by lightning. The second I saw her, I knew. It was fate.”
Renee hadn’t known they’d been going out for more than a few days, so she wasn’t prepared to have her friend’s father declare his love for Verity. Fortunately, Ed didn’t seem to expect an answer.
“I thought I had everything I wanted here, but now that I’ve met Verity, that’s not true anymore. My brother Ted is more than capable of handling things. The recycling center practically runs itself and Carol manages the staff that looks after the animals. There’s no reason I couldn’t make a change.”
Renee had no idea what they were talking about. “You’re thinking of moving?”
“What? Yes, to San Diego. I want to marry your mother.”
Renee sank down in the visitor’s chair. Her mother getting married? “But you’ve only known each other a few weeks.”
Ed nodded. “It’s quick, I know, but I’ve never felt like this before. I’m certain I can make her happy. I want to spend the rest of her life doing that.” His expression turned stricken. “It’s not about the money. I’ll sign a prenup. I just want her.”
Renee couldn’t gather her thoughts together. She managed to stand and smile at Ed. “I’m not worried that you’re after her money or anything like that. It’s all happening so quickly. I want her to have everything she wants. What did she say when you proposed?”
“I haven’t. I wanted your permission.”
“Mine?”
Everything about this moment was surreal. Why would her permission matter? Her mother was a capable woman who knew her own mind and had been making her own decisions for longer than Renee had been alive. Only Renee recognized that Ed wasn’t saying Verity couldn’t decide—instead he wanted Renee to be a part of things. The gesture was sweet. A little unexpected, but sweet.
“Of course,” she said with a smile. “I hope you two will be very happy together.”
There was a squeal from the hallway, then Carol raced in and hugged her.
“I was eavesdropping,” Carol said happily. “I couldn’t help myself. We’re going to be sisters. I’m so excited. You can’t move away. You have to promise.”
Carol’s sister, Violet, had moved to England a couple of years back. Carol still complained about it.
“Your mom is so great,” Carol continued. “I never thought my dad would find anyone but I knew the first time I saw them together.” She clapped her hands. “We’re a family.”
She kept talking, then Ed hugged them both and it was a happy moment, but all Renee heard was “We’re a family.”
While she’d always had her mom, there had never been any other relatives. Not since her dad had left. It had just been the two of them. Renee had always wanted a sister, an aunt or uncle, grandparents, and while she wasn’t exactly getting anything like that, she was getting family. A place to belong.
Unexpected tears burned in her eyes. “I’m so happy,” she whispered.
“Us, too,” Ed told her. “I’m driving to San Diego right now. I want to propose right away. You girls take care.”
He walked out. Renee stared after him. “You girls.” Like they were both his daughters. She loved the sound of that.
“Do you think she’ll say yes?” Carol asked, sounding anxious.
Renee thought about how blissful her mother had been and how alone she’d been for so long. Ed was a good guy and from what he’d said, it had pretty much been love at first sight for both of them.
“How could she not?” she asked with a laugh. “Come on. Let’s go out and celebrate.”
She was going to have a family. Later she would text Jasper and tell him the great news. Maybe he could figure out a way to put it in his next book.
* * *
JASPER HADN’T SLEPT in two days. Not because of nightmares or a book idea that wouldn’t let go but because he was trying to make sense of his feelings for Renee.
He wanted to say his confusion had started with his editor’s questions, but he knew the problem had begun long before that. Maybe when Wynn had pointed out he wasn’t broken anymore or even back when he and Renee had first spent the night together. Or maybe the first time she’d understood that he got lost in a book and hadn’t been mad about it.
There was something about her. Something that drew him in and made him want to stick around. Something that made him wonder if maybe his life was better with her in it.