
Gavin took three steps to the side; kneeling down he a laid of bouquet of flowers on the small grave with a pink headstone. “Leah, my name is Gavin. I’m in love with your sister. She talks about you at least three or four times a day. How you loved to count the stars, and play make-believe, and dreamed of living next to each other. I’m sorry your hopes and dreams were never fulfilled in this lifetime.”
Reaper stared at the two graves in the graveyard. Some of the markers so old, the inspiration so faded with time, they couldn’t be read anymore. The small gravestone marking Ginny’s sister tore at his heart.
Bending forward he plucked a clump of dead grass from the mound of Leah’s grave. His jaw clenched at the strength of emotions he was feeling.
“Little Angel, I hope you find the joy and happiness in your next lifetime, like I found in mine.”
Rising to his feet, Gavin turned toward the gate to see Silas standing with one foot on the bottom rail.
“I heard what you said to them. It was nice. Dad and Leah were crazy over Ginny. They would both be happy you found her.”
“We found each other.” Gavin came through the gate, making sure to latch it closed.
“I have to correct you about one thing, though. You did meet my father.” Silas patted Suki’s head as they walked.
“I would have remembered if I had.” Gavin frowned, racking his memory from when he first came to Treepoint.
“It was right before he died. You even have his signature.” Silas bent down to pick up a stick, throwing it for Suki.
Gavin stopped, looking at Silas. “He was the silent investor who put up the money to build the factory and the club.”
Silas took the stick from Suki, then threw it farther. “Yes.” Silas reached into his back pocket and pulled out an old envelope. “There is a reason you couldn’t find where Ginny’s deed to her part of the mountain was. It was because it had never been put in her name.”
Gavin tore the envelope open. Reading the document, he began laughing. If he hadn’t believed that Freddy could foretell the future before, he did now.
The deed had been made out to Gavin and Evangeline James.
Dalton opened the door with a surprised look on his face.
“May I speak with Trudy?”
Dalton looked down at the bouquet of flowers in his hands. “Are you sure you want to come in? They’re all in there.”
“I’m … sure.” Gavin lied, preferring to do another tour in Afghanistan than face the group of women in the living room.
They stopped talking when he walked in.