Epilogue

The grand opening of Lyn’s Eatery brought the entire island, tourists, and media together to celebrate. Shortly after Gwen had gotten funding, she, Jocelyn, Jack, and a handful of hired contractors began renovating the house next door. They’d worked rain or shine, aiming to have the diner open by summertime for tourist season.

Standing outside the restaurant, Gwen felt such immense pride that she felt near to bursting.

Jack slung an arm around her. “Amazing job, baby,” he murmured in her ear. “It looks like a real restaurant.”

Gwen laughed. “Don’t look too closely. Pretty sure the paper towel holder in the restroom is about to fall off the wall.”

“Nobody cares about those things. I don’t. They just see that you’ve worked your ass off.” He then squeezed her ass, which made her roll her eyes.

Jocelyn was inside, cooking away, probably barking out orders to her sous chef, a young culinary graduate named Kelly. Kelly, though, had quickly figured out how best to handle Jocelyn. The girl had balls, that was for sure. Gwen was just thankful they’d found her and convinced her to take a job on the island when she could’ve gotten a job anywhere.

“Don’t you want to go inside?” asked Jack, cutting through Gwen’s thoughts.

“I will. I just want to admire it some more. This is the first time it’s been filled with customers.” She sighed happily then turned to Jack. “I couldn’t have done this without you. Thank you, for everything.”

He kissed her forehead. “I feel the exact same way.”

She and Jack went inside Lyn’s eventually, going from table to table, talking to customers. The reviews so far had been glowing. Despite her initial resistance to changing the menu, Jocelyn had eventually realized that Jack’s suggestions had been prudent ones.

“Elliot!” Gwen found her older brother, his wife Bekah, and their two-year-old daughter Lola at one of the booths. “How is everything?”

“Awesome job, Sis.” He grinned up at her. “Can I get a discount for being the brother of the owner?”

“God, you’re so cheap.” Bekah shook her head. “Don’t listen to him. He’s just trying to save a buck.”

“Yeah, because we’re going to have another mouth to feed soon!”

Gwen’s eyes widened. “What? You guys are having a second one?”

“I just found out last week,” said Bekah. Then she watched as Lola began throwing her French fries, then a dish of ketchup, onto the floor, laughing at her own antics. “Not sure we thought this through, to be honest,” added Bekah as she began to clean up Lola’s mess.

Elliot looked a little pale now, which just made Gwen laugh at him. She squeezed his shoulder. “Good luck.”

“Thanks,” he muttered.

After Gwen and Jack had done the rounds and eaten their own meals, Jack asked Gwen to go for a walk. A clear summer evening, they found themselves down at the beach to watch the sunset. Gwen snuggled up to him, neither of them needing to say anything.

The past year had been sheer bliss for the two of them. They’d found a small house to rent—courtesy of Luke—and moved in together earlier that year. Jack, for his part, had decided to gain more experience as a general contractor as he’d helped with the renovation. He’d recently gotten his license and, with help from Luke, had begun work on a variety of projects on the island. Hazel Island was growing, and there was high demand to build more houses, offices, and stores.

“I heard from my mom today,” said Jack quietly.

Gwen looked up at him. As far as she knew, he hadn’t spoken to Debra in months. “And?”

“She wants to see me. And meet you. She says she’s finished a ninety-day program and is now in sober living.”

“Oh, Jack, that’s amazing. I’m so happy for you and her.”

His expression remained serious, though. “I’m not sure about you meeting her, yet. Besides, she could relapse again. She’s never stayed sober for very long.”

“That’s true, but celebrate the good that’s happening right now. Your mom clearly wants to have a relationship with you.”

“Or she just wants more money,” he said darkly.

“Maybe. But give her a chance. Maybe she’ll prove you wrong.”

“You always like to see the good in people.”

“You mean I’m not a grumpy old man like you?”

He growled, tickling her, which made her start laughing like a crazy woman. Soon enough, the tickling turned into kissing. It was only the lack of privacy that kept them from going further.

Jack shook his head. “You drive me crazy, woman,” he said, even as he squeezed her ass for the second time that night. “I can’t believe you’re really mine.”

“Believe it.”

She was now staring out onto the horizon, and she didn’t see Jack reach inside his pocket. He had to clear his throat to regain her attention.

In the palm of his hand was a ring box. Gwen stared at it, her brain taking a long moment to understand what she was looking at.

“Jack,” she whispered.

“Gwen Parker,” he said, slowly going down on one knee as he opened the ring box. “The first day I met you, I knew you were special. I also knew that no matter what, I’d watch over you. I just never thought you could love me as much as I love you.”

Gwen was crying now. She was sniffling and trying to wipe away the tears as Jack took her hand.

“Will you marry me? I’ll never stop trying to make you happy,” he said.

She was nodding because her voice didn’t seem to be working anymore.

“Is that a yes?” he asked.

“Yes—yes!” She nearly shouted the word. “Of course I’ll marry you!”

He grinned. “No need to yell, sweetheart. I think the entire island heard you.” He placed the ring on her left hand.

“It’s beautiful. I love it,” she said, looking at the ring. Then to Jack, “I love you. I would be honored to be your wife.”

Then she launched herself into his arms, and they fell onto the sand together, laughing like love-drunk fools.

* * *

Luke

Luke Wright sat at the bar at Lyn’s Eatery, seriously considering having a fourth beer. He didn’t need another one, of course. He hadn’t eaten much, so after the three he’d already drunk, he was rather tipsy. Not drunk. Luke didn’t like to get drunk. Being out of control was one of the things he hated most in life.

He’d considered skipping out on the grand opening of the latest Hazel Island restaurant. But he had a stake in its success, so he didn’t have much of an excuse to stay home. Besides, he didn’t really like staying at his parents’ place. He could stay in any of the rental properties he owned, but it was easier to stay at home right now.

Luke heard Jocelyn Gray’s voice, even over the sounds of the diners. She was shouting something about a burnt rib-eye. When he heard another voice tell her that she was wrong, he raised an eyebrow.

Few people told Jocelyn Gray she was wrong. He’d done it once, and he had the scars to show for it. The woman was a terror.

Jocelyn, her blond hair coming undone from its usual ponytail, came huffing out of the kitchen. She instantly went to mix herself a drink from the bar. The bartender just blinked at her and gave her a wide berth.

“Having a good night?” said Luke lazily.

“I’m surprised you’re still here,” she said as she began pouring various liquids into a cocktail mixer. After mashing up fruit and tossing some mint leaves into the mixer, she shook it.

“What are you making?” Luke asked.

“A mojito. It’s a guilty pleasure.” Jocelyn poured the cocktail into a tall glass and took a long drink. “I love these things.”

“I didn’t take you for a fruity, cocktail kind of girl.”

“What did you take me for?”

Luke shrugged. “Maybe a tumbler of whiskey. Or scotch. Maybe with a cigar to go along with the drink.”

Jocelyn snorted. “So you imagine me sitting around in a smoking jacket like Hugh Hefner? How flattering.”

The thought of Jocelyn wearing a smoking jacket made Luke imagine her wearing ~only~ a smoking jacket. He was glad he was sitting down because his body reacted instantly to the image.

He didn’t know why this lingering attraction to Jocelyn wouldn’t go away. He had a feeling the only way for it to disappear would be to fuck her. Then he’d get bored, and he’d move on.

That was how it usually went with women, at least.

But then he remembered his conversation with his father just yesterday, and his gut clenched. Those three beers he’d drunk didn’t seem nearly enough.

“Can you get me another Pale Ale?” said Luke to Jocelyn.

“I’m not the bartender.”

The poor bartender was drying some glasses and trying to act like he didn’t mind Jocelyn in his space.

“No, but you’re closer to where the bottles are.” Luke gave her a winning smile. “Come on, baby, get me a drink.”

“I’m not your baby.” But she still reached down and, after taking off the cap, handed the beer to him. “That’s twenty dollars.”

“For one beer?”

“No, that’s just for my tip.” Now she was smiling.

Luke snorted. Taking out his wallet, he handed her a one-hundred-dollar bill. “Keep the change.”

“Luke, I can’t take this—”

“Too late. You already took it. Use it to buy yourself something nice.”

“I don’t need anything nice.”

Luke nearly growled under his breath. This woman—she drove him ~insane. ~She never let anyone just do something nice for her.

“How about you get yourself something to wear?” In a joking tone, he added, “Maybe get rid of those ugly shoes you always wear. Not a good look when a woman looks as mannish as you dress.”

“You’re an asshole, you know that?”

Then she tossed the crumpled one-hundred-dollar bill in his face and walked off, nearly colliding with the bartender as she left.

Luke sat in silence, moping, as he nursed his beer. The bartender eventually said to him with wide, amazed eyes, “I can’t believe you poked the beast and survived.”

“We’ll see how long until she actually kills me.” Luke then downed the rest of his beer in one gulp.

The End