“Not fair that Curtis stole our dog” was all her husband had said as he placed the squirming ball of fluffy fur in her eagerly outstretched hands. He’d been smiling, though. Daisy remained faithful to Curtis but was content with head scratches and belly rubs from any of them.
Emma wagged her tail so hard Sam worried it would fall off, but the puppy seemed to understand her words and didn’t bark again.
After laying Evan in his crib, she picked up Emma, showering kisses on her furry head as she moved silently around her small home on stocking feet, touching the metal handles Harris had forged into flowers and herbs to honor her love of gardening. She loved that his work was so tactile; every time her fingers slipped across the metal she felt connected to her husband. He’d worked hard to tailor their home to suit her, and she’d found a contentment here she hadn’t known in years.
She had to admit it was ironic to find herself living in a small space after escaping the Evermobile, the large van she’d driven for her parents’ band for years, but she didn’t mind. She was in and out of her friends’ houses constantly, up at the manor to help with guests, in the bunkhouse for shared meals, meetings and get-togethers.
And besides, she spent most of her day in the extensive greenhouses. They had six of them now, and besides the crops and gardens they’d planted outside and the traditionally potted plants in several of the greenhouses, they’d now filled two with a hydroponic system she hoped would provide plenty of fresh vegetables through the winter. They’d even started a small orchard in the last greenhouse, hoping to extend their growing season and include fruit that usually required a more southern setting to produce.
After pouring herself a tall glass of water, Samantha sat down on the sofa with the puppy and put her feet up, content to rest while her baby did and glad that Byron had followed through with his promise to pop in earlier and give Emma a good long run around Base Camp to tire her out. The puppy flopped down beside her, heaving a happy sigh. Samantha knew just how she felt. There would be plenty to do later.
For now she’d rest and relax.
“Croquet?” Jericho couldn’t hide his surprise, but his cousin, Donovan, just laughed at him.
“They’ll have to think of something different for the winter, but for now it’s croquet. You should see them going at it; you’d think the Stanley Cup was at stake.”
Jericho wasn’t sure he could picture his mom and dad playing croquet against Aunt Patty and Uncle Chris, but the important thing was that they were socializing at all. Chris and Patty had been through a stint in a treatment program and had been sober ever since.
“I’m glad they’re doing so well,” he told Donovan.
“I’m glad we’re all happy these days. I hope Jacob and Wade are good friends.”
“I’m sure they will be.” Donovan, his wife and seventeen-month-old baby had already been to visit them several times, and he, Savannah and Jacob had returned the favor. The baby boys played together as much as any toddlers could be expected to. Jericho hadn’t thought it possible he’d ever be part of such a happy family and was grateful to Donovan for how open he’d been about re-establishing ties between the branches of the Cooks.
“You’ve got more interested people coming,” Donovan said, pointing to a knot of visitors making their way toward the wind turbines. “I’ll let you go for now but look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
“Me, too.”
“Say goodbye to Jacob and Jericho,” Donovan told his son.
“Bye!” Wade crowed.
“Bye!” Jacob echoed.
Donovan headed to where his wife, Jackie, was talking to Savannah. He looked forward to the big family gathering his parents were hosting tomorrow. His sister, who’d also joined a twelve-step program, and her family would be there as well as Donovan, Jackie, Wade, Pam and Chris. It would be like old times—except much better. These days, food was the star of the show rather than alcohol, and no children were shunted to the side.
He was grateful for how Savannah had forgiven his parents and sister for their prior behavior and greeted them now without hesitation, embracing family life wholeheartedly. Her parents had softened, too—a bit. He wasn’t sure they’d ever fully understand their daughter’s choices, but they were doing their best.
Meanwhile, he had his business to focus on. Savannah’s meeting with Simon Brashear at her audition in California had opened a world of possibilities for him. Sunset Group had hired him as a consultant in their quest to become carbon neutral, and as soon as Fulsom had gotten wind of it, he’d made his own offer of funding so Jericho could take the business large. Fulsom’s money had allowed Jericho to bring a number of other energy consultants onboard, and business was booming. When Anders made the transition to running Hansen Energy next year, he knew his friend would make an offer to bring him on board. They were still discussing the best way to do this, but Jericho knew that with a client the size of Hansen Energy in his pocket, he could write his own ticket and expand in multiple ways.
One step at a time, though, he reminded himself. Today he would introduce a few dozen people to the basic concepts of green energy. Tomorrow he’d spend the day with his wife, baby and extended family. He had purpose and was loved.
What more could a man want?
“Bye,” Savannah said, helping Jacob wave to his cousin as Donovan and Jackie carried Wade away. With a sigh, she settled Jacob more firmly in her arms, his legs clinging to her waist as she began to walk to where Jericho was chatting with a group of interested people. “I’m taking a break,” she said
