Page 88 of Found in Wild Sage

“Oh, crap.” May’s voice is odd enough, I turn to see what she’s so taken off guard by.

Ah, of course. Jack McKean is pulling Evie into a hug. Miraculously, there’s no ugly crush of jealousy like I had before.

It might have something to do with the fact that Evie is married to me. It also may be thanks to her lecture last Friday night. A thrum of satisfaction hits me whenever I think of how definitive and in charge she was. That’s not to mention the part where she mentioned having had a crush on me, liking me, well before any of our conversations about getting married took place.

And now we’re here. Trevor’s lawyer has already disconnected his side of the virtual video call he was on for the hearing. I’m not sure how his being unable to be here without special dispensation from his parole board wouldn’t have automatically disqualified him from being a responsible party for Charlie, but I can’t complain. The only reason I’ve gotten to get close to Evie is because of this mess. I wish she’d never met the man, let alone had to deal with him, except that’s how she has Charlie. And it brought her here.

And she might actually want me, too, for real.

“If you all don’t have plans, I arranged for us to have lunch at Farm Comfort.”

Jack says this, and May’s head looks like it’s going to explode. Ma has already somehow charmed Jack into escorting her outside, and I see Da grinning after her, then sliding his arm around Eirinn’s shoulders.

“I guess we’re going to lunch.” I press a kiss to Evie’s cheek because it feels right.

She smiles. “I’m happy to celebrate this way. I also just want to hug Charlie.” Her watery chuckle leads to her wiping her eyes. “I’m so relieved, and I kind of can’t believe it, but I also knew it would go this way. It’s a weird feeling.”

I hold her close, breathing in the sweet scent of her shampoo and the warm, lovely sensation of her body against mine.

Can’t continue that line of thinking. Not here and now.

“I’ll leave you to celebrate. Congratulations. We’ll get all the documentation sent over so you have everything you need immediately.” Davis pats my shoulder. Evie thanks him effusively, and then he nudges his glasses higher on his nose, grabs his leather folio, and slips out a side door.

“Do you want to go?” Evie’s hand slips into mine.

“To lunch?” I’ll go anywhere with her. Doesn’t she know that by now?

“Is it okay? I know we hadn’t planned on it, but it’s his way of celebrating. I can tell him we can’t if you’d rather not.”

This woman. She’s so tender and thoughtful.

I slide my hand to the back of her head and tilt her face up, then drop a kiss to her lips. Her brows pop up and she smiles as I respond.

“I wouldn’t miss it.”

The lunch at Farm Comfort is as delicious as our last meal there. Since they aren’t normally open on weekdays, we’re the only people in the place. Apparently, Jack arranged this well in advance, so there’s a long banquet-style table for all of us. Cole Palmer comes out and greets Jack like an old friend, acknowledges my parents, Grant and Sam, Finn, May, me and Evie, and then his gaze finds Eirinn. His face bursts into a grin and he beelines to her, the professional, suave air about him faltering with his enthusiasm.

Evie and I share a look. I glance over to see each of my siblings eying the exchange. Eirinn smiles and accepts a hug, though her response feels far less enthusiastic. Still, she doesn’t come right back to us. She lingers, chatting with her old friend.

“I don’t like it,” Grant grumbles from next to me.

“None of our business, Sheriff.” Sam tugs on his hand and he sits.

Finn’s squinting at Eirinn and May has her arms crossed, but when Jack speaks, their attention snaps to the movie star.

“Thanks for letting me be a part of today.” He mostly says this to Evie, but I appreciate that he looks around as though it’s also directed at the rest of us. He pauses on me for a moment and gives me a nod. He’s already shaken my hand and told me how happy he is for us, too. He’s a good man, and I’m glad Evie has him in her life.

“Of course you were part of it. My understanding is you had a great deal to do with helping Evie get settled here. We owe you for helping her find us.” Da winks at Jack.

The A-lister drops his head in a show of humility. “I don’t think I can take much credit for anything.” His gaze hits Evie and they share a moment. “I only wish I’d figured out how to help sooner.”

Evie pats his hand. “None of that. We’re here to celebrate, and we can celebrate the result and the fact that Trevor should have basically zero reason to be in our lives in any way for a nice long time.” Her smile spreads slowly, like it’s multiplying by twos until it finally shifts into exponents and covers her whole face.

“Hear, hear!” Jack lifts a glass of champagne that has materialized as we were all speaking, and the rest of us raise ours, as well. “To Evie and Charlie, and now Declan, and the beautiful family they’ve built.”

Everyone toasts to us, to our family, and I swallow down the lump in my throat right along with the bubbling drink.

“You realize this makes you an honorary Ryan, don’t you?” Ma asks Jack.