“I don’t know if I’m here to stay,” I say before Ashlyn gets some other bizarre idea.
Rowan leans forward. “You don’t know?”
I nod.
“Are you saying you could be here to stay for good?”
“Maybe,” I hedge.
“This is the best news.”
“Hello.” Ashlyn elbows him. “I gave you a daughter this week.”
“On the floor of a construction zone.”
“It was an accident.”
“An accident? You forgetting to tell me you were in labor for a day was an accident?”
“How’s your family?” I butt in to ask Ashlyn because this argument could go on for days.
Ashlyn has four sisters. Although I’ve stayed in touch with Rowan, I haven’t followed the gossip about the West sisters.
“They’re good. Aspen married her high school sweetheart, Lyric, a few months ago. Ellery has a baby girl and is engaged to Cole. He’s the out-of-towner who’s managing the project to build the community center. Lilac is engaged to Beckett. Also, an out-of-towner who lives in White Bridge. And you probably already know Juniper is engaged to the movie star Maverick Langston.”
Wow. The West sisters have been busy.
“I don’t know what I’m more surprised about. Juniper marrying a superstar or Lilac falling in love.”
“Lilac was in the same grade as you in school, wasn’t she?”
“Yep, but I haven’t seen her in a while. What’s she doing now?”
Ashlyn rubs her hands together. “Get this. She fell in love with her boss.”
“Things are never dull in Winter Falls.”
“Yep. You should probably stay in town permanently, so you don’t miss a thing.”
“Smooth move, dream girl,” Rowan grunts.
“What? Am I supposed to be subtle about convincing him to stay in town? You didn’t warn me in advance.”
He grins. “You? Be subtle? I know better than to ask for miracles.”
I wave a hand toward Patience who’s now sleeping in Ashlyn’s lap. “I think you got your miracle already.”
And, make no doubt about it, Patience’s birth is a miracle. Rowan thought he couldn’t have children, which fucked with his head. I don’t how Ashlyn did it, but she pushed her way past Rowan’s reservations and now they’re happily married.
I stand. “I should probably get going.”
“Already?” Ashlyn pouts. “I can try to be subtle. Promise. There’s no need for you to permanently return to Winter Falls. We’ll keep you updated. Although, it’d be more fun if you were here. See? Subtle.”
I chuckle as I lean down to kiss her goodbye. “Behave, sister-in-law.”
She sits up straight and beams up at me. “I always behave.” She winks.
I ruffle her hair. “Sure, you do.”