“Hey,” I sigh, looping my arms around his neck, “I’m just elated I’m on your extremely short list of people you love.”
* * *
Three hours later, Brody’s truck slides along the curb at LAX.
I’m glancing through his phone for the airline app for our boarding passes.
“Brody, you took the wrong turn for overnight parking. Also, I can’t find . . .” From the corner of my eye, I see two familiar faces.
My eyebrows zip together, bottom lip agape, I climb out of the truck to hug my parents. “What are the two of you doing, Mom, Dad? We’re supposed to be on our way to you?”
“I canceled the tickets, lass.”
“Yes, he did, princess,” Dad says. “Your mom was getting a bit paranoid. Your friend here humored her.”
I reach up, hug Brody, and slyly inquire, “She threatened you, didn’t she? With a bunch of questions?”
“Pretty much.”
Hmmm, my mom’s here to conduct a child safety investigation, cue social worker mentality. Placing a smile on my face, I begin the introductions.
“Mom, Dad, this is Brody MacKenzie.”
“Mr. MacKenzie,” Mom’s tone is laced with curiosity, “are you ready to show me your neck of the woods?”
“Aye, uh, yes, ma’am.”
“Mom,” I hug her again, whispering, “do not make him run.”
Brody rubs my shoulders from behind me. “Nae, yer daughter’s pretty good at running.”
“And why would she have to run?” Mom inquires as a crowd weaves around us.
Dad sighs. “For the love of Christ, honey. Our daughter has never looked happier. And I’m hungry.”
“Thank you, Dad. I guess we can take your luggage to—”
“We’re staying where you’re staying,” Mom says.
“I’d not expect anything else, Mrs. Flowers.” Brody smiles at her. “And to answer yer question, the lass ran when I didn’t yet know her worth. I do now.”
Extended Epilogue
Brody
The wee, lovely Mrs. Flowers looks up at me in shock while her bonny daughter’s even more mesmerized by my statement.
“Hey, don’t take it there,” Mr. Flowers jokes. “I gave you extra points for agreeing to the wife’s schemes. But if we leave back for Boston next week, and she expects me to say lovey-dubby stuff, I’m coming for you.”
“This is as good as it gets.” I take his outstretched hand and give it a shake. “Justice is our resident poet. Ye raised her well.”
“Thanks.” Her father nods. “I’ll take that compliment.”
While the lasses chat about where they’d like to eat, Mr. Flowers and I take their luggage and place it next to ours.
He’s getting into the truck when my phone rings. It’s Kieran. I haven’t heard from him since he left California last month, but not because we parted on bad terms. Blythe’s in Boston already, but Kieran headed back to Scotland with a lass he met at the same hotel where my engagement was canceled. Kieran took Ewan’s private plane—while Ewan stayed at my parents’ house for a week to strengthen his bond with Da. This was the first time the guys had gotten together in ages. Being around Da seems to have brought Ewan back to reality. Now, he’s back to only being a bawbag to Erika—but Ewan, with Mam’s help, is working on that too. However, Kieran didn’t take Ewan’s plane to be a pretentious fecker.
Nae.