Page 12 of Letters From Home

He imagined what life might be like if they stayed together. Nick would put that tire swing in the tree, and find other ways to keep Jack busy and safe. He’d teach Jack how to surf once he was older, too. They could start with swimming lessons this summer. Every beach-town kid should know how to swim.

If things went well, they could give Jack a brother or sister to play with.

Nick might be moving too fast, but his mind was already years into the future. He was ready for it. All they needed was to pick out that two-person swing for the porch. They’d tuck the kids into bed at night, then spend long, lazy summer nights outside, talking about their day and watching the sunset.

Nick reached for Jessica’s hand. “What do you say? Can we share dinner again tomorrow? And every night after that? I’m thinking long term here.”

Jessica blushed and nodded. “I’d like that. We won’t let you spoil us, though. I’ll cook tomorrow night.”

“And I’ll take a turn the next night,” Nick promised. “I make a great grilled cheese.”

“I love grilled cheese!” Jack crowed, his face lighting up with a grin.

That’s good, because I don’t know how to cook anything else, Nick thought, holding back a laugh. “You can help me butter the bread,” he promised the boy.

Jack puffed out his chest proudly. “Mom says I’m a big help. They’ll be the best grilled cheese sandwiches in the world.”

Nick turned to grin at Jessica, watching as her face slowly became more serious.

“Are we moving too fast?” she asked.

Nick gave her hand a squeeze. “Life moves fast. When you’re on the right path, you just know. This feels right, doesn’t it?”

Jessica smiled shyly and nodded. “It feels exactly right. Thanks for making us feel so welcome in town. Your cards helped, too. They were really sweet.” She paused, glancing out the shop’s window at their quiet hometown. “They felt like notes from the past, reminding me that these were our roots.”

Nick leaned forward, pausing for a moment to hand Jack some fresh napkins. “I’m glad you liked the cards. But I have to admit, they weren’t entirely my idea.”

“What do you mean?”

Nick explained the story from the beginning—the rotten windowsill, the hidden letters, and an injured soldier’s love for his wife and unborn child. “I’ll share them when we get home.”

“A soldier’s letters from home,” she sighed. “How romantic. I wonder how their story ended.”

Nick grinned and picked up his phone. “We can probably find them through the town’s historical society. But I like to think Jimmy and Barbara lived a long life in Sunset Cove. They grew old in the house you own now, passing it on to their child. That house feels like it’s seen lots of happy memories and love.”

Jessica nodded, but took the phone from Nick’s hands and set it on the table. “We’ll find their story one day. But today, let’s focus on us. We’ve got our own happy ending to write.”

Epilogue: Ten years later

Nick beamed at theprogress they’d made on this month's project. Over the past decade, Grant Construction had grown to become one of the busiest, most dependable crews in Sunset Cove.

The O’Neill house was a typical job for them—they were expanding a beautiful beachside home for a growing family.

Adding kids’ rooms was one of his favorite tasks. He’d done the same to his own house, converting the old farmhouse’s attic into a playroom for Jack, then transforming it to include girls’ bunk beds as their needs evolved.

“Daddy!” Bree, his youngest daughter, raced up the house steps and into the open door, followed by Jack and her older sister, Abby. “We went to the bookstore, and they had books about Halloween. We painted pumpkins during craft time. But don’t worry, they’re not real. Ms. Renee says they’ll last longer than real pumpkins.”

Nick knelt down to wrap his daughter in a hug, grinning at Jessica as she walked into the room. “Painting pumpkins? That sounds like fun.”

“One is pink with purple polka dots. I think they belong on the kitchen table,” Jessica added. “They’re works of art.”

Nick nodded solemnly, giving Bree a kiss on the head before he stood up to greet his wife. “Anything for my girls,” he murmured, pulling Jessica close for her own kiss. After a decade together, she still made his heart flutter with joy. How had he gotten so lucky?

The girls began to get antsy, poking around the supplies Nick had ordered for this house’s renovations and examining the walls marked with an ‘X.’ “What’s the paint for, dad?” his older daughter asked.

Jack picked up a sledgehammer and pretended to hit the wall. “You know X marks the spot,” he said, grinning at his sister. “Dad, can I get started on this wall?”

Nick chuckled and shook his head. Jack was eager to work at Grant Construction, but demolition was dangerous work. Jack found ways to help during summer breaks, though.

---