We all clapped as Sinclair, with Wyatt and Alyssa by her side, took the stage. “Like my slacker brother said, thank you so much for coming out to the Harvest Fair. I want to thank all our vendors, but most of all, I want to thank Simon Stark and his family for footing the bill. It means we’ll be able to donate all proceeds to Salvation projects, including a new cultural center, funding options to support farmers and other small business, vocational grants to help our young people who don’t go to college to get training and skills so they can work. I encourage you to stop by the Stark booth and try some of that new brew Simon has been testing. He says he’s dabbling, but don’t you all think he should reopen the brewery on the property of his?”
A large “yeah” rose from the crowd.
“Me too,” Sinclair said.
“She’s a lush,” Ryder said, coming to stand near us holding his five-month-old baby boy, Nate.
“It must be a twin thing,” Trina quipped.
Ryder grinned. “I’ve got to taste the goods before I can serve them. Which reminds me, Si, I was thinking maybe we could have some special local brews at Salvation Station. What do you think?”
I looked up at Simon, who even five months into being accepted into Salvation, still seemed a little surprised when people were nice to him.
“I think it’s a very interesting idea.”
Ryder rolled his eyes. “Is he ever spontaneous about anything? Just jumping in with both feet and seeing how it goes?” he said to me.
“Yes. But that’s private.”
Simon blushed while Ryder laughed. He handed the baby back to Trina. “Maybe when we get home, we can be spontaneous.”
“Let me pencil that in,” she said, with a wink. He kissed her and then headed back to the stage to finish his set.
“Maybe we should go try the brew?” my mother said.
“I agree.” We all walked over to the Stark booth. Simon stayed back, as he often did to observe, but again, I worried that he still felt like an outsider.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I’m thinking it’s chilly which means winter is around the corner.”
I looked at him in confusion.
“I think we should go to the island. It’s spontaneous.” He smiled. We hadn’t gone to his Caribbean island, on our honeymoon, but we had gone for Mason’s birthday.
“I want to go to the island. Can we build sandcastles again daddy?” Mason leaned forward trying to look at Simon.
Simon tilted his head up. “Absolutely. Hey, how long have you been up there?”
Mason laughed. “Daddy, you’re funny.”
I looped my arm through Simon’s and took in the scene. Last year at this time, I was hell bent on ruining his reputation. Today, I loved him beyond anything I could have ever imagined. And being here with him was like a dream come true. This town really was our Salvation, and I was going to be forever grateful that we found it.