Page 35 of Finding Ash
“I’ll bet he does, and something tells me he’ll be our real estate agent too,” McClain laughed. “That man is everywhere. It may be slim pickings house hunting, but if he has a contractor, we can make it ours.”
“And stay here during the renovations so we don’t have to live in a construction zone.”
“Exactly, Remy. Now, can I be the first to say how excited I am to have both the men I love living with me?” McClain sighed. “I never thought I’d be this happy again. I love you both with all my heart.”
Ash and I tackled him back onto the bed, kissing every inch we could.
“We love you too, McClain.” Then Ash and I proceeded to show him just how much.
Huh, I guess we did find a way to contribute, nonmonetarily, of course.
Chapter Fifteen
McClain
Six months later
“Wow, that was one of the best Christmas dinners I’ve ever had.” Remy’s mom and sister, plus all of Ash’s family, including nieces and nephews, came to Foggy for the holidays. I now understand Ash’s aversion to crowds. He’d basically lived in one his entire life. WhileNate, Lynn, Daisy, and Kit made this wonderful meal, I got to play a part in providing dessert for the group.
“I’m excited to taste test the frozen treats McClain’s whipped up,” Merle rubbed his hands together like a mad scientist. Huh, maybe he was. The man was a mystical anomaly and would probably live forever. Did Foggy have a fountain of youth I wasn’t aware of?
“Me too!” Kara wiggled in her seat, and the little ones copied her. That girl had been a godsend to the parents, having kept the kids busy while they took care of shopping and decorations.
As the pies were placed on the service tables where dinner had been served from, Ash and I got out the new flavors for them to sample.
“We have lavender, lemon, lavender lemon, raspberry, and raspberry lemon. Next to this jar is a stack of paper and pens. After you’ve sampled them, put your name and your favorite flavor on a slip of paper, then fold it and place it in the jar. One winner will be chosen, and their flavor will not only be flavor of the month, but will be permanently added to the menu.” Ash had come a long way from the shy boy rolling off a commune to being able to speak up around others. Granted, this was all family, but it was a hell of a lot of bodies.
Remy, Ash, and I had tried these flavors so often during the process of perfecting them that we knew them like the back of our hands. All good flavors that will likely end up on the menu at some point, if even only temporarily, though I had to say there was one favorite of mine I hoped got picked.
Gifts had been opened this morning. Ash, Remy, and I opted to only do stockings for each other and save our money for the hopeful new house. We still had an adorably decorated tree in the apartment and baked enough cookies for an army, which glancing around right now, I realized this was our army.
My life had truly come full circle, and I couldn’t be happier.
Ash grabbed the jar off the table and headed over with it at the same time Lynn stood and tapped her glass, and the group quieted. “Merry Christmas, everyone!” They shouted the same back. “Since day one of our first visit to Foggy Basin, Kara and I were welcomed with open arms, and we fell in love with it. So much so that we’ve endlessly talked about the town, and well, we’ve made a decision. This summer after the school year is over, Kara and I are moving to Foggy Basin!”
“Yes!” Remy shouted and ran straight for his mom. I was so happy for them, hell, for all of us. I adored Lynn andKara, and it would be great for them to be here. Adding two more taste testers to the list was never a bad thing.
Ash and I waited for the crowd to die down and Remy rejoined us. “We too have an announcement of sorts. We’re looking to buy a house and lay down permanent roots in Foggy. So, if anyone knows of any houses for sale, please let us know.”
“I have the perfect place for you boys,” Merle chimed in.
I laughed. “I figured you might have.”
“Then Mom and Kara can have our apartment,” Remy nearly sang the words.
“Absolutely, love.” Things were falling into place for all of us. Made me wonder if Foggy had some sort of magical merriment spell cast over it. “And now for the winner. Ash, will you do the honors?” The sweet boy kissed my cheek, then closed his eyes and dug around the jar for the winner. “Now this just makes the night even more perfect. The winning flavor is raspberry lemon, and the winning taste tester is Kara!”
She clapped and cheered, as did everyone else, and I couldn’t be happier that she’d won. “You get a free two-scoop cone a day for a week that we will gladly hold until you move here.”
Kara came running over and gave me a big hug. “Thank you so much. Do mom and I really get to live above your ice cream shop?”
“Yes, sweet girl, you do.”
“Best. Day. Ever!” She sung as she spun around. “And I get free ice cream!” She ran off toward the massive Christmas tree Pints had, where the other kids were playing with their new toys.
Lynn smiled and shook her head. “There will be no controlling her living above an ice cream shop. That little girl will be in heaven.”
“We all will be, Lynn.” Heaven help us if Ash’s parents did the same though Daisy had been on her best behavior for this visit. She was a sweet woman, just a bit too curious for her own, or Ash’s, good.
